Chapter 5 Design Elements I have met but one or two people who understand the art of walking. Henry David Thoreau, American Philosopher This section identifies design elements The Design Elements are organized for improving Oakland streets, side- into the following three sections. First, walks, and paths. Rather than propos- the Sidewalk Guidelines section gives ing design standards, the Pedestrian minimum requirements for sidewalks Master Plan presents design elements and utility zones. Second, the Crossing to inform designers, planners, and pol- Treatments section explains best prac- icymakers on available design treat- tices for crosswalks and corners. And ments and best practices for pedestri- third, the Traffic Calming section ans. When implementing these ele- presents concepts for reducing motor ments, engineering judgment will vehicle speeds. determine the specific locations and features of each design. Pedestrian Master Plan | 65 Sidewalk Guidelines Proposed sidewalk guidelines apply aids. It should also be proportionate to to new development and depend upon street size and pedestrian volumes. available street width, motor vehicle volumes, surrounding land uses, and All streets require a utility zone pedestrian activity levels. Standardizing to accommodate above ground 72" sidewalk guidelines ensures a minimum public infrastructure including street level of quality for all sidewalks. ILLUSTRATION 13 furniture, lampposts, street trees, SIDEWALK FOR TWO PEDESTRIANS and signs. Locating this infrastructure IN WHEELCHAIRS The City of Oakland currently in the utility zone prevents it from requires a minimum 48" wide side- encroaching on the through passage minimum widths for passage, not walk with a 36" through passage for zone. The utility zone also creates an sidewalk width recommendations. new development. For projects that important buffer between pedestrians retrofit existing sidewalks, width The Institute for Transportation must conform to the existing condi- Engineers recommends planning side- tions on the block. These dimensions walks that are a minimum 60" wide conform to sidewalk requirements with a planting strip of 24" on local found in the Americans with streets and in residential and commer- Disabilities Act Accessibility cial areas. Guidelines (ADAAG) which are Sidewalk and 48" Utility Zone Widths ILLUSTRATION 14 Sidewalks consist of the through pas- EXISTING OAKLAND SIDEWALK STANDARD sage zone and the utility zone. The and motor vehicles by providing a through passage zone is the paved part horizontal separation and a vertical of the sidewalk pedestrians use. This buffer. Vertical elements like utility 60" zone should be wide enough to accom- poles, signs, parking meters, and modate different walking speeds and street trees improve pedestrian safety ILLUSTRATION 12 SIDEWALK FOR TWO PEDESTRIANS shared use by people with mobility and comfort by buffering the sidewalk 66 | Pedestrian Master Plan from travel lanes. This buffering STREET TYPE THROUGH PASSAGE ZONE UTILITY ZONE TOTAL WIDTH effect is similar to that provided by ARTERIAL (CITY) 96" 48" 144" curbside motor vehicle parking. COLLECTOR (DISTRICT) 72" 48" 120" LOCAL (NEIGHBORHOOD) 60" 48" 108" On local hill streets where sidewalks WALKWAY 48" - 48" are not possible, a wide shoulder or TRAIL 72" - 72" sidewalk striping with parking restric- FIGURE 22 PROPOSED SIDEWALK GUIDELINES tions is an acceptable alternative. paving is recommended for arterial, good traction. The careful selection Walkways and trails do not have utili- collector, and local sidewalks. The of such materials for contrasting ty zones but still require a minimum concrete should be textured for safety colors or textures can provide valuable through passage zone. For accessibili- and scored to match existing patterns. wayfinding cues for people with ty for persons with disabilities, side- In pedestrian activity areas, painted visual impairments. walks should be continuous, stable, curbs should be textured to ensure firm, and slip-resistant with minimum traction. To support pedestrians, Walkways running slopes and cross slopes. cyclists, and joggers, trails may be Walkways are usually made of con- The proposed guidelines would apply constructed of asphalt, crushed gran- crete, wood, or stone. The construc- to sidewalks accompanying new ite, or bark mulch. However, concrete tion of new walkways and the recon- development with sufficient right- is the preferred paving material. struction of existing walkways should of-way. For sidewalk retrofits, the avoid wood to minimize long-term existing City policy of sidewalk width Special paving may occur at neighbor- maintenance costs. Where wood is conforming to existing conditions hood commercial areas, schools, and used, the construction