[passcoalition] Re: bulbouts and pedestrian refuges
- From: Ken Stewart <cclvi@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: passcoalition@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:14:37 -0800 (PST)
I think Gene will agree that a bulbout usually is a peninsula rather than an
island. It is an expansion of the sidewalk out into the first lane of the
street to, as Gene explains, shorten the distance for pedestrians to cross.
Typically, it also makes safer the approach angle of vehicles turning into the
other crosswalk, the one perpendicular to the bulbout's crosswalk. Since it
only blocks the curb lane, which is primarily a parking lane, the bulbout is
not intended to restrict the flow of straight-ahead traffic. "Neck downs" are
used for that purpose. A protected area/island part way across a crossing is
commonly referred to as a "pedestrian refuge", I believe. I agree we should
advocate for an APS installation with a locater tone on bulbouts and refuge
islands, and for tactile navigational features on them, especially because they
have rounded edges , more than detectible edges parallel to or perpendicular to
the path of travel. I understand
that the D of T has already installed on at least one Manhattan street, a
bulbout to create a bus stop too.
--- On Tue, 1/25/11, Gene Bourquin DHA <oandmhk@xxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Gene Bourquin DHA <oandmhk@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [passcoalition] Re: details of the reconfiguration
To: passcoalition@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 6:45 AM
Maria,
Bulbouts work very well. In New York they are frequent defined by a painted
surface and bollard or posts. In the case of 7th Ave. the bulbout will be
defined by a cement island. These always result in slower traffic, which is
very good. They often allow for shorter crossing, which of course we would not
know about unless there is an APS with a locator tone. And I am not sure that
DOT should or would put the APS out in the street at the edge of the
bulbout. Without the APS, blind pedestrians would find the curb cut and
assume, if course, that they are at the correct place t wait to cross. If the
signal timing is set for the shorter crossing, this could be a big problem.
It's a good idea to always question and examine the impact of these geometric
changes. Bulbous are used throughout the US but only recently are they
proliferating in our part of the
world.
Gene
> From: mhansen1@xxxxxxx
> To: passcoalition@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [passcoalition] Re: details of the reconfiguration
> Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 06:29:30 -0500
>
> Also, I don't want to be used as a traffic calming device.
> Maria
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Maria Hansen" <mhansen1@xxxxxxx>
> To: <passcoalition@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 6:25 AM
> Subject: [passcoalition] details of the reconfiguration
>
>
> > Wow! This definition makes me a bit squeemish. I sort of envision
> > pedestrians plunked out in the middle of the street as sitting targets if
> > the drivers don't slow down and veer into the center lane. That near lane
> > is the bus lane. Would they only put this on one side of the
> > intersection?
> > I can also imagine
emergency vehicles racing down the street and other
> > vehicles having problems getting out of the way.
> > I'm sure that smarter heads than mine have gone over this but my initial
> > reaction is that this is a very bad idea.
> > Maria
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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