Raised Pedestrian Crossings: Analysis of Their Characteristics on a Road Network and Geometric Sizing Proposal

• Main Authors: Giuseppe Loprencipe, Laura Moretti, Antonio Pantuso, Eligio Banfi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-07-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: raised pedestrian crossings; speed tables; speed control undulations; pedestrian infrastructure; traffic calming; pedestrian crossing
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/14/2844

In urban areas traffic-calming strategies and pedestrian friendly measures are often adopted to reduce the adverse impacts of motor vehicles on vulnerable users. This study surveyed 24 raised pedestrian crossings (RPCs) to examine their geometrical and functional characteristics. Geometric characteristics, location, administrative and effective vehicle speed, and the whole-body vibration acceleration induced to vehicle occupants while they are passing over, were considered. In addition to the analysis of the field data, geometrical and functional criteria to design RPCs were carried out. Particularly, two design approaches have been considered. In the first one, RPC provides a designated route across a carriageway raised to the same level, or close to the same level, as the sidewalks that provide access to the pedestrian crossing. In such condition, an RPC is not a traffic-calming device and its design should satisfy geometrical and comfort criteria for designing roads. The results from the surveys demonstrated that less than 10% of RPCs guarantee ride comfort. According to the second design approach, an RPC acts both as a marked pedestrian feature and as a traffic-calming device (i.e., it is trapezoidal in shape with sharp edges). The analysis of the vertical accelerations on vehicle occupants reveal that more than 90% of the surveyed RPCs comply with geometrical and dynamic criteria for speed tables. Extreme variations concerning the observed geometrical characteristics of RPCs and the modelled dynamic performances have been observed: It results in noneffective treatments. Therefore, the results of this study would contribute to providing geometric best practices for overcoming the regulation gap in this subject, and designing RPCs according to international standards.