To be safe, a walkway must meet the recommendations defined in the Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities published by AASHTO. While site furnishings, street vendors, and outdoor dining areas are desired for the variety and interest they add to pedestrian areas, they should not be designed or located where they protrude into the primary pedestrian route. Protrusions are hazardous especially to those pedestrians with low vision. Specific guidelines include:
A clear circulation path of at least 36 inches (.9m) should be maintained at all times, free of any obstacles or protruding objects. (Thirty-six inches should only be used for short distances. This document recommends a minimum of 6 feet wherever possible.)
Wall mounted objects shall not protrude more than 4 inches (100mm) from a wall when located between 27 inches (.675mm) and 7 feet (2.1m) above the walkway.
Single post mounted objects shall not overhang more than 4 inches (100mm) per side of post when located between 27 inches (.675mm) and 7 feet (2.1m) above the walkway.
The lowest edge of an object mounted on multiple posts having a clear distance between adjacent posts greater than 1 foot (.3m) shall be no higher than 27 inches (.675m) or no lower than 7 feet (2.1m).
Trees should be trimmed up so that the branches are at least 7 feet (2.1m) above the walkway.
The AASHTO guidelines, as well as others, define this clear circulation path as the pedestrian zone or through-pedestrian zone and recommend widths of 30 to 60 inches (see graphic). Between the pedestrian zone and the street is the furniture zone where trees, benches, mailboxes and other amenities are often located. The width of this zone ranges from 24 to 48 inches. Between the pedestrian zone and the building face is the frontage zone or shy zone, ranging from 12 to 60 inches wide. This is the area where doors open into and people stop to look in shop windows. In non-urban areas where the walkway is adjacent to open space, the frontage zone is not needed.
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