All About Crosswalks
Driving a vehicle is perhaps the most popular method of traveling in Maryland, but it is not the only one. Walking is still convenient for many, whether to go to the shop down the road or traverse an intersection. Allowing pedestrians to cross roads safely is an ever-present challenge, but with today’s rules and methods in place, one can make them as safe as possible. Below is a brief guide to types of crosswalks and how to apply them.
What Is a Crosswalk?
According to the Maryland State Highway Administration (Maryland SHA), a crosswalk is “a part of a roadway that is within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at any place where 2 or more roadways of any type meet or join.” A crosswalk is a connection between two sidewalks where pedestrians can legally cross the road, and drivers should expect them. In general, you can see one at any street corner.
Types of Crosswalks
Four types of crosswalks
A crosswalk is not just those two white lines on the asphalt. Four types of crosswalks comprise two categories. The first is marked vs. unmarked. Drivers should recognize and stop in case of pedestrians in either scenario, although marked crosswalks will emphasize the passage more clearly.
The other category is controlled vs. uncontrolled. A controlled crosswalk has a traffic light to regulate pedestrian and driver travel, best for congested or high traffic roads. Meanwhile, the uncontrolled version would be any crosswalk marked or unmarked.
Crosswalk stripes
Among marked crosswalks are many types of marking styles.
- Standard: Two thin parallel lines for pedestrians to walk through
- Solid: A long, painted-in block
- Continental: A row of thick stripes bordered by no thin parallel lines
- Ladder: A row of thick stripes bordered by parallel lines, forming a “ladder”
- Zebra: Two parallel lines filled in with diagonal stripes
- Dashed: Two parallel dotted lines
Crosswalk Considerations
Designing a pedestrian crosswalk is an engineering science too complex to fully cover in one post. Many big-picture elements work together to create a safe traffic flow for all involved. For a crosswalk to be safe, one will need to consider the following:
- How in-demand a pedestrian crossing is at this point
- Is this the most direct route for pedestrians?
- Adequate sight distance for drivers to see the crossing and stop in time
- Adequate traffic calming to slow driver speeds around the site
- Other safety measures
Crosswalk Application
Once the design is ready, Teniseal/Parking Striping Corporation can expertly apply it. Aside from pedestrian crossings, they also apply cyclist markings, road striping, parking lot striping, and more.
Contact Teniseal/Parking Striping Corporation for Asphalt Road and Parking Lot Services!
Teniseal Corporation specializes in the application, restoration and maintenance of all types of asphalt surfaces. It makes sense to trust your asphalt job to experts with the experience and technical know-how to do your project right from the start to provide a long-lasting result. Teniseal offers services for Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard, Prince George’s, Harford, Carroll, and Montgomery counties in Maryland. For more information, email them at [email protected], or call them at 410-485-5660 or 410-485-0717. Keep in touch on social media through Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn!
