THE OLD PEOPLE IN THE CITY TRAFFIC

DE AELDRE I STADSTRAFIKEN

This article touches upon kerbstones at pedestrian crossings and problems with minimum green times. Kerbstones at pedestrian crossings are either too high or too low. Handicapped people with wheel-chairs consider the kerbstones too high and persons with impaired vision consider the kerbstones too low because they use them for guidance and location. Kerbstones also give a certain protection for pedestrians and facilitate drainage and street cleaning. The height of compromise is about 2-4 cm. When planning of traffic signals there are three factors to take into consideration: safety, good level of service for all road-users and short waiting times. This article describes the problems with the fulfilling of these requirements. Many old people have the opinion that the minimum green time is too short and that the refuges are too narrow (1,2 - 1,5 M). At crossings the pedestrians and the motor vehicle traffic in the same direction get green light at the same time. This leads to conflicts between left turning traffic and meeting traffic (both vehicular and pedestrian). The right turning traffic also conflicts with pedestrian traffic. The cars are coming obliquely from behind round the corner although the pedestrian green light is on. One way to eliminate this conflict is to introduce "scramble phases". During the scramble phase all motor vehicle traffic is stopped and all pedestrians can cross the streets at the same time. Another problem is deciding the normal walking speed. In Stockholm, 1.2 m/s is applied for decision of clearing time. A new investigation presents facts about the walking speed of pensioners. It shows that they have a considerably lower speed than the average of all people. (TRRL)

• Authors:
  • Ekman, S
• Publication Date: 1979

Language

• Swedish

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: v.p.
• Serial:
  • Svenska Vagforeningens Tidskrift
  • Volume: 66
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Svenska Vagforeningen

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged; Crosswalks; Curbs; Green interval (Traffic signal cycle); Highways; Pedestrian safety; Persons with disabilities; Relocation (Facilities); Speed; Traffic signal cycle; Traffic signs; Turning traffic; Urban areas; Walking
• Uncontrolled Terms: Refuge
• Old TRIS Terms: Pedestrian protection
• ITRD Terms: 1726: Disabled person; 599: Green light; 2917: Kerb; 1746: Old people; 1659: Pedestrian crossing; 5408: Speed; 471: Traffic island; 553: Traffic sign; 1836: Turning; 313: Urban area; 758: Walking
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00310448
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 26 1980 12:00AM