pedestrian-crossing-webtile.jpg

We are committed to providing safe, active transport connections for people to help reduce car use and encourage physical activity.

We are regularly contacted to assess a location for the installation of a pedestrian crossing.

However, there are several issues to consider to ensure the safety and needs of everyone who uses our roads and paths.

Points of consideration

Connect busy places

  • Crossings are only required where there are attractions on both sides of the road with regular pedestrian traffic.
  • Such as between shops, between a school and a regularly used bus stop, or between a large recreational facility and a school. 

Multi-lane roads are not safe

  • The wider the road span, the greater the risk as cars will generally be travelling faster and there is more area for pedestrians to cross.
  • Cars in other lanes may block sight lines of a driver or pedestrian.

Obstacles

Roads, paths and nature strips are busy places, with:

  • driveways, drainage and public utility pits (for example, electricity and NBN),
  • trees that could obscure visibility or have roots that would be a trip hazard
  • steep slopes that mean that kerb ramps would not have a safe incline.

High pedestrian and vehicle volume required

  • Roads with light traffic are generally safe for those over 10 years to cross (always hold the hand of a child under 10 years when crossing a road).
  • Drivers who regularly pass a crossing with no pedestrians are likely to become ‘blind’ to it and may not slow down, increasing the risk of injury to pedestrians
  • Some pedestrians expect that motorists will stop for them when they step onto a crossing and may not look first, giving little chance for motorists to stop. In these instances having a pedestrian crossing  also increases the risk of injury to pedestrians.

Clear lines of sight

  • Crossings must be placed where a pedestrian can clearly see traffic approaching from both directions.
  • Drivers need to have enough time to see and react to pedestrians on the crossing, therefore not on bends or near crests in the road.
crossing-parking.png

Reduced on-street parking

  • A crossing replaces up to 33 metres, or approximately six car spaces on each side of the road.
  • That’s potentially 12 parking spots lost.

More information

Council’s Road Safety team provides education and raises awareness on safety issues for drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicycle riders.

Contact us council@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au | 1300 434 434