Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in ...

chapter 2urban design● Vertical deflections such as raised intersections or crossings at stopcontrolledor otherwise low-speed locations.● Low-speed intersection treatments such as traffic diverters, roundabouts,and mini-traffic circles. 65,66● A signal phasing plan with a protected left-turn lag phase. Such plans reducerisk for conflicts with opposing traffic or pedestrians.● Advance warning signs for drivers to “Yield to Pedestrian.” 13 These signs havebeen shown to reduce pedestrian crashes by ten percent.● Avoidance of slip lanes and wide curb radii for turning vehicles in the urbansetting because these can pose dangerous obstacles to pedestrians. Studiesindicate that vehicles move faster, are less likely to stop, and exhibit highercrash rates at channelized intersections with wider curb radii. 13,67,68a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o nTraffic calming measures are of particular importance for certain populations,such as the elderly, who are more vulnerable to pedestrian accidents due to slowerreaction time and limited mobility. In 2007, individuals 65 and older made up 12.5percent of the U.S. population but comprised 19 percent of all pedestrian fatalities. 69For a list of relevant legal and design references, please consult Appendices Band C of the NYC DOT Street Design Manual as well as the New York City Fire Code:http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/firecode/index.shtml.Median refuge islandsreduce crossingdistances and improvepedestrian experiences.Broadway, Manhattanactive design guidelines 39