Chapter 4: I need more information!
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Definition of key terms
The following is some important, basic terminology that you may hear transportation professionals and pedestrian advocates use in relation to pedestrians and pedestrian accommodations:
Public right-of-way (ROW)
The strip of land on which infrastructure such as highways, railroads, or power lines are built. The right-of-way includes the area where sidewalks are built and traffic signs are posted. Obtaining the ROW to build a sidewalk is often a significant challenge.
Shared-use path or trail
A shared-use path (sometimes called multi-use or off-street paths or trails) can be used by pedestrians, bicyclists, inline skaters, and others. It typically is physically separated (usually on a separate right-of-way) from motor vehicle traffic by an open space or barrier.
Sidewalk easement
A sidewalk easement is a limited right to use another's land for the purpose of constructing, altering, relocating, extending, maintaining, or using a public sidewalk. Sidewalk easements are often established in contracts between town agencies and private property owners in a cooperative effort to provide space for pedestrians.
Unmarked crosswalk
An unmarked crosswalk is the portion of a roadway included within the extension or connection of imaginary boundary lines of sidewalks at intersections. It is legal to cross at unmarked crosswalks at intersections (unless a restriction is posted), but many drivers, pedestrians, and even law enforcement officers may not know this.
Street connectivity
Streets that are not well connected can limit people's abilities to travel in the most direct path, increase distances to destinations, require larger intersections to move vehicular traffic, increase a pedestrian's exposure to vehicles (which increases the risk of being hit), and can discourage walking.
When a town or developer proposes a new plan or development project, you can attend public hearings, ask questions about street design and connectivity, and provide inputs that can influence the developer or town officials to improve connectivity for pedestrians. Find out about new proposals by regularly monitoring your community's schedule for public hearings.
For existing communities with poor connectivity, you can request that the town build sidewalks/paths or purchase sidewalk easements between cul-de-sacs to better connect the pedestrian network (see image), or work with neighbors to allow and ultimately develop informal paths/trails.
Accessibility
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 requires that all facilities covered by the law be "accessible" to people with all abilities. "Accessible" designs are covered by the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). The term "accessible" is often used to describe environments that meet these standards.
For More Information:
The ADAAG are available at http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm.
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