Pedestrian Timing Requirements

Pedestrian movements across signalized intersections are typically accommodated by one of the following operational options:

• Pedestrians cross the street with the parallel vehicular green indication (no pedestrian
• signal display).
• Pedestrian movements are controlled by a concurrent separate pedestrian signal
• display.
• Pedestrians move on an exclusive phase while all vehicular traffic is stopped.

The essential factor in any of these options is to provide adequate time for the pedestrian to enter the intersection (walk interval) and to safely cross the street (pedestrian clearance interval). In cases where there are no separate pedestrian displays and the pedestrian moves concurrently with vehicular traffic on the parallel street, the time allocated to vehicular traffic must consider the time required for pedestrians to react to the vehicular green indication and move across the street.

When separate pedestrian displays (WALK, DONT WALK) are used, the minimum WALK interval generally ranges from 4 to 7 seconds (as recommended by the MUTCD 4D-7). This allows the pedestrian ample opportunity to leave the curb before the pedestrian clearance interval commences. Various research studies have indicated that when there are fewer than 10 pedestrians per cycle, the lower 4 second WALK interval is usually adequate.

The MUTCD mandates that a pedestrian clearance interval always be provided where pedestrian indications are used. During this interval, a flashing DONT WALK indication is displayed long enough to allow the pedestrian to travel from the curb to the center of the farthest travel lane before opposing vehicles receive a green indication. Some agencies terminate the flashing DONT WALK and display a steady DONT WALK at the onset of the yellow vehicular change interval. This encourages those pedestrians still in the crosswalk to complete the crossing without delay. The calculation of the pedestrian clearance time therefore includes the yellow change interval. That is, the pedestrian clearance time equals the flashing DONT WALK plus the yellow change interval. . . .

The typical walking speed of 4 ft/s, as cited in the MUTCD, is assumed to represent the "normal" pedestrian. There are, however, various categories within the general population that walk at a slower rate. For example, some female pedestrians walk slower than some male pedestrians; very young children, the elderly, and the handicapped also walk at a slower rate. Research on pedestrian characteristics verify that over 60% of all pedestrians move slower than 4 ft/s and 15% walk at or below 3.5 ft/s.