Perils for Pedestrians

TV talk about people who walk

Perils for Pedestrians Episode 47

Topics in Episode 47:

  • Absurd sidewalk designs.

  • Landmark pedestrian legislation in Maryland.

  • The Center For The Visually Impaired in Atlanta, Georgia.

  • The Human Powered Transportation course at Princeton University.

Photo - Absurd curving sidewalk

Pedestrians naturally walk in a straight line. This curving sidewalk may satisfy some landscape architect's whim, but it is far inferior to a straight sidewalk for anyone trying to walk to a destination. There are better designs if you absolutely have to curve a sidewalk.

Photo - curved sidewalk design with central straight section.

How do you have a straight sidewalk without straight edges? Start with a straight sidewalk. Double its width. Curve the edges of the extra width. There is a straight path hidden inside the curvy edges of the wider path. If your landscape architects just can't stand to build a straight line, perhaps this will make them happy..