Ensuring a safe crossing for pedestrians strengthens our neighborhoods and builds trust among everyone who shares the street. Crossing guards monitor foot traffic, and guide young walkers, and traffic lights manage vehicles on busy streets. Each part works to reduce pedestrian accidents and provide a safe, visible crossing for pedestrians and drivers alike.
Why Safe Crossings Matter
A truly safe crossing goes beyond painted stripes. It combines thoughtful design, clear traffic control devices, and informed walkers and drivers. When communities invest in a crossing for pedestrians, they:
- Protect lives: Well-marked crosswalks and pedestrian signals reduce crash rates significantly.
- Encourage walking: A predictable crossing with a walk signal or green light makes errands and school trips feel less risky.
- Boost local vibrancy: Shoppers enjoy strolling between shops and cafés when crosswalk signs and traffic signals guide them.
- Ensure equity: Not everyone owns a car. Safe crossings and easy-to-use curb ramps at the edge of the road ensure people with mobility challenges can cross the street like everyone else.
We create crossings that ensure pedestrian safety, comfort, and meet community needs. Community care is important to us. Every resident deserves a clear and reliable path to the places they love.
Types of Crosswalks
At Bonton, our engineers select from various crosswalk types to create the ideal crossing for pedestrians, based on traffic volumes, street widths, and community needs. Here’s an overview of the most common designs:
Marked Crosswalks
Painted with solid white lines, marked crosswalks offer clear guidance to both drivers and walkers. They’re ideal for locations with moderate traffic. We suggest using marked crosswalks where drivers need to see well. Simple paint can greatly improve safety.
Zebra Crosswalks
These high-visibility stripes alternate wide, white bands and are easy to see both day and night. They often have flashing lights or signs to get drivers’ attention. The high-visibility markings in zebra crosswalks are our go-to in high-traffic or poorly lit areas.
Raised Crosswalks
Raised to the level of sidewalks, these crossings serve as speed tables. Drivers naturally slow down, and walkers — especially those in wheelchairs or using strollers — enjoy a seamless path. By raising the crossing, they reduce vehicle speeds and improve accessibility, a win-win for safety and comfort.
Refuge Islands
On wide, multi-lane streets, refuge islands split a long crossing into two shorter sections. Pedestrians pause safely in the center before facing oncoming traffic in the next lane. They cut crossing distance in half and give slower walkers and families a safe spot to rest when needed.
Traffic Control Devices: Signals, Signs, and Lights
Traffic control devices work together to create a reliable crossing for pedestrians, guiding both walkers and drivers. Understanding how they fit into a safe crossing helps everyone stay in sync.
Traffic lights help manage vehicle movement and give pedestrians a green light to cross. Walk signals and countdown timers show when to cross and how long it takes. Crosswalk and pedestrian crossing signs tell drivers to stop for people.
Push-button beacons or LED lights give extra warnings at places without signals. Regular maintenance of signals, signs, and pavement markings keeps these devices reliable and helps prevent pedestrian crashes.
We follow Federal Highway Administration standards when timing traffic signals and designing push-button intervals. Reliable signals build user trust and reduce confusion at crossings.
Best Practices for a Safe Crossing
Reliable pedestrian crossings demand cooperation among walkers, drivers, crossing guards, and planners:
For Walkers
Always use pedestrian signals and crosswalk signs. Never jaywalk, even if the light is slow to change. Wait for the walk signal so drivers know you’re crossing. At dawn, dusk, or night, carry a flashlight or wear reflective gear to stay visible.
For Drivers
Slow down near every crosswalk, school zone, or busy pedestrian area. Always yield to anyone waiting or already in a crosswalk. Never pass a stopped car at a crossing — it could be letting someone you can’t see go first.
For Crossing Guards
Stand where oncoming traffic can clearly see you. Use approved stop paddles and simple, consistent gestures to guide walkers. Make eye contact with drivers and pedestrians to confirm everyone’s safety.
For Planners and Officials
Start by using Federal Highway Administration crash data to spot dangerous crossings. Choose the right traffic control device — traffic lights, flashing beacons, or pedestrian signals — based on traffic speeds and volumes. Add curb extensions or refuge islands to shorten crossing distance, and use high-visibility markings or colored pavement in poorly lit areas.
Bonton Associates help city officials, school districts, and law enforcement work together. This ensures each crossing has the right policy, staff, and enforcement.
Engineering Solutions for Crossing for Pedestrians
At Bonton Associates, we merge data, design, and national standards into each project:
- Data-Driven Site Selection: We analyze pedestrian volumes, vehicle counts, and pedestrian crashes to prioritize locations.
- ADA Compliance and Accessibility: We create curb ramps, tactile warnings, and signal timing. This helps everyone, including those with mobility aids, cross safely during the walk signal.
- Complete Streets Approach: Our holistic design balances cars, walkers, cyclists, and transit users. Crosswalk improvements often pair with bike lanes, stormwater features, and green spaces.
- High-visibility treatments: These include zebra stripes, plastic inlays, and LED signs. They work well in busy areas, both during the day and at night.
- Federal Highway Administration Collaboration: We follow the FHWA’s MUTCD guidelines so traffic signals, pedestrian signals, and crosswalk designs remain consistent and reliable.
- Monitoring and Maintenance: After we install, we check how the system is used and its safety data. We refresh markings and inspect signals to keep everything working well.
We combine national standards with local feedback. This helps us create crossings that meet regulations and reflect each community’s unique character and needs.
Safe crossings are the cornerstone of a walkable, vibrant community. Thoughtful engineering, clear traffic control devices, and informed pedestrian habits all play a part. Together, we’ll plan and build crossings that elevate safety, trust, and community spirit — one pedestrian crossing at a time. If you notice your city or rural town has faded crosswalk signs, missing walk signals, or crossing distances that feel too long, reach out to us.