# Presentation: 057071

## Walkways, Sidewalks,and Public Spaces

- Lesson 9

**Publication No. FHWA-HRT-05-102**

**Notes:**
Lesson #: 9
Lesson Title: Walkways, Sidewalks, and Public Spaces
Learning Objectives: 
Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to:
List locations where sidewalks are needed.
Describe the basic requirements for successful sidewalk design.
Describe the elements that make up inviting pedestrian spaces.
Know how public spaces impact the greater streetscape environment.
Understand the cost and benefit of sidewalk design and installation.

Preinstruction:
Ask the class to report on the place they identified as a pedestrian space.  Have them explain what are the design elements that make that location a pleasant space for pedestrians.

Student Participation:
Use one of the activities provided in the Federal Highway Administration University Course on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Student Workbook (Student Workbook).

Followup:
Assign reading for lesson 10.
Ask the students to find examples of poorly signed and marked pedestrian areas. Have them draw a sketch that highlights some of the problems at the location.

Session Time: 30–50 minutes

## Lesson Outline

- Important sidewalk locations.
- Basic sidewalk design.
- Beneficial design elements.
- Public spaces.
- Costs and benefits of sidewalks.
- Summary.

- Source: PBIC, www.pedbikeimages.org

**Notes:**
Key Message: Provide the students with an overview of the lesson.
Est. Presentation Time: 1 minute
Suggested Comments:
This slide is optional.

## Important Sidewalk Locations

- Transit stops.
- Parks/sports areas.
- Shopping districts.
- Recreational corridors.
- Medical complexes and hospital.
- Public buildings.

**Notes:**
Key Message: It is important to have sidewalks in these locations.
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes  
Suggested Comments: 
Sidewalks are recommended on both sides of all urban arterial, collector, and most local roadways. Although local codes vary, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and other national organizations insist that separation of the pedestrian from motorized traffic is an essential design feature of a safe and functional roadway. When prioritizing missing sidewalks, it is important to provide sidewalks to fill gaps on arterials and collectors at the locations listed in this slide. These locations have the highest rate of pedestrian use.

## Basic Sidewalk Design

**Sidewalk width.**
**Bridge sidewalks.**
**Rural sidewalks.**
**Border areas and buffers.**
**Grade.**
**Cross-slope.**

**Pavement surfaces.**
**Stairs.**
**Corners.**
**Shy distances.**
**Sight distances.**
**Continuity.**

**Notes:**
Key Message: These are the sidewalk design elements and issues which will be discussed individually in the following few slides.
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes 
Suggested Comments:
This is the outline of the next 12 slides.

## Sidewalk Width

| Minimum | Desired |
| --- | --- |
| 1.2 m (4 ft) (AASHTO) | 1.8+ m (6+ ft) (varies) |

- Source: PBIC, www.pedbikeimages.org

**Notes:**
Key Message: Sidewalk width is an important design element.
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes 
Suggested Comments: 
Sidewalk widths were covered in lesson 8, but they are included here as well since they are such an essential part of streetscape and walkway design. Although AASHTO only states a 1.2-meter (4-feet) minimum sidewalk width requirement, ADA recommends that sidewalks be at least 1.5 m (5 ft) wide. This width provides enough space to accommodate pedestrians who require assistive devices (wheelchairs, canes, crutches, etc.) as well as those without mobility impairments. Depending on the pedestrian traffic volume, sidewalk widths could be expanded to 2.4, 3.6, 6.0 meters (8, 12, 20 ft) wide or more.

## Bridge Sidewalks

| Minimum | Desired |
| --- | --- |
| On one side, full width | On both sides, full width, separated from traffic |

- Source: PBIC, www.pedbikeimages.org

**Notes:**
Key Message: Bridge crossings are essential to pedestrians and bicyclists. 
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes 
Suggested Comments: 
Sidewalks on bridges should have railings, fences, or some other barrier at least 1.3 meter (54 inches) high to eliminate the possibility of falling into the roadway or over the bridge itself. Sidewalks should be placed on both sides of the bridge. Under extreme conditions, sidewalks can be used on one side only, but only if safe crossings can be provided on both ends of the bridge. When sidewalks are placed on only one side, they should be wider in order to accommodate large volumes of pedestrian traffic. The two pictures in this slide are good examples of pedestrian bridges. Both have barriers which separate the pedestrian/bike pathway from vehicular traffic and both have adequate width to accommodate the volume of pedestrians.

