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BULBOUTS
Bulbouts are
extensions to the curb located at intersections, which result
in a narrower curb-to-curb roadway width. Costs range from $2,000
for simple designs to $50,000 for highly aesthetic versions. These
are often used with plantings and street furniture to enhance
the area and make the restricted width more conspicuous.
Their primary
purpose is to "pedestrianize" intersections by shortening
crossing distances. Vehicle turn speeds can be reduced providing
increased pedestrian safety.
Bulbouts are sometimes called nubs, neck-downs, knuckles, intersection
narrowing, corner bulges or safe crosses
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Temporary
Installation
Culver City, CA
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Permanent
Installation
Burbank, CA
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PROS
1.
Creates more pedestrian friendly intersection.
2.
Reduces pedestrian crossing distances.
3. Reduces speeds at location if travel lanes reduced
sufficiently.
4. Widely used traffic calming measure.
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CONS
1.
Can be expensive if landscaped.
2. May affect buses or larger vehicles if intersection
radii are tightened.
3. Require maintenance.
4. Tend to collect or trap trash.
5. Interfere with established drainage patterns.
6. Place pedestrians close to travel way.
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Summary
of Effectiveness
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Volume
Reduction
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Possible
|
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Speed
Reduction
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Possible
|
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Safety
Improvement
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Yes
|
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-
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-
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Streets
to Use On – Collector, Local
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Local/Collector
|
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Use
on Bus Route
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Yes
|
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Use
with Curbs and Gutters
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Yes
|
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Spot
or Area-wide Use
|
Spot
|
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-
|
-
|
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Emergency
Service Access Issues
|
Tight
radii
|
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Impacts
on Arterials
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Possible
|
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Change
in % Trucks
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Unknown
|
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Environmental
Changes
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Unknown
|
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-
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-
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Dependence
on Enforcement
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None
|
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Level
of Violation
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Self
Enforced
|
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-
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-
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Aesthetics
and Landscaping
|
Landscaping
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