GLOSSARY

Traffic Calming

Traffic calming is the use of physical design and other measures to slow vehicle traffic and make streets and parking facilities safer for pedestrians, cyclists and residents.

TRAFFIC CALMING IN A PARKING LOT OR GARAGE AISLE (PLAN, SCHEMATIC)speed humpraised crosswalkchicaneNarrow lanes, raised crossings and deflection points slow drivers where people walk.In parking facilities the target is often walking-compatible speeds near stairs and doors.
Traffic calming uses the physical design of a roadway or aisle (humps, raised crossings, chicanes, narrower lanes) to lower vehicle speeds without relying on signs alone. Schematic.

Parking facilities need it as much as streets do. Every driver becomes a pedestrian after parking, and people walk in the same aisles that cars drive through. Long, straight aisles and wide drive lanes invite speeding; good design keeps speeds low without frustrating drivers.

Common measures in parking facilities

  • Speed humps and tables. Raised areas that slow vehicles, with raised tables doubling as pedestrian crossings.
  • Shorter straight runs. Layouts that break up long aisles and avoid race-track circulation.
  • Narrower lanes. Drive aisles sized to the design vehicle rather than oversized. See parking geometry.
  • Marked pedestrian routes. Clear walkways and crossings at key points, with good sightlines.
  • Signs and markings. Speed limits, stop controls and pavement markings that reinforce the design.

Cautions

Speed humps must be visible and well lit, account for emergency and accessible vehicles, and avoid creating water ponding. Design them with drainage and snow removal in mind.

The Parkonomics view

The best traffic calming is built into the layout, not added afterward. A facility designed for slow speeds needs fewer humps and signs to keep people safe.

Related terms: Parking Geometry, Pedestrian Guardrails, Conflict Point Map, Traffic Study, Wayfinding, Stroad, Right-Speeding