As there are more socially disadvantaged people such as the physically-challenged and theelderly, this study aims to examine problems like negligent accidents around crosswalks andinconvenience they experience, when using crosswalks from the viewpoint...
As there are more socially disadvantaged people such as the physically-challenged and theelderly, this study aims to examine problems like negligent accidents around crosswalks andinconvenience they experience, when using crosswalks from the viewpoint of universal design,and ultimately seek solutions. To find out the present state of facilities installed alongcrosswalks, this study collected and analyzed data about crosswalks installed at main roads in17 cities and provinces through Naver Road View. As research subjects, this study examinedwarning methods for the crosswalk entrance, traffic signal-installed places, whether to install theremaining-time indicator and ways of installing braille guiding blocks, etc. The research resultsshow that more bollards are recently installed to stop vehicles from entering, but some of themare damaged because of vehicle collision, resulting in destroying the beauty of the city. Besides,braille blocks are designed to warn visually-challenged people of possible dangers and guidethem in the right moving direction, but most of them are installed at the entrance of crosswalksin the form of raised blocks only. When working based on the sign method, remaining-timeindicators installed along with the traffic signal are given higher grades according to the BF(barrier-free) certification standard, but there are more remaining-time indicators working basedon the number method, and as the existing sign method-based indicators are gradually beingreplaced with number method-based indicators, it seems necessary to improve the presentconditions.
Since every crosswalk has different surroundings, this study proposed a checklist for theinstallation of crosswalk facilities by referring to the analysis data about the present state ofcrosswalks, the BF certification standard, the 7 principles of universal design and relevant actsand subordinate statutes in order to solve such problems. As for the checklist for theinstallation of crosswalk facilities, this study considered the characteristics of various kinds ofusers, such as children, the elderly and the physically-challenged, and proposed appropriatecontents to check the way of providing information, requirements for users’ convenience andsafety and accident prevention facilities. Moreover, as for braille blocks and bollards installedalong with crosswalk facilities, this study explained the necessity of maintenance according tothe related regulations and proposed some items to improve and examine through oversea casesof crosswalks.