Safer pedestrian crossings

In an apparent response to public comments, the latest (August 2010) plan for Mass. Ave. would make four unsignalized pedestrian crossings safer.

One item in the pedestrian-safety bag of tricks is extending the curb into the parking lane at pedestrian crossings. These bump-outs have the following benefits:

Proposed bump-outs

• The crossing distance is shorter curb to curb
• Pedestrians stand on a raised surface that is nearly even with the traffic-side edge of parked cars, where they are more visible to drivers
• It’s really clear that a pedestrian standing on a bump-out is crossing the street, not just hanging out
• Traffic responds by slowing down at crossings
• Cars are physically prevented from blocking the cross walk (unless they double park at one) by parking illegally there.