The objective of this project was to develop traffic planning and engineering guidelines for the design of pedestrian facilities that are sensitive to the needs of older pedestrians. A detailed task analysis and literature review were conducted to identify the aspects of the pedestrian's task that are difficult for older persons, including motor, sensory, perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral factors. Several activites were undertaken to identify specific problems experienced by older pedestrians that could be addressed by changes in design standards and operational practices. These activities included analysis of accident exposure data, a survey of older pedestrians, focus group discussions, and a survey of practitioners. It was determined that older pedestrians experience difficulties at signalized intersections and often do not have sufficient time to cross. A field study was conducted to determine the walking speed, startup time, and stride length of older pedestrians. More than 7,000 pedestrians in four cities were observed in order to measure these parameters. Specific recommendations for changes to highway design and operational practices are described.
Abstract