## Rural Sidewalks

| Minimum | Desired |
| --- | --- |
| Paved shoulder | Sidewalk as far from road as possible (nearest right-of-way) |

- Source: PBIC, www.pedbikeimages.org

**Notes:**
Key Message: If feasible, sidewalks should be included along rural roadways as well.
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes 
Suggested Comments: 
Sidewalks along rural roadway sections should be provided as near the right-of-way line (as far away from the road) as is practicable. If a swale is used, the sidewalk should be placed at the back of the swale. If a guardrail is used, the sidewalk must be at the back of the guardrail. There will be times in near-urban spaces where the placement of sidewalks is not affordable or feasible. Wide paved shoulders on both sides of the roadway will be an appropriate substitute in some cases, as in the picture in this slide. However, the potential for growth in near-urban areas requires that rights-of-way be preserved. When sidewalks are placed at the back of the right-of-way, it may be necessary to bring the walkways forward at intersections in order to provide a roadway crossing where it will be anticipated by motorists. Security issues are also important on rural area sidewalks, so street lighting should be given full consideration. This lighting can act as part of the transitional area alerting higher-speed motorists that they are arriving at an urban area.

## Border Areas and Buffers

| Minimum | Desired |
| --- | --- |
| 5–7 ft (from lane)
1–3 ft (from building) | 10+ ft (from lane)
3+ ft (from building) |

- Source: PBIC, www.pedbikeimages.org

**Notes:**
Key Message: A border area should be provided along streets for the safety of motorists and pedestrians as well as for aesthetic reasons. 
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes 
Suggested Comments: 
The border area between the roadway and the right-of-way line should be a minimum of 1.5 m (5 ft wide), but desirably, it should be 3 m (10 ft) or wider. The width provides an essential buffer between an out-of-control motorist and a pedestrian, improved sight distances at driveways, and adequate width for landscaping and street trees. The two pictures in this slide are examples of nature strip buffers that add to the safety and attractiveness of the walkway.
On-street parking has two distinct advantages for the pedestrian. First, it creates the needed physical separation from the motorist. Second, on-street parking has been shown to reduce motorist travel speeds. This creates an environment for safer street crossings.
On the back side of sidewalks, a minimum width buffer of 0.3 to 0.9 m (1 to 3 ft) is essential, and up to 1.5 m (5 ft ) is desired. Without such a buffer, vegetation, walls, buildings, and other objects located on private property encroach on the usable sidewalk space. This setback is essential not only to the walking comfort of a pedestrian, but also to ensure essential sight lines at each residential and commercial driveway.

## Grade

| Minimum | Desired |
| --- | --- |
| <5 to 8 percent | As flat as possible to still allow drainage |

**Notes:**
Key Message: Grades should be considered in sidewalk design.
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes 
Suggested Comments: 
If possible, grades should be limited to no more than 5 percent, and, terrain permitting, grades greater than 8 percent should be avoided. When this is not possible, railings and other aids can be considered to help older adults or those with walking difficulty. The street in this picture holds the record for being the steepest drivable street in San Francisco. It has a gradient of 31.5 percent, which makes walking (especially uphill) a challenge. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require designers to change topography, but only to work within its limitations and constraints. Do not create any man-made grade that exceeds 8 percent.
Sidewalks must be graded and placed in areas where water will not pond or where large quantities of water will not sheet across. They should also be designed such that level surfaces are maintained across driveways.
Cross-slopes, like grades, should be kept to a minimum to enable pedestrians of all ability levels to easily traverse the sidewalks. Section 8.6 describes the cross-slope requirements for sidewalks, ramps, and curb ramps.

## Pavement Surfaces

| Minimum | Desired |
| --- | --- |
| Usually concrete | Concrete, asphalt, or paver stones |

- Source: PBIC, www.pedbikeimages.org

**Notes:**
Key Message: Attention to pavement surfaces can help create more successful sidewalks.
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes 
Suggested Comments: 
The pavement surface should be well maintained and free from cracks, pooled water, and debris. Although most sidewalks are made of concrete, asphalt can provide a useful surface in some instances. On trails, joggers and others may prefer asphalt. As a general rule, however, the long life of concrete and the distinct pattern and lighter color are preferred.
Paver stones can also be used, and, in some applications, they have distinct advantages. Colorful brick, stone, and even tile ceramics are often used to define corners, to create a mood for a block or commercial district, or to help guide those with visual impairments. These bricks or pavers need to be set on a concrete pad for maximum life and stability. The pavement patterns in this picture help define the pedestrian path, and the change in color to red brick at the driveway serves to alert those with visual impairments.

