Underground pedestrian crossing - a safe solution to transport problems

A pedestrian crossing, popularly called a zebra crossing, must strictly comply with GOST to guarantee pedestrians safe crossing of a busy highway. To make it easy to identify such a section on the road surface, special signs and markings were developed.

However, modern approaches to regulating traffic require significant changes to improve the safety of all participants. A number of adopted and expected innovations in traffic rules also affected state standards for pedestrian zones.

Classification of pedestrian crossings

Such a section of the road must be marked with markings or road signs indicating to the pedestrian that crossing the street here is not only permitted, but also safe.

According to traffic rules, a pedestrian must cross the highway only in a certain area specially equipped for this.

Today, the following types of crossings for pedestrian traffic participants are distinguished:

1. Unregulated. Placed on roads not congested with cars. They are equipped with a non-working/turned off traffic light or do not have one at all.
2. Adjustable. These include all crossings that are equipped with a working traffic light.
3. Diagonal. They can be seen at intersections because they allow you to cross the street “obliquely.” They always have clear markings and are also required to be equipped with a traffic light operating normally.
4. Off-street:

• above-ground (built above the roadway);
• underground (pass under the road surface).

Off-street crossings are the safest for passengers, unlike ground crossings. In addition, they significantly relieve congestion on the route, since drivers do not need to stop the vehicle to allow people to pass.

Use of underground and overground passages. Which ones are better?

"Geography" of underground and overground passages

Considering the history of the emergence of both types of transitions and the preference for one or the other in different countries, one can notice interesting geographical features.
Thus, underground passages, which arose in connection with the increased load on highways, became most widespread in the USSR and the countries of Eastern Europe. At the same time, preference was given to off-street underground passages for the reason that they did not spoil the architectural appearance of the city. For example, Warsaw today is practically the record holder for the number of underground passages among Polish cities: after the destruction during the Second World War, the city was built according to Soviet standards, including underground passages in the planning of districts. Things are a little different in Prague. There are no off-street passages in the historical part of the city at all, and on the outskirts underground passages are used, which are most often combined with metro exits. On the roadway, such crossings, as a rule, are not duplicated. Dresden, located on the territory of the former GDR, also boasts a large number of this type of crossings, but today most of them are marked on the ground part.

In Western European countries, off-street crossings are practiced much less frequently. For example, in London, which is comparable in scale to the capital of Russia, in 2009 it was announced that off-street crossings would be replaced with crossings at the roadway level where possible. It should be noted that until this moment in the capital of England there were approximately one and a half times fewer off-street pedestrian crossings than in Moscow.

Paris and Rome did not develop the construction of underground passages at all: this type exists in these cities exclusively in the form of combined with exits from metro stations. In Stockholm and Munich, there are a small number of underground passages, but in these cities they are equipped with escalators and ramps for the comfortable movement of people with limited mobility.

As for elevated pedestrian crossings, they have become widespread mainly in Asian countries: China (Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing), Thailand (Bangkok). These cities have a very low level of motorization compared to European indicators and a high building density. Perhaps it is for this reason that it is more convenient to build this type of transition here.

St. Petersburg: what practice to apply?

Today in St. Petersburg there is a question of further development of the construction of off-street crossings. Which one to choose: aboveground or underground? If we consider from the point of view of the architectural component, then in the historical areas of the city, undoubtedly, overpasses should be completely absent. However, recently the construction of such a crossing was carried out in a “dormitory” area: at the intersection of Glory Avenue and Belgrade Street. The appearance of this design leaves much to be desired, although its style is defined as “futuristic”. Moreover, after a short time, the building began to collapse: gusts of wind, climate and the conscientiousness of the developers made themselves felt. Pedestrians complain that walking around the structure is scary, as it is noticeably wobbly.

In addition, citizens with limited mobility in our city already have difficulties with movement, and it is even more difficult for them to climb the high stairs that are mostly equipped with overpasses. And any other person doesn’t want to seriously lengthen their journey so much in order to cross the road.

Of course, such buildings are much more profitable financially, since there is no need to change and rebuild communication devices. In addition, materials for manufacturing and the scale of work will also be cheaper. However, here the decision to build one type of crossing or another depends on priorities.

Types of road markings

Road markings exist for safe traffic and are strictly regulated by state standards. They spell out the basic requirements for applying markings to the road surface, depending on their purpose.

To designate areas intended for crossing the street, the following types of markings are used:

• 1.14.1. Classic. It is used on crossings whose width does not exceed 6 m. The marking consists of uniform wide stripes applied parallel along the road.
• 1.14.2. Combined. It is a double classic marking with arrows that determine the course of movement. Used only on crossings whose width exceeds 6 m.

Regardless of the type of marking, it consists of a series of horizontal stripes located parallel to each other at a distance of 60 cm. The stripes are usually applied with white or yellow paint, although white and yellow markings are also allowed.

Such markings can be used either independently or in combination with road signs 5.19.1 or 5.19.2

Standards for the arrangement of pedestrian crossings

Pedestrian zones play an important role in road safety. For this reason, the state puts forward high standards for their arrangement, which are periodically subject to changes.

Requirements GOST R 52289-2004

Standard 52289-2004 establishes requirements for the use of technical means to organize safe traffic on the road.

According to GOST R 52289-2004:

1. It is not permitted to place advertising posters, green spaces or other devices that obstruct the view of a road sign or traffic light.
2. Markings that are difficult to see due to weather conditions must be temporarily reinforced with appropriate signs.
3. Visibility of signs is 100 meters or more.
4. Sign 1.22 must be installed in front of all unregulated crossings that are not visible at a distance of up to 150 m.
5. Signs 5.19.1 and 5.19.2 are installed at a distance of no more than 1 m from the transition boundaries. The first sign should be on the right of the road or carriageway, and the second on the left.
6. To determine the width of the pedestrian zone, you should use the formula: 1m = 500 pedestrians/hour, but not less than 4 m.
7. Traffic lights are a technical means of regulating traffic at crossings for pedestrians.

