Pedestrian priority actions

Priority actions for pedestrians

Priority actions for pedestrians include:

• introducing more appropriate speed limits in shopping strips
• encouraging through-traffic to avoid shopping strips and to use alternative routes where feasible
• improving the amenity of areas of intense pedestrian activity alongside arterial roads
• improving pedestrian safety near schools located on arterial roads through a statewide program of school speed limits
• improving safety and provide more equitable access for pedestrians in high-use areas via the Walk Safe Program and other innovative and cost-effective measures
• establishing a program to provide greater priority for pedestrian crossings across busy arterial roads to reconnect communities.

Facilities for pedestrians

Pedestrian facilities are provided in different forms to manage the interaction between vehicular traffic and pedestrians. These facilities are divided into three categories:

• segregation - where there is a spatial separation of vehicular traffic and pedestrians, e.g. pedestrian malls, pedestrian overpasses or underpasses
• integration - where both pedestrians and vehicular traffic mix, but pedestrians are given priority, e.g. shared zones
• separation - where there is a time separation between when vehicular traffic and pedestrians for use of the same road space eg: pedestrian operated signals.

Examples of pedestrian facilities

• Kerb extensions and pedestrian refuges
• Children’s crossings (flagged school crossings)
• Pedestrian crossings (zebra crossings)
• Pedestrian crossings (without flashing lights)
• Pedestrian operated signals
• Pelican crossings
• Puffin crossings
• Pedestrian facilities integrated with intersection signals
• Provision for pedestrians at roundabouts
• Pedestrian fencing (to maintain separation between pedestrians on footpaths and the roadway)
• Improved public lighting
• Lowering traffic speeds