Crosswalks are an important part of public roads. They allow pedestrians to cross roads safely, provided both they and motorists follow all of the traffic laws set in place. So, have you ever wondered about the dimensions of a crosswalk?
The width of a crosswalk varies from place to place, but it should be a minimum of 6 feet. Usually, the more foot traffic there is, the wider the crosswalk will be. The length of a crosswalk will depend on how wide the street is.
But width and length are only a tiny fraction of a crosswalk’s overall dimensions. In this guide, I’ll speak about crosswalk dimensions in greater detail, and I’ll also cover the various types of crosswalk markings.
What Is a Crosswalk?
A crosswalk is a part of a road where pedestrians are legally allowed to cross. They can be marked or unmarked, depending on the location of the road. For instance, high-traffic areas will have marked crosswalks, whereas roads in residential areas will have unmarked crosswalks.
Whether you’re a pedestrian or a motorist, you should know that all public street intersections are legal crosswalks. However, a crosswalk must be marked when it is placed in a mid-block location.
Crosswalk Dimensions
According to the Federal Highway Administration, the width of a crosswalk should be at least 6 feet long, while the length depends on how wide the road is. The rectangular markings used to denote a crosswalk should measure at least 12 inches in width and be spaced at least 12 inches apart from each other.
However, you will oftentimes find other markings that tell motorists where to stop in order to let pedestrians pass. The stop lines should measure between 12 and 24 inches wide and should be marked at least 4 feet in advance.
Types of Crosswalks
There are five types of crosswalks—controlled, uncontrolled, mid-block, marked, and unmarked.
Controlled Crosswalks
This is an intersection that has clear traffic signs. In intersections with stop signs, motorists have to come to a complete stop before passing, regardless of whether or not there are pedestrians.
At yield signs, motorists and pedestrians must at least slow down to allow other pedestrians and vehicles to pass first. However, they are free to continue driving or walking without coming to a halt as long as it’s safe to do so.
There are also signal-controlled crosswalks that use blinking or flashing lights to control non-vehicle traffic. You will typically find these at mid-block crosswalks.
Uncontrolled Crosswalks
An uncontrolled crosswalk is an intersection that is not controlled by traffic signs or light signals. Despite the lack of signs, motorists must always yield for pedestrians, regardless of who has the right of way.
Mid-Block Crosswalks
A mid-block crosswalk is a type of controlled crosswalk that connects opposite ends of a road that is not at an intersection. It will have highly visible lines and signs/lights to inform motorists that a non-intersection part of a road is designated as a crosswalk.
Marked Crosswalks
Controlled and uncontrolled crosswalks can also be classified as marked crosswalks. A marked crosswalk is a crosswalk that has been clearly marked with brightly colored paint to indicate where a pedestrian can cross. The markings are in place to tell motorists indirectly that they should be wary of pedestrians.
Unmarked Crosswalks
An unmarked crosswalk is a crosswalk that doesn’t have any lines that connect 2 opposite ends of an intersection. However, because all intersections are legal crosswalks unless stated otherwise, motorists should continue to exercise caution when pulling up to an intersection. Unmarked crosswalks are usually found in residential areas and may or may not come with road signs.
Types of Marking Patterns
The next time you take a drive around town, try and keep an eye out for the following crosswalk markings.
Standard
The standard markings of a crosswalk will include 2 solid lines placed at least 6 feet apart. Between the lines is bare concrete that informs pedestrians where they can walk when crossing the road. The lines are usually less than 6 inches wide, so motorists will have to get pretty close to the intersection to see them.
Solid
Some crosswalks are painted as a continuous line measuring 6 feet wide and spanning the entire width of the road. Solid lines are more imposing than dashed markings, making them more appropriate for high-traffic parts of a town.
Continental
Continental markings consist of thick rectangular stripes of solid paint that are separated by about a foot of space. These markings are more effective in getting motorists to yield than standard lines.
Dashed
This is a variant of standard markings, but instead of solid lines spanning the width of the road, they will consist of dashes that are separated by around 6 inches of blank space. With frequent painting, dashed markings can maintain their high visibility. However, they are less visible from a distance than solid and continental lines.
Zebra
A zebra crosswalk will consist of 2 solid lines spaced at least 6 feet apart. In between the lines will be solid blocks of paint measuring roughly 6 feet wide and placed at 45-degree angles. Zebra markings combine the best of both solid and continental patterns; they’re highly visible from a distance and maintain their brightness for long periods of time.
Ladder
A ladder crossing is just like a zebra crossing, except the wide rectangular stripes are perpendicular to the sidelines.
What Are the Differences Between White and Yellow Crosswalks?
Have you noticed how some crosswalks come in yellow while others are painted all white? The reason is quite simple—yellow markings denote school crossing, whereas white markings are used to indicate standard crossing zones.
Although motorists should exercise caution regardless of where they are, yellow markings yell drivers to pay extra attention to small children who might dart out onto the road unexpectedly. 2019 saw over 600 school-aged children die from crashes while attempting to cross the street, so when you pull up to a school zone, especially in a place of town you don’t frequent, always drive with extra care.
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