Words on the Street
Welcome to Words on the Street, where we demystify and break down the jargon-y world of transit terminology!
On today’s episode of Words on the Street we’re talking about “bulb-outs”.
Bulb-outs (sometimes called curb extensions or bump-outs) are a traffic calming feature you'll see in residential zones and other areas with heavy pedestrian traffic. They work in a few different ways, first by making pedestrians and street signs more visible, but also by reducing the amount of time folks are in the road while crossing the street. An added benefit is that, as the road visually narrows, it causes cars to slow down which increases overall safety for all modes!
Check out the video to see what bulb-outs are all about.
Today we’re unpacking a term that comes up a lot in transportation talk: multi-modal. A multi-modal transportation network allows people to choose from a full menu of options to get around safely and efficiently. Diversifying our transit system can help ease traffic congestion, make our communities more accessible, and reduce carbon emissions. Let's hear it for all modes!
Today we’re talking about those bumpy yellow plates you see on sidewalk corners. They have a name and serve a very important purpose: keeping our streets safer for community members with visual impairments and disabilities, and are a key component of any accessible, complete street system. Check out this video to learn about truncated domes, today's Words on the Street!
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On today's episode of Words on the Street we navigate the ins and outs of "sharrows".
You’ve likely seen a “sharrow” before, but did you know their name?
The word “sharrow” is a combination of the two words “share” and “arrow” and are usually placed on lower speed roads like neighborhood streets. A sharrow is NOT a bike lane. It does not create space reserved for cyclists, but rather brings attention to areas where motorists and cyclists must coexist- where a separate bike lane is not available.
There’s a lot of debate about the effectiveness of sharrows and since they are so easy and inexpensive to install it may be tempting to lean on them rather than treatments that may require more design and additional costs.
Sharrows, with proper education and community buy-in, can be a tool in our toolbox of how we move people, but they are not a substitute for truly safe and connected dedicated pathways for cyclists.