Guidelines: Pedestrian Pathways and Street Infrastructure

prepared by

Svayam
Under its Project Accessible India Jindal Centre, 12 Bhikaiji Cama Place New Delhi 110066 Phone: +91 (11) 26188360-74 Fax: +91 (11) 26170691 Email: editor@svayam.com Web: www.svayam.com

OBSERVATIONS

Seamless continuity on the footpath is often lacking and at any crossing it either abruptly ends, or is blocked by bollards as above or merges in to rough and uneven surface surprising the walkers with visual difficulties.

The street furniture is placed without any uniformity and doesnt leave minimum mandatory space for continued access. No edge protection is provided on the side towards the road. There are no tactile clues on the pathway to guide the pedestrians with low vision.

The gradient at which the foot path falls on the side lane crossing is usually very steep.

Zebra Crossing are good examples for providing access and some attempt have been made such as the one above. There is a stretch of 100-150 mm between the road & the footpath which is a barrier to continued access. The bollards at this place provide wheelchair access. However, these need to be given sharp colour contrasted so as to be visible and should be lined close to the footpath so that it doesnt eat away the width of the travel path.

Though the footpaths have been lowered little abruptly but not up to the zero level. Thus the level difference of 80-100 mm remains. A curb ramp at this spot will make it accessible. The curb ramp merging in to the road should have tactile warning clues to alert pedestrians with Visual impairments. In such uncontrolled crossing no part of curb ramp should project in to road space. The adjacent road also should be provided with a zebra crossing to allow continued access and the zebra crossing should have tactile clues.

 No marking on zebra crossing No curb cut to access zebra crossing

Walkway by the side of the road as the one above is a good example of accessibility. However, discontinuity in the path such as tree roots, broken tiles/slabs etc should be properly indicated and changed regularly. Leveled access (as shown by grey arrow) to Public utilities should be provided from the walkway so that the same is usable in all weather conditions. Edge marking in good colour contrast (as indicted in red) and would help the elderly and People with visual impairment to get a perspective and fair idea of the travel path. Tactile warning and guiding blocks are a must in all pedestrian pathways

Images as these can be highly disorienting and do not provide clear accessible route. Hanging wires of the electric pole are a trip hazard and should be properly covered. The bollards are a barrier and do not allow wheelchair access. The blue waste bin is out of the pathway but the billboard of the bus Q shelter is a barrier to the continuous pathway The Sign Board near the tree is another obstruction. The slabs are not placed properly and allow gratings that makes the pathway uneven. The gradient at which the walkway falls in the side road is dangerous and a trip hazard.

The street infrastructure such as the electric pole and Post Box are haphazardly placed thereby reducing the effective width of footpath to be unusable by any wheelchair user. No Edge protection or tactile clue to indicate path of travel or danger. Encroachments often reduce the footpath width thereby pushing the users towards the road.

Tree Border, Electric Pole and Waste Bins on the road have left no space for travel. The continuous foot path has come to an abrupt end here. The information or directional boards should be placed in a way that it doesnt obstruct the pathway.

 The Bollards and name of lane have left the good foot path unusable. The street furniture like electric poles need alignment.

Aligning of street furniture

All street furniture should be aligned be it electric poles, tree, waste bins, etc. Street indicators, information /directional sign boards should be aligned so as not to obstruct the minimum width of the passage.

The level of the road entry has been raised to the level of the walkway which is a good example of continued access. However, concrete slabs have gratings that do not provide a smooth passage. Vegetation along side the pathways should be regularly pruned to avoid mishaps & accidents.

Any civil work carried out should have proper marking and edge protection and should provide alternate route of travel.

Placement of Flared Kerb Ramps

Kerb ramps need to be placed to provide seamless level pedestrian pathway especially;
Three metres before the Bus Q shelters Where the pedestrian pathway turns at the corners At zebra crossings
Note: The specifications on subsequent slides

Placement of Ramps

Placement of Slope Ramps at :

Beginning and culmination of pedestrian pathways with properly placed warning blocks. It should be brought to zero level with a gradual gradient of 1: 20.
Note: The specifications on subsequent slides

Flared Curb Ramps

Specifications A flared curb ramp consists of a central ramp with a gradient of 1:12 and a minimum width of 1500 mm and two flared sides. Each of the flared sides is also a sloping surface with a gradient of 1:11 with a minimum width of 900 mm each. The surface of the curb ramp should be textured or roughened or otherwise made slip-resistant. Curb ramps should not be positioned at places where water is likely to pool as it will make it difficult for people to use.

d re fla 11 m : m nt 1 0 e 90 adi gr

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1500 mm central ramp, gradient 1:12

90 gr 0 m ad m ie nt fla 1: red 11 s

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Placement of Bollards

Bollards are placed to discourage motorised vehicles from encroaching on to the pedestrian pathways. While placing bollards, minimum of 1200 mm distance should be kept between the two bollards. Bollards should be colour contrasted for high visibility.