should be of would still apply. parks to give them a distinctive Redwood or Douglas Fir. Continuous identity. Acceptable materials include handrails of wood on wood stairs and Sidewalk Materials brick or concrete pavers, stained or metal on concrete stairs are required Paving materials should be consistent, scored concrete, decorative tile, on both sides. Stairs should have 7" durable, accessible to people using rubberized sidewalk coatings, stone, closed risers, 11" treads with non-slip mobility aids, and smooth enough for slate, and granite if they provide a surfacing, contrasting striping, and passage but not slippery. Concrete consistently smooth travel surface and sufficient clearance from surrounding Pedestrian Master Plan | 67 Sidewalk Guidelines 48" 96" 48" 60" ILLUSTRATION 15 ILLUSTRATION 17 CITY SIDEWALK SECTION NEIGHBORHOOD SIDEWALK SECTION 48" 72" 48" ILLUSTRATION 16 ILLUSTRATION 18 DISTRICT SIDEWALK SECTION WALKWAY SECTION 68 | Pedestrian Master Plan vegetation. Stair flights should be street and be placed at crosswalks, models identified by the City. Existing 12’ in length or less and separated by bus stops, and corners. These lamp- standards require hoods on lampposts 5’ landings with concrete footings. posts provide vertical buffers between to reduce light pollution. the sidewalk and street and help Lighting define pedestrian areas. Pedestrian-scale lighting improves accessibility by illuminating side- Pedestrian-scale lighting and motor walks, crosswalks, curbs, curb ramps, vehicle-scale lighting each should be and signs as well as barriers and provided as a complement to the other potential hazards. From the pedestri- to ensure that both sidewalks and an’s point of view, frequent lampposts travel lanes are effectively illuminated. of lower height and illumination are Pedestrian-scale lighting may be preferred over fewer lampposts that installed between existing lampposts are very tall and bright. The Plan rec- to obtain the frequencies given in the ommends the use of pedestrian-scale table below. They must be located at lighting in areas of high pedestrian least ten feet from the full growth activity and where implementation is canopy of adjacent trees. Poles and practical. Lampposts should be fixtures should be chosen from existing staggered on opposite sides of the STREET LAMPPOST DISTANCE BETWEEN SIDEWALK CROSSWALK TYPE HEIGHT LAMPPOSTS ILLUMINATION ILLUMINATION ARTERIAL 14’ 50’ 0.9 FC (10 LUX) 2.0 FC (22 LUX) COLLECTOR 12’ 50’ 0.6 FC (6 LUX) 1.0 FC (11 LUX) LOCAL 12’ 50’ 0.2 FC (2 LUX) 0.5 FC (5 LUX) ILLUSTRATION 19 ROUTE LIGHTING WALKWAY 12’ 30’ (OR AT LANDINGS) 0.2 FC (2 LUX) 0.5 FC (5 LUX) TRAIL 12’ 30’ 0.2 FC (2 LUX) 0.5 FC (5 LUX) FIGURE 23 PROPOSED LIGHTING GUIDELINES (FEHR & PEERS ASSOCIATES, 2001) Pedestrian Master Plan | 69 Sidewalk Guidelines These hoods should also be designed Plantings to direct lighting onto the sidewalks. Trees are a dramatic street improve- The installation of new lighting ment that creates an attractive visual should take into account potential and psychological separation for overflows that may adversely affect pedestrians between the sidewalk and adjacent residents. The proposed the roadway. Trees may also encour- lighting guidelines provide guidance age drivers to move through an area in establishing adequate pedestrian- more slowly. They can be located in scale lighting for a range of rights-of- ILLUSTRATION 20 PEDESTRIAN ROUTE SIGNAGE the utility zone to provide sidewalk way. The implementation of pedestri- shading or placed between on-street invisible from adjacent streets like an-scale lighting should occur as part parking spaces in tree bulb-outs where Oakland and Grand Avenues and of pedestrian-oriented street projects sidewalks are narrow. (See the expla- would benefit from pedestrian-scale as they are completed in the City. nation of Bulb-outs, below.) For high signage. The City of Berkeley’s bicycle The Pedestrian Master Plan does not pedestrian traffic areas, crushed granite boulevard program includes a success- propose stand-alone lighting projects. in tree wells is preferred over tree grat- ful signage component that may serve ings. Tree cages are also acceptable. Signage as an exemplar. Pedestrian signage Refer to the City of Oakland Street will comply with the criteria for char- The Pedestrian Route Network will Tree Plan for appropriate tree types, acter proportion, height, and contrast include signage for pedestrians to aid specified by the Manual on Uniform in wayfinding. The signs will consist Traffic Control Devices and the of a distinctive logo and directional Americans with Disabilities Act guidance to neighborhood destinations. Accessibility Guidelines. The imple- They will be attached to lampposts and mentation of these signs should