Raised Crosswalks at Roundabouts: Safety Benefits Realized by All Users

Mike McBride

Vice President/Partner
American Structurepoint

Many communities around the country have begun to embrace roundabout intersections as a safer, more efficient alternative to traditional intersections. However, many of these progressive communities with a laser focus on quality of life have also begun to experience rapid population growth and densification. This population influx has led to increased pedestrian traffic as well as increased vehicular traffic at roundabout intersections. In several municipalities in Indiana, it has been recognized that a safer crosswalk treatment at roundabouts can enhance pedestrian safety while also enhancing the safety of motorist. The addition of raised crosswalks at roundabouts is not only effective in producing increased safety for all users it's economical when compared to other roundabout crosswalk safety and accessibility enhancement alternatives. This presentation will explore the experiences of two Indiana communities and begin to measure the early benefits of these recent enhancements.

Present to Decision Makers and Practitioners the benefits that raised crosswalks can offer in the effort to further enhance safety of all users at a roundabout intersection.

This presentation is relevant because it presents real world experiences with cost effective crosswalk treatments that offer design guidance for intersection safety enhancement for all users. This conversation will also point to design practices which do not significantly hider the efficiency of roundabouts while also enhancing future accessibility accommodation for those with disabilities as they traverse a roundabout intersection as a pedestrian.