Why sidewalks

We really enjoyed your comment! Did you know there is a Wonder about the SUN already? We thought it was interesting to learn new things about sidewalks, too, Jenna! Thank you for sharing this comment with everyone in Wonderopolis today, and also for guessing what you think tomorrow's Wonder might be about! We can't wait to see if you are right! It's always good to take what you learn about something and strive to learn more, more, MORE!

Thank you for leaving us this great comment today! We are so excited to hear about your sidewalk poems, Mrs. We will send good wishes for great weather! We like the video, too, Natalia! That little boy sure does like to hop a lot, doesn't he? Thank you for visiting Wonderopolis today! You'll have to check back to see if you were right! Thank you for hanging out in Wonderopolis today and leaving us a comment! We are undergoing some spring clearing site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature.

Thanks for your patience. Drag a word to its definition. You have answered 0 of 3 questions correctly and your score is:. Want to add a little wonder to your website? Help spread the wonder of families learning together. We sent you SMS, for complete subscription please reply. Follow Twitter Instagram Facebook. Why do sidewalks have lines?

What is a contraction joint? What is concrete made of? Tags: See All Tags aluminum , builder , building , bumpy , cement , concrete , contraction , crack , crushed , element , glue , grooving , hopscotch , hydration , iron , joint , line , material , plastic , play , rock , sand , saw , sidewalk , smooth , strip , tool , zip-strip. Wonder What's Next? Try It Out When you walk along the sidewalk, do you try to avoid the lines?

Keep the learning moving along today by checking out one or more of the following fun activities with a friend or family member: Get up close and personal with the sidewalks in your neighborhood. You may have walked on them for years and years without ever really noticing them, but today you're going to get to know them.

Get down on your hands and knees and examine the sidewalks in your area closely. Do you see the contraction joints? How long are they? Bring along a ruler or measuring stick to do some basic measurements. How far apart are the contraction joints?

Do you notice any other cracks in the sidewalk? Have the contraction joints cracked in places? Bring along some water to test for cracks. Pour water along the contraction joints and watch for areas where it pools solid and areas where it disappears cracks.

Have fun putting what you learned in today's Wonder of the Day to use in a scientific, practical way! Up for a challenge? Are you a poet and don't yet know it? We hope so! Don't worry. We'll explain. This will be a piece of cake. First, pretend that you are a sidewalk. What is life like for a sidewalk? Use your imagination. What kinds of things do you see, hear and feel? Do you get tired of people walking on you?

Or do you take delight in children riding their bikes or playing hopscotch on you? Write a short poem that shows what you think a sidewalk might say, think or feel. Larger trees protect pedestrians from errant vehicles. A clear zone represents an unobstructed, traversable area beyond the traveled way, often a paved or planted shoulder or a short setback on the sidewalk. While clear zones are applicable as a safety parameter for the Interstate and freeway system, in urban settings, delineation of a minimum set back from the curb is not a required element.

To the greatest extent possible, the lateral distance between the traveled way and the sidewalk or parking lane should be minimized, providing ample space for sidewalks and other amenities. Removal of roadside impediments trees, street furniture, etc. Street trees and other roadside features are superior to wide shoulders or run-off zones, as they can decrease overall speeds and encourage a more pedestrian-friendly environment. Shannon H. Rogers, John M. Halstead, Kevin M. Gardner, and Cynthia H.

Design and Engineering Manual Washington, D. Department of Transportation, : 29—3. Urban Street Design Guide. Guide Navigation. Click a number for more information. Frontage Zone 1 The frontage zone describes the section of the sidewalk that functions as an extension of the building, whether through entryways and doors or sidewalk cafes and sandwich boards.

The frontage zone consists of both the structure and the facade of the building fronting the street, as well as the space immediately adjacent to the building. Pedestrian Through Zone 2 The pedestrian through zone is the primary, accessible pathway that runs parallel to the street. The through zone ensures that pedestrians have a safe and adequate place to walk and should be 5—7 feet wide in residential settings and 8—12 feet wide in downtown or commercial areas.

The street furniture zone may also consist of green infrastructure elements, such as rain gardens or flow-through planters. These include curb extensions , parklets , stormwater management features , parking, bike racks, bike share stations, and curbside bike lanes or cycle tracks. Sidewalks are an essential component of the urban environment and serve as key corridors for people, goods, and commerce.

In accordance with ADA accessibility guidelines, sidewalks should be provided on all streets in urban areas. Numerous studies have shown that good pedestrian network connectivity and walkability have a positive impact on land values.

The choice, convenience and variety of walkable neighborhoods are reflected in housing markets and are the product of consumer demand for these attributes. Sidewalks have significant lifespans and can be maintained without replacement for 25 years or more, depending on the context.

Sidewalks have a desired minimum through zone of 6 feet and an absolute minimum of 5 feet. Where a sidewalk is directly adjacent to moving traffic, the desired minimum is 8 feet, providing a minimum 2-foot buffer for street furniture and utilities. Sidewalk design should go beyond the bare minimums in both width and amenities. Pedestrians and businesses thrive where sidewalks have been designed at an appropriate scale, with sufficient lighting, shade, and street-level activity.

These considerations are especially important for streets with higher traffic speeds and volumes, where pedestrians may otherwise feel unsafe and avoid walking. Sidewalks should be provided on both sides of all streets in all urban areas. On shared streets, the street itself serves as the path of travel and should be designed in accordance with accessibility recommendations outlined in the shared street section of these guidelines.

In certain instances, such as on more rural or suburban roads connecting urban areas, it may be advantageous to build a shared-use path adjacent to the main roadway as a substitute for a sidewalk. Photo Credit: Jennifer Bartlett. Accessible sidewalks or pathways should be provided and maintained along both sides of streets and highways in urban areas, particularly near school zones and transit locations, and where there is frequent pedestrian activity.

Sidewalks should be considered the preferred treatment for accommodating pedestrians in urban areas and where frequent pedestrian use is expected. For less developed areas with occasional pedestrian traffic expected, the Guidance Memorandum provides the following:. Walkable shoulders minimum of 4 feet stabilized or paved surface should be provided along both sides of rural highways… 9.

Photo Credit: Michael Ronkin Walkways Annually, around 4, pedestrians are killed in traffic crashes with motor vehicles in the United States. Benefits of Sidewalks Sidewalks separated from the roadway are the preferred accommodation for pedestrians. Installing or widening paved shoulders has the following benefits: Provides a stable surface off of the roadway for pedestrians to use when sidewalks cannot be provided.

Publication No. Report No. Paid quarterly. Inclusive of applicable taxes VAT. So, after waiting more than years for a pavement …. Paid quarterly Inclusive of applicable taxes VAT.