Urban Afoot
  • Purpose
  • KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Urban Afoot Blog
  • Articles
  • Contact Us

What are we?  Chopped liver?

11/18/2013

0 Comments

 
A plea for signage for pedestrians not just drivers.
In walking around New Rochelle I have become increasingly aware of street signage and it's perpetual focus on drivers over pedestrians.  Traffic signs do not tell a universal truth, they tell a truth that applies to drivers. Dead End, No Outlet signs are often placed where there is a way through for pedestrians.  Sometimes it is so obvious that it doesn't matter like the Dead End sign below - note the sidewalk that runs all the way to the car park....
Picture
....but in some locations the signs can be misleading.  The two below came one after the other and gave no indication of what a pedestrian could expect further along the road.  The 'No Outlet' does not rule out an "In Let' but I have found the use of 'Dead End" and 'No Outlet' to be inconsistent so some additional information would be helpful.
Picture
Picture
Ignoring the 'Do Not Enter' and the 'No Outlet' brought me out to a main road along a fully paved piece of sidewalk. Would it be too much to ask that we have some pedestrian access signs in the places that it is not obvious? 
And speaking of obvious, why are there so many 'Dead End' signs in places so obvious they can only be considered redundant?
Picture
Wayfinding, as distinct from traffic signs, are happily often designed for pedestrians and can include not just directional help but distance in feet, time or number of steps.  I'm looking forward to New Rochelle making strides (sorry couldn't resist) on improving its Wayfinding and while these signs are often put in place for visitors I maintain that locals need them too.  Particularly, as said earlier, if we want to encourage people to get out of their cars and walk then it is important that they know how to get around easily and where there are shortcuts.  Pedestrians have a great advantage over drivers when it comes to cut throughs including through buildings, alleyways, walkways, and informal cut throughs where pedestrians have created their own unofficial walkways aka desire lines. 

And finally, a plea for clear signage.  Here's an excerpt from Artists Walking Home in Vancouver that shows how planner enthusiasm can lead to confusion. 


Signs found in a small area:  "Public Pay Parking     Yield     Motorcycle Parking     U-Turn     Parking Zone, 3 Minute Limit     No U-Turn     No Parking     One Way Traffic Only     No Stopping     Roundabout     Passenger Zone, No Stopping     Pedestrian Crossing     Fire Lane, No Parking Anywhere     Press Button to Cross     No Stopping, Except Modo Coop     Stop, Watch for Pedestrians   Loading Zone, Violators Towed Away     Caution, Car Crossing     Idle Free City, Turn Engine Off     No Pedestrian Traffic     Taxis Only"


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author: Nina Arron

    I am an enthusiastic pedestrian, urban planner, and project manager currently living in New Rochelle, New York.  I am grateful to be living in a walkable city with affordable easily accessible public transport (both trains and buses). My appreciation became even greater after spending three years back in New Zealand where  it was much harder to fit daily walking into my life in what is considered one of the great natural, green environments in the world.  

    Archives

    January 2018
    December 2017
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Categories

    All

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.