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FHWA Course on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation

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LESSON 16: MID-BLOCK CROSSINGS (INSTRUCTOR'S NOTES)

Objectives:

Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

  1. Describe problems associated with using mid-block crossings.
  2. Explain the advantages of using medians for mid-block crossings.
  3. Explain the design considerations for using medians for mid-block crossings.
  4. Describe where and under what circumstances mid-block crossings should be allowed.  

Pre-Instruction:  

Components

Activities

Motivation

Ask the students if they can tell you where there are mid-block crossings in your community. Ask the students if these crossing locations are appropriate. Have them think about other places, locally, where a mid-block crossing might be useful.

Objectives

Present and explain the four lesson goals listed above (V-16-1).

Information Presentation:

Components

Activities

Information Sequence

Outline the presentation of the lecture (V-16-2).

Information

Explain the pros and cons of having mid-block crossings.   Discuss the advantages of using medians in conjunction with mid-block crossings (V-16-3).   Discuss the design considerations of using medians in conjunction with mid-block crossings (V-16-4).  

Explain where and under what circumstances mid-block crossings should be allowed (V-16-5).

Example(s)

Show examples (e.g., slides, videotape) of the different design practices related to mid-block crossings that are cited in the text.

Student Participation:

Components

Activities

Practice

Use the activity provided in the Student's Guide.

Feedback

Provide comment and feedback to the class as appropriate.

Follow-Up:

Components

Activities

Enrichment

Assign reading for Lesson 17.  

Have the students visit the home page of the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (http://www.access-board.gov/). Ask them to bring to the next class information on issues related to accommodating disabled pedestrians.

Review

Provide a summary of Lesson 16 (V-16-6).

Exercise

Ask the students to complete the exercise at the end of Lesson 16 in their workbooks. This exercise is reprinted below for your convenience.

16.9 Exercise

Choose an urban site that would be a good candidate for a mid-block crossing with a pedestrian refuge island. Document the reasons that people often cross at this site (or would cross, given the opportunity). Photograph the site and prepare a sketch design solution.

Lesson Objectives:

Lesson Outline:

Advantages of Using Medians:

Design Considerations for Using Medians:

Use of Mid-block Crossings:

Lesson Summary:

 

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Page last modified on February 1, 2013
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