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Glossary
 
Pedhead-mounted speakers

Specifications for pedhead-mounted speaker location
Specifications for pedhead-mounted speakers must clearly indicate the pedhead location and the speaker location for each crosswalk. Specifications of the angle of the speaker may also be necessary.

Sound from pedhead-mounted speakers
The sound from pedhead-mounted speakers is not very useful for providing guidance about the location of the opposite curb. Unless audible beaconing is needed, speakers should be aimed down toward the pedestrian waiting location.

Speakers may be aimed toward the center of the street at crosswalks where beaconing is needed. For pedhead-mounted speakers, sound will travel farther the more nearly horizontal the radiation pattern of the speaker is.
  • Where beaconing is not needed, speakers can be oriented down toward the location of pedestrians waiting to cross the associated crosswalk, to minimize noise in neighborhoods.
  • Where beaconing is needed, the speaker must be oriented out into the middle of the associated crosswalk. Therefore it will produce more noise in the neighborhood.
Speaker attached to pedhead support is aimed straight down.

Speaker location
The authors have observed that it is common for overhead speakers that are attached to pedheads to provide ambiguous information. The drawings in this section illustrate some typical speaker and pedhead placement including one of a problematic typical mounting which involves mounting the speakers on the pedhead associated with the crosswalk they signal. This can result in ambiguous information if the pedhead is not the one closest to that crosswalk.

The pedhead for the north/south crosswalk is located over the pushbutton for the east/west crosswalk. the speaker located on the side of the pedhead, and directly over the waiting area to cross east/west, sounds for the north/south crosswalk. It is very easy to be confused, since the sound for the east/west crosswalk is located directly above the north/south crosswalk waiting area.
The pedhead for the North/South crosswalk is located over the pushbutton for the East/West crosswalk. The speaker located on the side of the pedhead, and directly over the waiting area to cross East/West, sounds for the North/South crosswalk. It is very easy to be confused, since the sound for the East/West crosswalk is located directly above the North/South crosswalk waiting area. In a similar situation, this pedestrian signal head for the East/West crosswalk is directly over the waiting location for the North/South crosswalk. However, in this instance, the aps mounted on that pedhead is wired to sound for the North/South crosswalk.

Drawings: Location of pedhead-mounted speakers
The drawings on the following pages illustrate proper and improper positioning of pedhead-mounted devices and speakers.

Recommended placement - no beaconing
Overhead Diagram. Two Pedhead Speakers on the corner aimed toward the pedestrian waiting area. One facing north, the other facing west.
Recommended placement for pedhead-mounted APS at pretimed signals; no beaconing.

Recommended placement - with beaconing
Recommended placement for pedhead-mounted APS where beaconing is needed.

Possibly acceptable placement
Possibly acceptable placement for pedhead-mounted APS on the outside of the pedheads. Provide as much separation as possible.

Possibly acceptable placement with mast arms
Possibly acceptable placement for pedhead-mounted APS using mast arms to provide additional serparation.

Unacceptable placement of pedhead-mounted speakers
Unacceptable placement for pedhead-mounted APS, regarless of how speakers are aimed.

Unacceptable placement of pedhead-mounted speakers
These APS placements are unacceptable, regardless of how speakers are aimed.

Unacceptable placement for pedhead-mounted speakers
These APS placements are unacceptable, regardless of how speakers are aimed.

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