The regulatory document also allows for the introduction of extreme markings or signs, but only after agreement with the State Traffic Inspectorate.

Standards GOST R 52766-2007

GOST R 52766-2007 made adjustments to the arrangement of areas for pedestrians. The document contains the following standards:

1. The distance between crossings in populated areas is 200-300 m. The exception is residential areas with a length of less than 0.5 km. In this case, the distance can be 100-150 m, and the number of transitions should not exceed 2.
2. If the width of the roadway is more than 15 m, pedestrian areas must be equipped with traffic islands.
3. Outside populated areas, crossings are installed near public institutions and in such a way that they are clearly visible from both sides of the roadway, at a distance of 150 meters or more.
4. Near regulated crossings there should be railing-type fences on both sides of the road. The distance is more than 50 m in both directions.
5. On multi-lane roads, in places of off-street crossings, it is mandatory to install fences no less than 20 m long on both sides of the overground or underground crossing. Installation location: dividing strip.

This GOST is not perfect and requires some modifications, including the introduction of a requirement for the mandatory installation of an off-street crossing with more than 3 lanes in one direction.

What has changed in GOST R 58398-2019

GOST R 58398-2019 does not cancel the standards established by previously adopted standards, but only supplements them to make it possible to organize comfortable and safe road traffic for all its participants.

According to the normative act:

1. The standard size of signs can be reduced to 50-40 cm.
2. Use of additional attention frames on signs 5.19.1 and 5.19.2 installed in dimly lit areas or indicating unregulated pedestrians.
3. Introduction of signs 5.19.3 and 5.19. 4, which allow you to cross the street diagonally.

Some requirements of the new standard contradict GOSTs adopted years earlier, but do not cancel them.

Advantages of overground and underground pedestrian crossings

Modern conditions of urban life dictate the need for a comprehensive solution to all security issues on highways and roads related to the operation of objects belonging to the road infrastructure. The latest equipment and technologies are used. Traffic accident statistics show that most accidents that occur in cities involve pedestrians. This is the most vulnerable and at the same time the largest group taking part in road traffic. Such accidents most often occur when people cross roads.

Despite its simplicity, combined with the necessary markings, traffic lights, clear signs, etc., the ground crossing cannot fully guarantee the safety of pedestrians. It reduces the speed of movement of vehicles on roads and increases the noise level near the roadway (due to braking and acceleration of the vehicle). In addition, a large number of land crossings leads to an increase in accidents and high injuries.

This situation requires solving the issue of regulating the movement of citizens using specially designed travel routes. Important conditions are the isolation of such paths from the roadway, ease of use, accessibility, as well as their connection with various parts of the city infrastructure.

Perhaps the most effective way to protect pedestrians today is the production of overhead pedestrian crossings and the construction of underground structures. They completely ensure safety when crossing the street, make traffic accidents as minimal as possible and speed up the movement of traffic.

Fines for pedestrians and drivers

According to current traffic regulations, every driver approaching an unregulated pedestrian zone must give way to a pedestrian who is crossing the street or has just stepped onto a zebra crossing.

Failure to comply with these rules is an administrative offense, punishable by a fine of 1.5 thousand rubles. If a pedestrian transports children, the fine for ignoring traffic rules will be 3 thousand rubles. If you pay the fine early, its amount will be halved.

Stopping in a zone for pedestrians, as well as at a distance of less than 5 m from it, is illegal. For such an offense, the driver faces a fine of 1,000 rubles.

Despite the fact that vehicle drivers are most often subject to fines, pedestrians also violate traffic rules. One of these offenses is jaywalking, for which the person may be given a warning or a fine of 500 rubles.

Rules of application

GOST quite clearly defines the cases when fences are required to be installed, and also regulates the installation location and the length of the structure.

Retaining barriers are required to be installed on bridges from the outer edge of sidewalks, as well as in overpasses.

For cases where the pedestrian area is limited to the side of the road and the height of the embankment exceeds 1 m, the installation of retaining fences is also required. It is recommended to retreat 0.3 m from the earthen edge.

To organize pedestrian crossings across the railway, retaining fences are also needed.

Mandatory cases of using restrictive pedestrian barriers:

• if a section of road/street with regulated or unregulated pedestrian crossings is located along children's institutions, it is necessary to install fences of at least 50 m in length in each direction from the crossing;
• sections of sidewalks with permitted stopping and parking of vehicles, where traffic intensity exceeds 1000 people/hour per lane;
• sections of sidewalks without permission to stop and park vehicles, where the traffic intensity is more than 750 people/hour per lane;
• on dividing strips opposite public transport stops with overground and underground passages, the length of the fences must be at least 20 m in each direction outside the stop.

It is recommended to use restrictive fences also opposite exits from public buildings and crowded places: shopping and office centers, stadiums and markets, metro stations.

Another recommendation is to separate roads with continuous traffic and a large number of lanes with pedestrian barriers.

It is recommended to install boundary structures at a distance of at least 0.3 m from the edge of the roadway or the front surface of the curb.

2021 innovations in traffic rules

Despite a number of adopted changes, the organization of zones for pedestrians remains unfinished. All imperfections can be eliminated only by adopting the next innovations in traffic rules.

Thus, the official traffic police portal received a proposal on the need to check all existing crossings, since most of them do not comply with established standards. It would also be useful to review their number, since the number of motorists is growing every year.

Innovations may also affect the “appearance” of zebras. It is planned to introduce warning signs that will make zebra crossings more visible to drivers.