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Daylighting
Daylighting is a simple pedestrian safety measure achieved by removing car parking from the curbs surrounding an intersection. The result is increased visibility for all street users.
Safety
Visibility and eye contact are essential to avoiding conflict at a crossing, but visual communication between different street users is greatly impaired when parked cars crowd an intersection (see diagrams above).
Daylighting clears away this visual obstacle and improves safety, especially for children, who have difficulty seeing and being seen at intersections. If corner curb extensions or their equivalent are installed (see photo), daylighting also shortens the crossing distance at intersections, which reduces pedestrians' exposure to traffic. For seniors and other street users with longer crossing times, this is particularly important.
Implementation
Daylighting is an inexpensive and readily implemented solution. Parking limitation signs or the appropriately painted curb can establish the no-parking area. However, installing physical barriers such as
curb extensions
("bulb-outs") or
bollards
will more effectively keep parked cars away from the intersection. Once daylighting is in effect, the space can support a number of public amenities such as bicycle parking, benches, public art, or landscaping.
ALSO ON THE LIVABLE STREETS NETWORK
REFERENCES
Each source is referred to by the same number every time it is cited. Please keep citation style consistent.
[1]
[2]
[3]
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PICTURE REFERENCES
Pictures are cited in the order they appear above. Please keep citation style consistent.
[1] Diagrams by Carly Clark
[2] Video still by Clarence Eckerson Jr.
FURTHER READING
- DOT Daylights 103rd Street & Riverside Drive in Manhattan (May, 2009)
- DOT Daylights one dangerous corner of 79th Street & Riverside Drive in Manhattan in in record time (June, 2008, w before and after photos).
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KEYWORDS
bulb-out, curb extension, line of sight, pedestrian peek-a-boo, parking, visibility, pedestrian, intersection
