After decades of car-oriented transportation planning and policy, there is a backlog demand for pedestrian-friendly measures
Seven out of ten pedestrian victims of fatal collisions with motor vehicles could still be alive today if the motor vehicle speed had been reduced by 15 km/h. For improved road safety – not just for pedestrians – the speed limit in urban areas should not exceed 30 km/h.
Traffic lanes and parking spaces are usually overdimensioned. In many cases there are more traffic lanes than needed to accomodate current motor traffic volumes. This is a waste of space.
Legal and illegal parking, and the associated vehicular movements, must be banned from pedestrian facilities, and compliance must be aggressively enforced by means of frequent in-spection and drastic fines. The traffic sign indicating “parking on sidewalk” must be abol-ished.
Cycling facilities must be part of the road surface, not of pedestrian facilities. This is not only required to reduce the risk to pedestrians, but also to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists..
A substantial part of current motor vehicle traffic – particularly in urban areas – can be trans-ferred to walking, cycling, or public transport.
Parking meters, traffic lights, signposts, etc. should be placed in the space dedicated to the type of traffic participants for which they are intended.
Currently, an adequate transport network only exists for motor vehicle traffic. The network of pedestrian facilities to be developed must be designed to meet the needs of pedestrians and meet the highest safety standards.
Pedestrian traffic patterns should not be channeled into a small number of road crossings. This only concentrates accidents without preventing them. Fences, walls, and other obstructive measures must be removed. Bridges and subways for pedestrians cannot provide solutions to this problem. But safe crossing can be achieved nearly anywhere with a reduction of the maxi-mum speed to 30 km/h.
Safety zones before and after pedestrians crossings must be kept free from parked cars. To improve the sight lines for pedestrians, pedestrian facilities should project approximately 75 cm (30 in.) into the outside traffic lane.
Currently, traffic lights only serve to accellerate motor vehicle traffic.
The design of designated pedestrian crossings should signal the need for attention by motor-ists and force them to reduce their speed.
Public transport must become more attractive in order for motor vehicle traffic to be reduced, while simultaneously increasing the demand for public transport.
Fußgängerschutzverein FUSS e.V. is based on the initiative and the activities of its members. As a pressure group, it gives advice and provides solutions for the improvement of conditions for pedestrians. However, the situation for pedestrians can only be improved if as many people as possible become active.
Fachverband Fußverkehr Deutschland
www.fuss-ev.de
Exerzierstr. 20, 13357 Berlin
Tel. 030-492 74 73
Fax 030 - 492 79 72
eMail: info@fuss - ev.de
FUSS e.V. is the national member for Germany of the
IFP International Federation of Pedestrians
www.pedestrians-int.org
FIP Fédération Internationale des Piétons
Internationale Förderation der Fußgängerverbände
S. Olof Gunnarsson, Präsident
Secretary of IFP: Christian M. Thomas
Klosbachstraße 48, CH - 8032 Zürich
Tel. 0041 / 43 488 40 - 34, Fax - 39
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www.pedestrians-int.org
FUSS e.V. is a founding member of the
FEPA Federation of European Pedestrians Associations
www.pedestrians-europe.org
Acting Secretary: Trence Bendixson,
39 Elm Park Gardens, London SW10 9QF, United Kingdom
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FUSS e.V. is also a founding member of the
D+A+CH
Fussverkehr Schweiz www.fussverkehr.ch + www.walk-space.at Der Österreichische Verein für FußgängerInnen + FUSS e.V. Fachverband Fußverkehr Deutschland
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