The preferred walking speed is the speed at which animals or humans choose to walk. Many people tend to walk at a speed of about 4.7 feet per second, which equates to about 3 MPH. When traffic signals are timed to allow pedestrians to cross, it is normally set at three or four feet per second, given the person’s age is unknown. Obviously, younger people tend to walk faster than older people and men tend to walk slightly faster than women. As an example, someone in their twenties may walk 3 MPH while someone in their eighties may be walking at only 2 MPH.
Those members of our society who are disabled or use an assistive device need additional time. As an example, someone walking with a cane or crutch will be walking at 2.6 feet per second while someone with a walker will be walking slower at 2 feet per second. Furthermore, an individual with an immobilized knee might be walking at 3.5 feet per second but, unfortunately, an amputee might be walking at less than 2 feet per second.
Unfortunately, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is not being followed or enforced in many areas across the U.S.
The primary problems include lack of appropriate signing, pedestrian crossings, truncated domes, proper ramps, and ramp design, and virtually every problem that exists creates an obstacle for our physically and sight impaired citizens that are going from a parking lot to a hospital or simply crossing a road.
In August 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provided a memorandum on the official ruling for channelizing devices at mid-block pedestrian crossings, in conjunction with in-street pedestrian crossing signs.
The purpose of the memorandum was to provide clarification regarding the flexibilities available for the use of channelizing devices and mid-block pedestrian crossings in conjunction with in-street pedestrian crossing signs. The interpretation is based on the provisions of the 2009 Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
Enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act made it illegal to discriminate against persons with disabilities. The law mandates that all public spaces accommodate persons with disabilities. Several measures to aid persons with disabilities may be applied at an intersection and to the entire sidewalk network. Perhaps most notable are curb ramps, detectable warning surfaces, and accessible pedestrian signals at signalized intersections.
While the guidelines and requirements presented by the U.S. Board represent the minimum provisions in the United States, local stipulations may be more stringent depending on the jurisdiction, therefore, the local regulations should always be considered to ensure that all applicable ADA Requirements are being satisfied.
We need, as a society, to make the road system safe. We should be doing everything possible to ensure the safety of all our citizens.