One of Vision Zero’s strengths is its inclusivity, focusing on safe mobility for all road users — those walking, bicycling driving, riding transit or motorcycles or scooters, etc. Everyone.
Still, we know that people walking are our most vulnerable road users, especially seniors and people with disabilities, so there is much-warranted priority on pedestrian safety in Vision Zero efforts in the U.S.
That’s why we’re so excited by the release of a new guide Getting to the Curb: A Guide to Building Protected Bike Lanes That Work for Pedestrians, an illustrated design manual that details best practices for creating bike lanes that work for people of all abilities. Developed by advocates at Walk San Francisco, in collaboration with the Vision Zero SF Coalition’s Senior & Disability Working group, this new resource outlines important “do’s” and “don’ts” for accessible bike lane designs that work for everyone.
We think this is a great resource — using clear and easy-to-understand images — that can serve communities of all sizes as they continue to expand their bicycle networks and improving safety for all people walking, biking, and rolling.
As protected bike lanes become the standard in cities across the country, it is important to consider universal design principles. This includes allowing for accessibility for people in wheelchairs, with visual impairments, and other mobility concerns to curb ramps, bus stops, and crosswalks.
Below are more examples of the best practices recommended in the design guide aimed at ensuring we design (and often re-design) inclusive streets that serve everyone safely.
Kudos to Walk San Francisco & the Vision Zero SF Coalition’s Senior & Disability Working group for leading this important work. And we encourage other Vision Zero communities to embrace this approach.