NYMTC Regional Pedestrian Safety Study - New York Metropolitan ...

the pedestrian crash rate was significantly higher on undivided arterials than on arterials with
raised medians.
Raised Median with Slalom Path: Under this treatment, the pedestrian path has turns rather
than proceeding straight across the median, further encouraging the pedestrian to wait for a
second WALK signal rather than rushing across the second half of the roadway. This measure
can be particularly effective at intersections where the street and/or pedestrian path either jogs or
is diagonal to the cross street. When the path jogs, many pedestrians choose the shorter,
diagonal path. When the pedestrian path is not at a right angle to the street being crossed, the
pedestrian in one direction has to turn his/her head more than 90 degrees to see approaching
traffic; many do not look carefully. A slalom path, with pedestrian fencing or planting to force
pedestrians to follow it, can ensure that the pedestrian is crossing at right angle with the traffic.
Figure 5.5 Before and After Installation of Raised Median with Slalom Path (Computer enhanced)
Pedestrian Fencing: When no other measure has stopped pedestrians from crossing at
dangerous locations, fencing could channel pedestrians to the crosswalk and discourage all but
the most athletic and determined jaywalkers.
NYCDOT has put pedestrian fencing at various
locations in New York City. Pedestrian fencing is
useful in places where vehicular traffic is forced to
stop at a distance from the intersecting street, for
example, to facilitate vehicle turns (e.g. trucks,
buses). NYSDOT best practices recommend
pedestrian fencing to channel pedestrians to safer
crossing locations, to protect pedestrians in work
zones, for crowd control and security purposes, and
as temporary pedestrian safety measures in lieu of
future safety improvements. They do not
recommend fencing where walking is a primary
Figure 5.6 Pedestrian Fencing
mode (for example, in CBDs), where they might
impede disaster-related evacuations, or in
NYMTC Pedestrian Safety Study 61