Pedestrian and Bicyclist Injury Prevention

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Pedestrian Accidents

Walking and biking to get from point A to point B has long been a popular, healthy alternative to transportation for commuters in the state of Illinois and across the globe, but a plethora of pedestrian accidents and bicyclist incidents create the need for ongoing accident prevention efforts. It is estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that there are around 127 million walking trips and nine million bicycle trips made every day in the United States alone, placing an astounding number of commuters at risk each day.

Designs Aimed to Increase Safety

As a response to the overwhelming need for increased safety measures, engineers and designers have worked together in the past and continue to team up in order to share ideas and find ways to improve road infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists alike. The development of special technologies and the use of innovative highway designs have allowed us to create more efficient, safer avenues of transportation for those choosing to commute by walking or biking.

The following designs have been proven to protect pedestrians and bicyclists, and continue to play an important role in accident and injury prevention:

1. Shared Paths

Shared-use paths provide off-road connections, allowing for safer mobility all around. Unlike sidewalks, which are found along busier roads and highways, these physically separated facilities are typically found along limited access highways, waterways, and rural, open spaces. They are especially effective along high-volume roads, with high-speed traffic and bustling intersections.

2. Sidewalks

Also referred to as pedestrian lanes” sidewalks allow pedestrians to transport themselves in areas that are completely separate from roadway vehicles. Asphalt, concrete, and crushed-stone design sidewalks are placed all throughout our neighborhoods, many of them boasting a minimum width of five feet, as recommended by both the FHWA and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). Both teams of experts suggest this is a comfortable size for pedestrians to pass one another or walk side-by-side.

3. Bicycle Lanes

Bicycle lanes are perhaps one of the most effective roadway designs for bike riders who need to travel on busy highways to reach their destinations. They are defined with thick, white stripes and a clear bicycle symbol, as well as special signage to keep vehicle drivers alert and aware of their presence. These lanes are designed exclusively for bicyclists, designed to provide on-street, separated travel facilities.

4. Curb Ramps

Federal legislation requires that curb ramps are installed at every intersection where pedestrian crossings exist. This also applies to midblock locations. Those who use wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, or who have other mobility restrictions benefit from their design, as curb ramps make it easier to step up and down high curbs along the roadways. These useful ramps are found just about everywhere, but priority is given to downtown locations that are near schools, parks, and medical facilities, with heavy pedestrian traffic.

These are just a few examples of the many innovative infrastructure designs that exist to increase our safety as pedestrians and bicyclists. If you have sadly been involved in a collision on or near the highway, you need to speak with an informed Lake County pedestrian accident attorney right away. Call Salvi & Maher, LLP at 847-662-3303 today for a personal consultation.

Sources:

http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/planning/facilities.cfm