A pedestrian crosswalk is an area of the street which is designated as a pedestrian crossing area. A common site for a crosswalk is at an intersection, where traffic may already be stopped, thus making it easy to accommodate pedestrians who need to get across the street. On particularly long streets, a pedestrian crosswalk can also appear in the middle of the street so that pedestrians can safely cross in the middle of the street. Pedestrian crosswalks can be found all over the world, in a wide variety of styles and locations.
In many regions, specific areas of the traffic law address pedestrian crosswalks. For example, traffic may be required to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, and parking on or around a crosswalk is restricted so that pedestrians can move freely and safely see oncoming cars. Stopping in the middle of the crosswalk may also be grounds for a traffic ticket. Many traffic laws also forbid cars from moving into the crosswalk while a pedestrian is in it.
The design of a pedestrian crosswalk usually includes street signs to alert drivers to the fact that a crosswalk is coming up, and clear markings in the road which delineate the crosswalk. One of the most common markings is a striped pattern, which is why pedestrian crosswalks are sometimes known as “zebra crossings.” The crosswalk can also include signals to alert pedestrians when it is safe to walk.
At intersections controlled by traffic lights, the traffic lights are linked to indicators used by pedestrians which tell them when they can and cannot cross. These signals are usually visual and auditory so that blind people know when it is safe to cross the street, and they can include symbols or writing, often changing colors as well to make it even easier for people to read the signals. A pedestrian crosswalk is also required by law in many regions to be wheelchair accessible, which means that the curbs must slope where the sidewalk interfaces with the crosswalk so that people using wheelchairs can easily enter the crosswalk.
In areas with heavy traffic or frequent conflicts between pedestrians and drivers, a pedestrian crosswalk may be removed and replaced with a pedestrian underpass or overpass, which allows pedestrians to cross the street without interrupting the flow of traffic. This technique is often favored in busy urban areas where pedestrians could be endangered by reckless or thoughtless drivers.
By Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a About Mechanics researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.