mgk920
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That area between a sidewalk and a street
- Thread starter Dan
- Start date
Pedestrian-vehicle buffer.
Walk-street or Street-walk buffer.
I just made those up.
We purposely keep them only 24 inches wide so it is obvious that trees should not be planted there whose roots can damage utilities and pavement.
The space also allows driveway curbs to be curved back and transition to virtually the same level as the walk in order to reduce a tripping/handicap access and alignment problem.
Also, catch basins fit nicely within the two foot space without infringing as a tripping hazard into the sidewalk.
That is also the place where street signage can be placed such as stop signs, no-parking signs, and mailboxes can be easily installed in dirt.
The 24 inch space can also be easily stepped over in order to reach the sidewalk when exiting a car parked at the curb.
Walk-street or Street-walk buffer.
I just made those up.
We purposely keep them only 24 inches wide so it is obvious that trees should not be planted there whose roots can damage utilities and pavement.
The space also allows driveway curbs to be curved back and transition to virtually the same level as the walk in order to reduce a tripping/handicap access and alignment problem.
Also, catch basins fit nicely within the two foot space without infringing as a tripping hazard into the sidewalk.
That is also the place where street signage can be placed such as stop signs, no-parking signs, and mailboxes can be easily installed in dirt.
The 24 inch space can also be easily stepped over in order to reach the sidewalk when exiting a car parked at the curb.
Our state highway department decided to eliminate this space as their highway goes through our city.
The walk is now at the edge of the curb of a 35 mph traffic lane! AND, it must jog at each commercial driveway entrance in order to avoid the drop off at the radius for the entrance ramp!
There are also occasional storm drain covers at the curb that are now in the walk-way, which interrupt the smooth walk surface.
This does not seem to be a safe condition for the joggers that like to use the sidewalk.
Well yes, it does save on the otherwise dual edging of walk and curb that would need to be trimmed, but those edges are never trimmed anyway.
The walk is now at the edge of the curb of a 35 mph traffic lane! AND, it must jog at each commercial driveway entrance in order to avoid the drop off at the radius for the entrance ramp!
There are also occasional storm drain covers at the curb that are now in the walk-way, which interrupt the smooth walk surface.
This does not seem to be a safe condition for the joggers that like to use the sidewalk.
Well yes, it does save on the otherwise dual edging of walk and curb that would need to be trimmed, but those edges are never trimmed anyway.