Placement of Guard Rails at pedestrian pathways adjacent to the roads

Guard Rails along the pedestrian pathways ensure safety of the users and also discourage JWalking. It also discourages motorized vehicles from entering the pedestrian areas.

Placement of Tactile Blocks

All pedestrian pathways have to be paved with tactile guiding and warning blocks. Tactile Guiding Blocks are used to guide visually impaired people through pedestrian pathway or approach to a public utility. Tactile Warning Blocks warn visually impaired people of the presence of hazards, such as stairs, change in level, level crossings or the approach to road

Guiding Principles for Access to External Environment Mobility Way Finding Effective Orientation Warning

Principles of Mobility
The basic principles of mobility in a pedestrian environment are: Avoid abrupt level changes. Provide non-slip finishes, good grip, and sure footing to ensure surfaces are safe. Provide opportunities for seating adjacent to travel routes. Plan exterior elements to minimize obstacles Eliminate travel hazards by ensuring there is adequate overhead clearance and no protrusions into the path of travel. Align Dustbins, Electric poles, Letter boxes and other street furniture close to the edge of the travel path but out of the main flow of pedestrian traffic. Use glare-free surfaces.

Principles of Way finding

The basic principles of way finding are: Provide logical, unbroken path of travel from sidewalk to any place of public utility easily identifiable Paths of travel by way of proper placement of street furniture, which,can be placed to highlight location of sidewalk or ends of bus zone. Use colour contrast, sound, light and shade to accentuate paths of travel between shelter, sidewalk and bus boarding area. tactile way finding tiles may be used to accentuate paths of travel if pedestrian pathway is broken or way finding is complicated .
Note, however, such way finding tiles must be consistent in design and well differentiated from tactile warning strips. Way finding tiles are usually of gentle and corduroy textures, whereas warning tiles are typically of raised dot textures

Principles of Effective Orientation

The basic principles of orientation: Consistency and uniformity of design elements and layout. Simplify orientation by using right angles for design elements and layout. visual as well as tactile cues and landmarks within designs Walkways, hazards and waiting areas should be well illuminated for orientation and security purposes.
Note:sidewalks with grass shoulders or borders; street furnishings such as benches, trash containers, planters located adjacent to but not within path of travel; high contrasts on shelter door frames, benches and planters.

Principles of Warning
The basic principles of warning are: Good ergonomics and effective way finding/colour contrast or tactile cues will be beneficial for safety and warning purposes. Creation of a barrier from hazards in the pathway helps in preventing mishaps. Strategic Placement of street furniture such as benches, newspaper stands and planters may be used as barrier to any hazard that may be in the pathway Tactile indicators like tactile warning tiles may be used to accentuate a large difference in elevation
note, however, such warning tiles must be consistent in design and well differentiated from tactile way finding tiles.

Designing Pedestrian Pathways

Pedestrian pathways Should be provided by means of a continuous plane not interrupted by steps or abrupt changes in level, have a permanent, firm and slip-resistant surface, have an uninterrupted width of not less than 1500-1800 mm, and a gradient not more than 1 in 20, have a curb not less than 75 mm high where, in the absence of walls, railings, or other barriers on either or both sides of the walk, the vertical drop from the walk is more than 75 mm, not have gratings with openings that will permit the passage of a sphere more than 13 mm in diameter and have all elongated openings oriented approximately perpendicular to the direction of travel, be free from obstructions for the full width of the walk to a height of not less than 2000 mm, except that handrails are permitted to project not more than 100 mm from either or both sides into the clear area, and be designed as a ramp where the gradient of the walk is more than 1 in 20.

Pathways
Pathways should be level and 1800-2000 mm wide. Level differences, if any, in the continuous path should be addressed suitably by way of beveling, curb ramps or slope ramps as the case may be to avoid trip hazard and facilitate easy access to all-with or without assistive devices. Street infrastructure should be aligned in such a way that it provides obstruction free pathways. Bushes/Trees, Shrubs etc should be regularly pruned so they do not obstruct line of vision along the pathway.

Tactile guiding and warning blocks should be placed in the centre of the pathway and proper indications at the turnings as per guidelines in subsequent slides. Warning of any level change and obstruction on the pathway should be indicated by warning blocks. Manholes should be properly covered and when under repair should have appropriate warning strips around it to ward off any danger to the users. Edge protections are a must and should be planned in case of level differences. Sufficient directional signage should be provided to guide the users.

