5.11 Pedestrian and cycle crossings

Good pedestrian and cycle crossings are essential to creating healthy streets.

Streets should be easy to cross and pedestrians should have priority in most cases.

Well-designed crossings also help calm traffic, improve street aesthetics and provide opportunities for trees and other street greenery. The following crossing types should be used for new streets in Surrey:

Informal Crossings

Continuous or ‘Copenhagen’ crossings. As described in Section 5.2, these are extensions of the pavement across junctions of local and other tertiary streets from primary or Secondary streets. They essentially reverse the convention of pedestrian crossings; vehicles must instead cross the pedestrian realm and do not have priority. These crossings should be included on all new developments.

Uncontrolled crossings or courtesy crossings. Pedestrians can cross at these when they feel comfortable but have no formal priority.

Ideally, raised table crossings, constructed in the same material as the footway to slow traffic and create a level surface. Otherwise, a drop kerb with a maximum 1:12 ramp down should be used to create a level surface, along with coloured or patterned surfacing across the carriageway to indicate the crossing location.

The crossing should be the same width as the footway, and a minimum of 2m.

Tactile paving, in accordance with the latest DfT guidance, is required on either side [Reference 17].

The crossing should also incorporate build outs, where appropriate, to narrow the carriageway.

The crossings should be provided along pedestrian desire lines and at regular intervals on long links.

Informal zebra crossings. Trials have recently been undertaken in Greater Manchester of non-proscribed zebra crossings on side streets [Reference 17]. Wider trials have been proposed and potential regulatory changes will permit wider use of these in the future.

Opportunities should be identified for such crossings on new and existing streets in Surrey, ahead of these crossings obtaining regulatory approval.

Formal Crossings - Controlled and uncontrolled

Zebra crossing. Controlled crossing used to provide pedestrians with priority as they cross from one side of the street to the other. Marked with white parallel strips and flashing yellow ‘Belisha’ beacons.

These can be used across the full width of the carriageway or in conjunction with refuge islands to enable crossing in two stages with shorter crossing distances.

These should be used in conjunction with a raised table to provide a level crossing and provide traffic calming.

Parallel crossing. Zebra crossings that feature separate space for cycles alongside the pedestrian crossing, demarcated with ‘elephant’s footprints’ markings.

Pedex and Pelican crossings. Signal-controlled crossings are used to provide dedicated time for pedestrians to cross one side of the street to the other on wider streets with faster-moving traffic. This crossing is controlled through traffic lights.

Multiple stage crossings should be avoided, they must therefore be as short and direct as possible.

Toucan crossing. Similar to other signal-controlled crossings these allow cyclists to cross without dismounting, mixing with pedestrians in the same space.

Signal-controlled cycle crossing. Similar to Pedex crossings, but for cycles, these usually connect cycle tracks across an intersecting road.

These can be used as standalone crossings or run parallel to pedestrian crossings.

Pedestrian priority signal. These controlled crossings should be used in areas of high footfall. These appear green to pedestrians by default until a vehicle is sensed.

Scramble crossings. Usually signal-controlled, these are located at intersections where pedestrians can cross in any direction, including diagonally. These offer a shorter overall crossing for pedestrians in both time and distance. They require a dedicated pedestrian phase in traffic signals and are best suited to busy town centre streets with high foot traffic.

References

• Reference 17: TRL (2022) Published project report PPR1003: Non-prescribed zebra crossings at side roads (Final report) (Return to content for reference 17).