## Stairs

| Minimum | Desired |
| --- | --- |
| 0.3-m- (42-inch-) wide 
railing on one side | Uniform grade, 1 percent slope, railings on both sides, well-lit |

**Notes:**
Key Message: Well-designed stairs are important for the safety of pedestrians.
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes  
Suggested Comments: 
Since falls are common on poorly designed stairs, every effort should be made to create a slip-free, easily detected, well-constructed set of stairs. The following principles apply: Stairs require railings on at least one side, and they need to extend 0.3 m (12 inches) beyond the top and bottom stair. When an especially wide set of stairs is created, such as at transit stations, consider rails on both sides and one or two in midstair areas. The stairs in this picture have railings on both sides and down the middle of the staircase, and they have the added safety feature of a bar in front of the staircase that forces people to turn to go down the stairs (and prevents skaters, etc., from being able to run right into the stairs). Avoid open risers, and use a uniform grade with a constant tread to rise along the stairway length. All steps need to be obvious. Stairs should be lit at night. A minimum stairway width is 0.3 m (42 inches) (to allow two people to pass). The forward slope should be one percent in order to drain water. Stairs in high nightlife pedestrian centers can be lit both above and at the side.

## Corners

| Minimum | Desired |
| --- | --- |
| 1.2-m- (4-ft-) wide curb ramps | Curb ramps, queuing space, enlivening street furniture |

- Source: PBIC, www.pedbikeimages.org

**Notes:**
Key Message: Management of land on the corner is essential to the successful commercial street. 
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes 
Suggested Comments: 
This small public space is used to:
Enhance the corner sight triangle.
Permit underground piping of drainage so that street water can be captured on both sides of the crossing.
Provide a resting place and telephone.
Store pedestrians waiting to cross the roadway.
Provide other pedestrian amenities.
Well-designed corners, especially in a downtown or other village-like shopping district can become a focal point for the area. Benches, telephones, newspaper racks, mailboxes, bike racks, and other features help enliven this area. Corners are often one of the most secure places on a street. An unbuilt corner, in contrast, erodes the aesthetics of the street and is often a magnet for litter. Ramps are essential amenities of corners. To access more information on required ramp dimensions and design, go to lesson 8, section 8.6. Corners also must provide storage space so that the predicted volume of pedestrians can gain access to and depart from signalized intersections in an orderly and efficient manner. In the picture on the left, the corner provides the necessary ramp and space, but has no other visual appeal. In the picture at right of a corner in Venice, California, the well-built corner has planted areas, benches, and a bulb-out that provides storage space for pedestrians, added visibility of the street-crossers for motorists, and a decreased crossing length.

## Shy Distances

| Minimum | Desired |
| --- | --- |
| None | 0.4 to 0.9 m (1.5 to 3 ft) from object |

- Source: PBIC, www.pedbikeimages.org

**Notes:**
Key Message: Pedestrians require a shy distance from fixed objects such as walls, fences, shrubs, buildings, parked cars, and other features. 
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes 
Suggested Comments: 
The desired shy distance between the curb and a pedestrian is 0.4 to 0.6 m (1.5 to 2.0 ft), depending on the vegetation planted. Allow for this shy distance in determining the functional width of a sidewalk. From a wall or fence, the shy distance is 0.6 m (1.5 ft), and a building face adds an extra 15 cm (6 inches) of space required. Nine-tenths of a meter (3 ft) of shy distance should be provided for building faces with window front displays so that passers-by can stop and window shop.
Newspaper racks, mail boxes, and other street furniture should not encroach into the walking space. Either place these items in the nature strip, or create a separate storage area behind the sidewalk, or in a corner or midblock bulb-out. These items need to be bolted in place. In this picture, the benches are located between the trees (in the planting strip) and out of the way of the walking space. Shy distances of the trees, benches, waste baskets, and buildings have all been taken into account so that the functional width of the sidewalk can meet the pedestrian demand.
Parking garages on commercial district walks are ideally placed away from popular walking streets. If this cannot be done, keep the driveways and curb radii tight to maximize safety and to minimize the discomfort to pedestrians.

## Continuity

| Minimum | Desired |
| --- | --- |
| None | Interconnected network |

- Source: PBIC, www.pedbikeimages.org

**Notes:**
Key Message: Sidewalks should form an interconnected network to help people get to their destinations.
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes 
Suggested Comments: 
Sidewalks should be regarded as a transportation system that is connected and continuous (just as roadways and railways are). They should not be sporadically placed where convenient, but should be provided consistently between all major attractions, trip generators, and other locations where people often walk. When planning and designing sidewalks, gaps in the existing network should be identified and accounted for so that continuity can be established. The image in this slide is of a design plan for a street system. Notice how all of the streets form a grid that connects them to other streets, and no road leads to a dead end or has a gap in it. Sidewalk design should follow this concept.