Tactile Surfaces
Tactile surfaces are used to give advanced warning of changes in level or a road crossing to sight-impaired people because they can be detected underfoot.
Warning Surface Blocks Tactile Warning Blocks with raised round surfaces is to warn visually impaired people of the presence of hazards, such as stairs, change in level, level crossings or the approach to road. It conveys the message "hazard, proceed with caution". Tactile Guiding Blocks are used to guide visually impaired people through a large public open space such as a pedestrian precinct or pathway or approach to a public utility. It can also be used to show a pedestrian "clearway" along a pavement which is free of obstacles such as street furniture. It is designed as a series of low round ended bars laid parallel in the direction of travel.

Design Standards for Tactile Guiding Blocks

Placement of Tactile Guiding Blocks on stairs and crosswalks

Sidewalk
Sidewalks should : Provide non-slip surfaces that are solid, smooth, level and well drained in all weather conditions, with a desirable cross slope of 2%. Be along the entire length of the road. Be at least 1500mm -1800mm wide. Have guiding blocks for visually impaired people. Be fitted with visual signs and tactile clues (e.g. Braille blocks,) as route finders. Have well defined edges of paths and routes by use of different colours and textures. Have no obstacles or projections along the pathway. If this is unavoidable, there should be a clear headroom of at least 2400mm from the floor.

Have curb cuts wherever a person is expected to walk into or off the pathway Have warning blocks installed next to all entry and exit points from the pathway. Avoid service elements such as manholes or gratings on walkways. If they are used, they must be flush with the surface and must not have any opening larger than 13 mm in diameter. If the gratings have elongated openings, orient them so that the long dimension is perpendicular to the direction of travel.

Keep obstructions, such as newspaper boxes, benches, sign posts, guy wires, tree branches, and other street furniture, out of the path of travel. They maybe aligned to be towards the edge of the pathway on either side. To assist persons with visual impairments, the surface of the walkways should be easily discernible from the surrounding areas. Use different textures (grass, concrete, paving stone), contrasting colors, and curbs to delineate paths. The desirable clear walkway width is 2000 m, although a minimum width of 1.5 m is commonly acceptable. In areas near hospitals and Institutions servicing the people with disability or the seniors where wheelchairs users are more common on walkways, additional width may be required. If there are trees in the path of travel, then the pathway maybe given from the side and warning blocks installed around the tree to prevent visually impaired people from walking into the tree.

Curb Ramps
Curb ramps:
Are provided where the vertical rise is less than 150 mm; Should have a slip resistant surface; Should be designed not to allow water accumulating on the walking surface; Do not require handrails; Should not project in to road surface Should be located or protected to prevent obstruction by parked vehicles; Should be free from any obstruction such as signposts, traffic lights etc.

Gradient of Curb Ramp: no steeper than 1:10 Width of Curb Ramp: not less than 900 mm

Dropped Curb at Pedestrian Crossings :

Curb ramps should have flared sides where pedestrians are likely to walk across them and gradient of the flared side should not be steeper than 1:10; Should not project in to a roadway as it might be obstructive for vehicles and dangerous for users.

Slope Ramp
Where vertical rise is greater than 150 mm, it should constitute a slope ramp with proper width, non slip surface, landings, edge protection, handrails & warning blocks. Many ambulant people with disabilities negotiate steps more easily and safely. Hence, it is preferable to consider both ramps and steps for accessibility. A ramp may be used without alternative stairs where the change in level is no more than 200 mm. If the horizontal run of the approach ramp exceeds 9000 mm in length, an alternative stepped approach should also be given in addition to ramp approach. The approach to the ramp should be clearly sign-posted or apparent. Width : Ideal width is 1500mm and minimum clear width of 1200 mm for one way movement. Two way movement on a ramp requires a space of preferably 2000 mm (minimum 1800 mm).

Slope ramp ..continued

Gradient of Ramp: As given in the figure should be followed and should be constant between the landings. Surface: The surface of the ramp should be slip resistant especially when wet and contrast in colour with that of the landings. The ramps should be designed to prevent water from accumulating on the walking surfaces. Landing to be provided at the foot and head of the ramp at least 1200 mm long and clear of door swings and other obstructions. Intermediate landing should be of 1500 mm. Ramp should have continuous handrails at two levels all along the ramp.

