Crosswalks, stop bars at driveways?

[dbing]

Does anyone have thoughts on providing stop bars, stop signs, and/or cross walk markings at commercial driveway openings? This would be in an urban environments with sidewalks. I have done it both ways and typically use the neighborhood as a guide...if I see them elsewhere or they were there in the existing condition, I have provided them.

I apologize for posting this in two forums but just realized how little activity the Traffic Engineering forum gets.

 

[gbam]

Locally we use truncated domes at the end of the sidewalk prior to crossing major driveways (36'+) and side streets in addition to the cross walk striping for the side streets. I do not recall seeing striping used for drives, however. I don't think it would hurt of your drive is big enough. I wouldexpect that the cost would be minimal to the project for additional safety.

 

[dbing]

Thanks gbam...We also use truncated domes (detectable warnings at all crossings). The cost is certainly insignificant.

 

[ACtrafficengr]

I prefer to extend the concrete sidewalk across the driveway. It is a stronger reminder that drivers must yield to pedestrians than just white paint.

If major commercial drives are designed like intersections, they should be treated like intersections, with stop signs, lines, and crosswalks.

"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail." - Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928

 

[Debaser]

I'm with ACTrafficengr. If it's not been designed as a junction, then it's a vehicular crossing of a footway, and in that situation I'd rather give peds priority than downgrade the route by asking them to give way to vehicles.

 

[civilman72]

Most drivers will naturally pull up very close to the edge of the intersecting road, which in this case would put them in the way of the pedestrian crosswalk/sidewalk. This is the biggest reason to install a stop bar - to try to get the vehicles to stop prior to impeding the crosswalk. So, this certainly seems like a scenario when stop bars should be installed.

 

[Hoagie]

Whatever you choose to install, check it against MUTCD for dimensions, location and completeness. A stop bar is usually accompanied by a stop sign.

 

[TGLG]

Set the stop bar inside your property line, 12" from where your curb crosses the property line. That way, you are stopping the cars before they enter the sidewalk area and come into conflict with pedestrians. Stop signs should be placed accordingly.

Crosswalks across a site entrance are nice to have, but I would consult the local municipal official to see if they are actually *required*.

The ADA Standards for Accessible Design go into detail about where truncated domes are required.

http://www.ada.gov/adastd94.pdf

As to running the sidewalk across the driveway, although this is useful for providing a strong visual and tactile cue to drivers, it can be problematic. Often the asphalt pavement and concrete walk will settle differently, creating a lip that can be caught by a snow plow.