B4.4.1 Crossings

Proposed crossings must respond to pedestrian desire lines and be suitable for all users at all times. Pedestrian refuges must be installed at suitable locations where pedestrians need to cross more than two lanes of traffic, to enhance safety and accessibility. Dropped kerbs must be aligned with the refuge to ensure safe and accessible crossings. Refuge widths must be appropriate for the intended crossing purposes; a minimum refuge width of 2 metres must be provided when intended primarily for pedestrian use, whilst a wider minimum width of 3 metres must be provided where the refuge also accommodates cyclists. Pegasus’ crossings may also be appropriate on shared use routes.

Development proposals must incorporate features which encourage drivers to give priority to pedestrians and turn cautiously, including raised entry treatments and continuous footways where pedestrian  lows are much higher than vehicle flows and vehicle speeds are 20mph or less. Additionally, Copenhagen-style crossings are encouraged to further enhance pedestrian safety and priority.

Where dropped kerbs are provided across the minor route within a major or minor junction, they can lie within the corner radius for junctions with radii of 4 or 6 metres. Radii should be minimised to assist  pedestrians. However, for junctions with radii of 10 or 15 metres, they should be positioned further from the major routes, or refuges should be provided within the bell mouth to allow for safe pedestrian crossing points (to reduce crossing distances and correspond to natural desire lines). Ensuring adequate visibility is maintained for low levels of development, dropped crossings are preferable to the provision of kerb radii to give priority to pedestrians, ensuring appropriate construction for use by service vehicles.

The default position when designing crossings should be to avoid installing Pedestrian Guardrails (PGR) as they can be intrusive and restrict movement. Where PGR is proposed, an assessment should be undertaken in accordance with LTN 2/09 PGR (Department for Transport, 2009).