Test Your Knowledge on Sidewalk Design

7 Questions

The average grade along a contiguous grade that should be consistent with adjacent roadways

To prevent water from collecting on the path

The center of the sidewalk that pedestrians use for travel

The change in cross-slope over a given distance

The maximum grade along a contiguous grade

The narrowest point on a sidewalk

The average cross-slope of a contiguous section of sidewalk

Study Notes

Sidewalk Design Characteristics: Grade, Cross-Slope, and Width

Grade:

Running grade is the average grade along a contiguous grade, which should be consistent with the running grade of adjacent roadways.
Maximum grade is a limited section of path that exceeds the typical running grade.
Rate of change of grade is the change in grade over a given distance, measured over intervals (60cm).

Cross-Slope:

Running cross-slope is the average cross-slope of a contiguous section of sidewalk.
Maximum cross-slopes can occur within a typical running cross-slope.
Rate of change of cross-slope is the change in cross-slope over a given distance, measured over intervals (60cm).
Most sidewalks have some degree of cross-slope to prevent water from collecting on the path.

Width:

Design width specifies the sidewalk's width, extending from the curb or planting strip to any buildings or plantings that form the opposite borders of the sidewalk.
Minimum clearance width is the narrowest point on a sidewalk.
Pedestrian travel tendencies affect sidewalk width, with pedestrians avoiding edges and the "shy distance."
Effective width is the center of the sidewalk that pedestrians use for travel, typically (1.80 meters) of a (3.00-meter) sidewalk.