Sl No

Going of a Flight/Slope

Maximum Gradient

Maximum Rise

1 2 3

10,000 mm 5,000 mm 2,000 mm

1:20 1:15 1:12

500 mm 333 mm 166 mm

 An L Shape Ramp

A Switch Back Ramp

Edge Protection Ramps and landings not adjacent to a wall should have an edge protection such as:
A curb with a minimum height of 75 mm as shown in the figure; A raised barrier with its lower edge not more than 75 mm from the ramp or landing surface as shown in the figure; or A rail with the bottom edge not more than 75 mm from the ramp or landing surface.

Hand Rails
The vertical height to the top of the upper handrail from the surface of the ramp or flight of steps should be between 900 mm and 1000 mm and the vertical height to the top of the lower handrail from the surface of the ramp or flight of stairs should be between 600 to 700 mm. Handrails should be continuous across the flight of stairs and landings of ramped or stepped access. It should extend at least 300 mm horizontally beyond the top and bottom of a ramped or stepped access. Handrails should have slip resistant surface and contrast visually with the background without being highly reflective. It should be circular with a diameter between 40-45 mm and a clear space of 50 mm from the adjacent wall, preferably 60 mm. Its inner face should be located no more than 50 mm beyond the surface width of the ramped or stepped access.

Pedestrian Crossings
Trees, street furniture, parked cars, etc. must not obstruct visibility and the pedestrians should be able to see, and be seen by, approaching traffic. Crossings should be located away from conflict points so that drivers are aware of the crossing and are able to react and, if necessary, brake in time. When crossings are needed on the approaches to roundabouts Zebras are preferred as they avoid any confusion over priority from signal controlled crossings for drivers approaching the roundabout GIVE WAY line Use of pedestrian guard railing both to guide pedestrians and prevent indiscriminate crossing of the carriageway should be considered.

Pedestrian Crossings
Dropped kerbs/Curb Ramps provide access for wheelchair users and those with walking difficulties and should always be provided across the full width of the crossing with the footway ramped preferably at 1 in 20 but no steeper than 1 in 12. Tactile paving should be provided across the dropped kerb in a layout appropriate to the crossing type. Curb ramp at pedestrian crossing should not intrude in to road space and should be wholly contained in the area designed for pedestrians use.

Traffic Islands
Traffic islands to reduce the length of the crossing should be considered for the safety of all road users Raised islands in crossing should: Be cut through and level with the street or Have curb ramps at both the sides and have a level area of not less than 1500 mm long in the middle and A colored tactile marking strip at least 600 mm wide should mark the beginning and the end of a traffic island, to guide pedestrians with Visual impairments to its location

Traffic Signals
At road intersections, pedestrian crossings should be equipped with traffic control signs. For the benefit of blind or partially sighted people audible signals, bleeper, and/or tactile signals which indicate when the green light is displayed and it is safe to cross should be provided. Guide strips should be constructed to indicate the position of pedestrian crossing to benefit VI people. The time interval allowed for crossing should be programmed according to the slowest crossing persons. Beepers/Acoustic devices should be installed at the point of origin and not destination. Two adjacent beepers may disorient the users hence that should be avoided.

Subway & Overhead/ Foot over Bridge

Subways and overhead bridges should be accessible to all. Slope ramps or lifts at both ends should be provided to enable wheelchair access. Ensure that the walk way is minimum 1800 mm wide. Provide tactile guiding and warning blocks along with walkway Walkway to be obstructions and projection free. Provide seats for people with ambulatory disabilities at regular intervals along the walkway and at landings.

Foot over Bridges

Lift to access a foot over bridge in Hong Kong

One of the new foot over bridges that have been constructed in Delhi

Pedestrian Subway

Pedestrian Subway in Delhi

Pedestrian Subway in Japan with ramped access

Signage
The art of designing signs and signage is rapidly evolving. It is worth considering the following issues. Make clear distinctions between signs that offer directions and those that indicate arrival. The design of signs should allow for contrasting colours, seriffree text, simple and consistent use of symbols and the provision of tactile information, including Braille. Signs need to be well lit. Signs need to be carefully located so as to help pupils throughout their journey by providing information at junctions or in long passageways. The use of voice activated signs may need to be considered. The height of the sign should be lower rather than higher as there is no perfect height for all pupils. Pupils vary in stature, and other pupils passing by may obscure what is visible to a pupil who uses a wheelchair.

Some Specifications for Signage

Be clear with Sans serif typeface Be in lower and upper case Be left justified Embossed with Braille and Braille locators Non glare Signage Colour and Contrast Basic principles:
70% contrast between wall and sign panel Use accurate colour specification (RAL, NCS, BS, Pantone) Avoid shades of colours Avoid using same colours as safety signs Maximum 5 colours Non-reflective surface Size of signs

Size of letters in signs