Temporary pedestrian bulbouts

Because bulbouts can take a long time to build, it makes sense for us to test how they would work first.

We can do this quickly and inexpensively using paint and planters in the road (see the diagrams to the right).

Planter bulbouts

Other cities use planters--and not concrete--to define pedestrian spaces.

The examples at the bottom of the page from New York show planters being used to mark off a pedestrian area from what used to be car lanes--like what we might try here.

Another example (from PPS' slideshow) demonstrates this kind of change.

Staging bulbouts

Current conditions

This drawing shows (part of) a typical street with sidewalk (blue), parking (red) and crosswalk (yellow).

Temporary stage

This diagram shows striped lines painted onto the street (only into the crosswalk in this case) and planters mark the edges of the bulbout. The crosswalks are wider to reflect the increased width available.

Final stage

In the final stage, the striped lines are replaced with extended sidewalk. The curved cement edges allow street cleaning machines to work well.