Street Enhancement Toolbox
There is a wide variety of street enhancements that the Safe & Healthy Streets Plan will consider and recommend beyond just bike lanes or bike paths. Here are some options.
Sharrows (Shared Lane Markings)
Encourage cyclists to ride outside “door zone” so they do not get hit by opening car doors. Discourages wrong-way riding. Reinforces cyclists’ right to the road. Alerts drivers that bikes could be present.
Bike Racks
Necessary to encourage people to ride instead of driving to common destinations such as grocery stores, restaurants, post offices, etc. Best when placed visibly in front of location. Intended for short-term use by customers as opposed to daily, long-term use by employees.
Bicycle Wayfinding Signage
Enhances bikeways with information that cyclists can use. Helps encourage cyclists to use designated bikeways.
Complete Street
A street designed to accommodate all users: cars, transit, pedestrians, cyclists, children, the ederly, wheelchair users, etc.
Zebra Stripe Crosswalk
Highly visible crosswalk option. Stripes can be positioned so that vehicles’ wheels go between the stripes, thus reducing wear.
Curb Extension
Shortens the pedestrian’s crossing distance and improves the visibility of pedestrian to motorists before the pedestrian begins to cross.
Pedestrian Wayfinding Signage
Enables pedestrians to easily find their way in unfamiliar areas, on preferred paths, or in high traffic locations. Encourages walking.
Advance Stop Bar
Gives motorists more time to see pedestrians in crosswalk, especially drivers of vehicles in one lane when the vehicle in the other lane has stopped.
Roundabout
Slows traffic and reduces the number of potential collision points at a given intersection. Can discourage cut-through traffic resulting in overall reduced traffic volume.
Bicycle Loop Detector
Designed to detect a bicycle at a signalized intersection and trip the traffic light.
Bicycle Crossing On-Demand Button
Button positioned so that it’s easily accessed by a cyclist stopped at the intersection. Allows cyclist to trip the light, similar to pedestrian crosswalk button.
Alternate option to the bicycle loop detector.
Storm Drain Configuration
Commonly placed in a manner that can easily catch a cyclist’s wheel and cause a fall. Ideal configuration would be slots that are perpendicular to the path of travel.
Pedestrian Median Refuge
Splits pedestrian crossing into two short distances. Pedestrian only has to look one direction at a time. Provides a safety zone at the center of the cross.
Dual Curb Ramps
Allows pedestrians and wheel chair users to enter crosswalk more directly. Shortens crossing distance. Single curb cuts often lead into the center of the intersection.