## Additional Design Elements

- Street lighting.
- Landscaping.
- Awnings.
- Kiosks.

**Notes:**
Key Message: These additional design features help create highly successful walking corridors. 
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes 
Suggested Comments: 
One or two very attractive features create a highly successful block, and one or two highly offending or unsafe conditions can leave one side of the street nearly vacant.
Street Lighting
Lighting is needed for both lateral movement of pedestrians and for detection by motorists when the pedestrian crosses the roadway. As a general rule, the normal placement of street luminaires, such as cobra heads, provides sufficient lighting to ensure pedestrian movement. However, in commercial districts, it is often important to improve the level of lighting, especially near ground level. 
Landscaping
Landscaping should be provided for aesthetic and erosion control purposes in keeping with the character of the street and its environment. Landscaping can also be used to partially or fully control crossing points of pedestrians.
Awnings
Retail shops should be encouraged to provide protective awnings to create shade, protection from rain and snow, and to otherwise add color and attractiveness to the street. Awnings are especially important in hot climates on the sunny side of the street. 
Kiosks
Small tourist centers, navigational kiosks, and attractive outlets for other information can be handled through small-scale or large-scale kiosks. Well-positioned interpretive kiosks, plaques, and other instructional or historic place markers are essential to visitors. However, they should not interrupt the flow of pedestrian traffic.

## Public Spaces

- Outdoor cafes.
- Alleys/narrow streets.
- Play areas/public art.
- Pedestrian streets/malls.
- Pedestrian plazas.

**Notes:**
Key Message: Designing or allowing for unique public spaces can help bring back life to a street. 
Est. Presentation Time: 3–5 minutes 
Suggested Comments: 
Outdoor Cafes
Careful regulation of street vendors, outdoor cafes, and other commercial activity, including street entertainers, helps enliven a place. The more activity, the better. When outdoor cafes are offered, it is essential to maintain a reasonable walking passageway. 
Alleys/ Narrow Streets
Alleys can be cleaned up and made attractive for walking. When properly lit and planned, they can be secure and inviting. Alleys become attractive places for outdoor cafes, kiosks, and small shops.
Play Areas/ Public Art
Public play areas and interactive art can help enliven a corner or central plaza.
Pedestrian Streets/ Malls/Plazas
A number of European cities are reclaiming streets that are no longer needed for cars. Cars still have access to many of these streets before 10:00 a.m. and after midnight. In many instances, however, it is not possible to generate enough pedestrian traffic to keep a street alive.  Under these conditions, the presence of on-street auto traffic creates a sense of security for the pedestrian.
Pedestrian Plazas
Many plazas constructed in the recent past have been too large and uncomfortable for pedestrians, serving more to enhance the image of the building on the lot. To be comfortable, large spaces should be divided into smaller ones. Landscaping, benches, and wind and rain protection should be provided, and shopping and eating areas should be made accessible. And, finally, the plaza should be a part of the sidewalk instead of separated from the sidewalk by walls.

## Costs and Benefits of Sidewalks

- Addition: 1.5 m (5-ft) sidewalk and two street border trees.
- Cost: an extra one to three percent of total cost to develop the lot.
- Benefit: increased property value of $3,000 to $5,000.

**Notes:**
Key Message: Sidewalks can increase the property value of a location as well as provide other community benefits.
Est. Presentation Time: 1–3 minutes 
Suggested Comments: 
Designing and constructing a sidewalk can have long-term monetary benefits. Can you think of any other benefits of including a sidewalk? (Example answers: increase safety and security of pedestrian routes, improve aesthetics of the area, provide alternate mode of transportation for short-distance trips, cut down on vehicle trips and improve air quality, provide outlet for recreation and exercise, increase sense of community, etc.)

## Lesson Summary

- Sidewalks should be provided for certain types of land use.
- Sidewalks should be designed to meet certain minimum requirements.
- Additional design elements are key to creating inviting pedestrian spaces.
- Well-designed and placed public spaces can enliven an area.
- Sidewalks have valuable community benefits.

**Notes:**
Key Message: Summarize the lesson and discuss any questions or issues with students.
Est. Presentation Time: 3–5 minutes 
Suggested Comments:
Summarize the lesson and discuss any questions or issues with students.