Pedestrian Barriers at Intersections

[Just the facts]

While doing my usual perusing and research of pedestrian environments I thought I would take a look at pedestrian barriers. I think it would be great to start putting these in around downtown OKC. Not only are they a safety barrier at intersection for pedestrian but they also add character to intersections. Of course, not every intersection would need one but I was thinking the two traffic circles on 10th would be a good place to start and maybe at the intersections in AA. These would be especially helpful at intersection where there is no on-street parking or other barriers. At corners where there are crosswalks there would be an opening in the fence.



Sorry for the crude rendering but this is what it would like along Broadway.

[BoulderSooner]

unnecessary

[Just the facts]

unnecessary

Why, because there are not many pedestrians?

[BoulderSooner]

Why, because there are not many pedestrians?

are there lots of people walking into the street and getting hit at that or any intersection downtown??

[Just the facts]

are there lots of people walking into the street and getting hit at that or any intersection downtown??

The benefit of making the sidewalks more inviting to pedestrians is that it will encourage more pedestrians. Plus the railings make a nice addition to the streetscape. With the railing in place it would also allow for some outdoor seating if the place on the corner served food.

[BoulderSooner]

The benefit of making the sidewalks more inviting to pedestrians is that it will encourage more pedestrians. Plus the railings make a nice addition to the streetscape. With the railing in place it would also allow for some outdoor seating if the place on the corner served food.

and if they wanted to serve beer/wine they would need another railing closer to the building not in the public ROW

[Spartan]

I don't think this would be a positive addition, and I don't think they're considered inviting in Europe. That picture would roughly equate to the Scandinavian version of Memorial and Penn in terms of walkability.

[ljbab728]

I don't think this would be a positive addition, and I don't think they're considered inviting in Europe. That picture would roughly equate to the Scandinavian version of Memorial and Penn in terms of walkability.

I agree, Spartan. There is evidence to support the idea that curbside parking adds to walkability but I don't see it in the barriers.

[ljbab728]

I think the broadcast to cars that they can go faster because pedestrians are constrained.

That's why curbside parking works better. Driver's have to use caution because the parked cars could pull out into traffic.

[oneforone]

If anything, these just act as heads up to both drivers and pedestrians. It's not going to stop people from crossing the street improperly they will just jump over the railing.

I blame this problem on the lack of common sense and the fact we don't respect the things that can be dangerous in our society. We think that nothing will happen and if it does we can sue somebody and hit the jackpot.

[Spartan]

I don't want to pile on. As always, I love Kerry's ability to seek out solutions and ideas. I personally am not a fan. I think the broadcast to cars that they can go faster because pedestrians are constrained. I would rather see real protection like steel bollards installed and let pedestrians legally cross through the whole radii.

Yeah, bollards would be great.

The problem with the fencing is that they create a physical boundary that follows the outline of the pavement, and in cases where a bump-out doesn't exist to squeeze the intersection back to pedestrian scale temporarily, it exacerbates walkability problems at rounded intersections conducive to helping automobiles turn at high speeds. We don't have bump-outs in OKC, so this addition would make things significantly worse.

To Kerry's credit, again not wanting to pile onto a good poster, the problem is not with the barrier fencing itself.

[CuatrodeMayo]

Or we could do the opposite: http://www.spiegel.de/international/...448747,00.html

[Just the facts]

I am all for slowing down traffic. My suggestion for railings (or bollards if those are prefered) was only for areas where on-street parking, or other traffic calming techiques, are not available. You couldn't even use a fence were on-street parking is available because the passengers couldn't open their doors. I am looking at the railings more as functional street decoration.

[Skyline]

Doesn't Okc already have enough Pedestrian Barriers? ... LOL

[Just the facts]

Doesn't Okc already have enough Pedestrian Barriers? ... LOL

Yep. Just to further clarrify, the barricade would not run the entire length of the block. It would only be for about 10 to 15 feet at interections where on-street parking wasn't available. There would be openings at the crosswalk where people will be crossing.

[BoulderSooner]

Yep. Just to further clarrify, the barricade would not run the entire length of the block. It would only be for about 10 to 15 feet at interections where on-street parking wasn't available. There would be openings at the crosswalk where people will be crossing.

again for what purpose? are people getting hit at intersections?

[Just the facts]

again for what purpose? are people getting hit at intersections?

To enhance the perceived safety of the sidewalk with decorative barriers. Are these railings going to stop a car doing 45 mph? Nope. Put up a concrete bollards and you could stop a speeding car but they aren't usually decorative and probably not really necessary as you point out.

[BoulderSooner]

To enhance the perceived safety of the sidewalk with decorative barriers. Are these railings going to stop a car doing 45 mph? Nope. Put up a concrete bollards and you could stop a speeding car but they aren't usually decorative and probably not really necessary as you point out.

i don't think there is a perception that they are unsafe now

[Larry OKC]

What Sid said: Similar but different, we have those fences along the sidewalks going under the overpasses at Memorial & Penn...letting the pedestrians & cars now that they should remain separate but equal

[Just the facts]

That makes more sense. Basically what you are trying to do is draw attention to the area and say "Hey, this piece of concrete here means something. It is for people. You can tell it is for people because we put people-sized fencing in this little area." Just defining the space better as a true pedestrian area.

Yes, that is what I was going for - defining space. This is just a step up from Les Nesman putting tape on the floor around his cubicle (which is actually done in manufacturing plants and is proven effective).

[Larry OKC]

JTF: ...you are on a roll today...LOL

[Skyline]

I'll settle for installing better crosswalks first.

[Just the facts]

I'll settle for installing better crosswalks first.

I noticed that Automobile Alley doen't even have defined crosswalks unless you count the brick pavers that actually cover the entire intersection .

[Larry OKC]

Part of the now delayed plans of Project180??? Or is AA not part of that...

[Just the facts]

AA is not part of 180. I think P180 has defined sidewalks.