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The fence discourages passengers from walking
across the tracks to get to the opposite platform.
Instead, they are directed to a pedestrian
underpass to the left. |
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The edge of this platform is marked
by a long yellow tactile warning strip.
The rectangular tactile warning area
indicates where the front door of the
first car will be when the train comes
to a stop. |
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According
to the 1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey (NPTS),
1.8 percent of all trips (and 5.1 percent of work trips) were
made by transit. These percentages are higher in large cities
and among persons who do not own a car or do not have a driver's
license. Every transit rider is a pedestrian. Some riders have
a short walk from the park and ride lot to the rail platform.
Or they may have to cross the street to get from the bus stop
to a shopping center. Others have a longer walk from their home
to the bus stop.
Providing a few amenities can make waiting for the bus or train
a much more pleasant experience. For example, shelters with
seating can offer protection from rain, snow, wind, and blazing
sun. Many transit agencies provide shelters at frequently-used
bus stops and at outdoor rail stations. The shelters should
be positioned so that riders in wheelchairs have enough room
to enter and exit the shelter. The sidewalk behind the shelter
should be wide enough for two wheelchair users to pass each
other and to handle the expected levels of pedestrian activity.
Schedules
and route maps may be placed at bus stops or in train stations
to orient riders. Downtown bus shelters in some cities, such
as Charlotte, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee, have
video monitors that display bus departure times and route numbers.
Overhead information signs on train platforms in Washington,
DC, and San Francisco, California, display the number of minutes
until the next train and its destination.
Nighttime lighting is important for passenger safety and security.
Lighting makes it easier for riders to watch their step so that
they don't trip on station escalators or while boarding the
bus. With lighting, drivers are more likely to see riders crossing
the street in front of the bus. Riders also feel safer while
they're waiting because they can see their surroundings and
watch out for any suspicious activity.
It is imperative that transit be made accessible to riders with
disabilities. These riders often don't have other travel options.
Federal regulations require design treatments such as station
elevators and tactile strips along platform edges (to allow
visually-impaired riders who use canes to detect the edge of
a platform). Adequate room should exist to operate wheelchair
lifts. Many transit agencies also provide large-print maps,
make audio announcements of upcoming stations and bus stops,
designate wheelchair boarding areas, and operate kneeling buses.
In Washington, DC, for example, elevator locations are indicated
on the route map. Moreover, regular station announcements inform
passengers of any out-of-service elevators and the alternate
arrangements that are available.
Helpful Links:
The FHWA Course on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation,
Lesson 9
Additional information on bus stop placement and design can
be found here.
www.walkinginfo.org/rd/planning.htm
ITE's Design and Safety of Pedestrian Facilities, Chapter
14
Download (PDF) at safety.fhwa.dot.gov/pedbike/designsafety.pdf
For ordering information, go to:
http://www.ite.org
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