11. Traffic Safety - Master Glossary - Improving Pedestrian Safety
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Course 4 – Master Glossary - Traffic Safety
Saturday, January 03, 2026 11:10 AM
BATCH 1 — MODULES 1–5
7 Key Words per Module with Definitions + Image Search URLs
MODULE 1 — Foundations of Pedestrian–Transit Connectivity
1. Connectivity
The degree to which pedestrians can safely and efficiently reach transit stops.
2. Access Barriers
Physical or environmental obstacles that limit safe pedestrian movement to transit.
3. Walkshed
The area reachable within a comfortable walking distance from a transit stop.
4. First-Mile/Last-Mile
The beginning and end segments of a transit trip that determine overall usability.
5. Multimodal Integration
Coordinating walking, biking, and transit systems to improve mobility. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Pedestrian Network
The system of sidewalks, crossings, and paths enabling safe pedestrian travel.
7. Connectivity Gap
A missing or unsafe link in the pedestrian network that forces unsafe behavior.
MODULE 2 — Land Use, Urban Form & Transit Connectivity
1. Land Use Intensity
The density and type of surrounding development influencing transit demand.
2. Transit-Supportive Development
Land use patterns that encourage transit use through density, mix, and design.
3. Activity Centers
Areas with concentrated pedestrian activity that generate transit demand.
4. Urban Form
The physical layout of streets, blocks, and buildings shaping pedestrian movement.
5. Setback Distance
The distance between buildings and the roadway affecting pedestrian exposure.
6. Mixed-Use Development
Development combining residential, commercial, and civic uses to support walking.
7. Frontage Activity
Pedestrian-generating activity adjacent to the roadway (shops, schools, housing).
MODULE 3 — Pedestrian Safety, Behavior & Conflict Reduction
1. Conflict Point
A location where pedestrian and vehicle paths intersect. https://www.google.com/search?
2. Exposure Time
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The amount of time a pedestrian is in or near moving traffic. https://www.google.com/search?
3. Desire Lines
The natural paths pedestrians take, revealing where crossings are needed.
4. Gap Acceptance
The minimum time or distance a pedestrian considers safe to cross. https://www.google.com/search?
5. Yield Compliance
The percentage of drivers who yield appropriately to pedestrians. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Pedestrian Delay
The time pedestrians must wait before safely crossing. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Risk Compensation
When pedestrians take more risks because they feel safer. https://www.google.com/search?
MODULE 4 — Bus Stop Design, Placement & Access
1. Near-Side Stop
A bus stop located before an intersection, often increasing turning conflicts.
2. Far-Side Stop
A stop placed after an intersection to reduce conflicts and improve sight distance.
3. Mid-Block Stop
A stop positioned between intersections to improve access or reduce congestion.
4. Landing Pad
A firm, level boarding area ensuring safe and accessible entry to the bus.
5. Curb Extension
A sidewalk extension that shortens crossing distance and slows turning vehicles.
6. Sight Distance
The length of roadway visible to a driver, affecting reaction time. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Stop Spacing
The distance between bus stops, affecting travel time and safety. https://www.google.com/search?
MODULE 5 — Crossing Design, Mid-Block Treatments & Safety
Enhancements
1. High-Visibility Crosswalk
A crosswalk using bold striping patterns to increase driver awareness. https://www.google.com/search?
2. Refuge Island
A protected median space allowing pedestrians to cross in two stages. https://www.google.com/search?
3. Raised Crosswalk
A crosswalk elevated to sidewalk level to slow vehicles and improve visibility.
4. Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB)
A signal that stops traffic to allow safe mid-block crossings. https://www.google.com/search?
5. Advance Yield Markings
Pavement markings placed before a crosswalk to encourage earlier yielding.
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6. Crossing Legibility
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How clearly a crossing communicates its presence to drivers. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Turning Movement Conflict
A safety risk created when vehicles turn across pedestrian paths. https://www.google.com/search?
BATCH 2 — MODULES 6–10
TCRP Report 112 — 7 Key Words per Module with Definitions + Image Search URLs
MODULE 6 — Pedestrian Behavior, Exposure & Human Factors
1. Pedestrian Exposure
The amount of time a pedestrian is in or near moving traffic, influencing crash risk.
2. Desire Lines
Natural walking paths that reveal where crossings or access routes should be located.
3. Gap Acceptance
The minimum time or distance a pedestrian considers safe to cross a roadway.
4. Human-Factors Engineering
Designing environments that align with human perception, attention, and behavior.
5. Behavioral Compliance
The degree to which pedestrians follow designated crossings and signals.
6. Attention Load
The cognitive demand placed on pedestrians when navigating traffic environments.
7. Conflict Behavior
Actions that place pedestrians and vehicles on intersecting paths. https://www.google.com/search?
MODULE 7 — Sidewalks, Approach Paths & Network Connectivity
1. Sidewalk Continuity
The uninterrupted presence of sidewalks enabling safe access to transit stops.
2. Approach Path
The pedestrian route leading to a bus stop, including sidewalks, ramps, and crossings.
3. Connectivity Gap
A missing or unsafe link in the pedestrian network that forces unsafe crossings.
4. Sidewalk Buffer
A space separating pedestrians from moving traffic, improving comfort and safety.
5. Access Barrier
Any condition that prevents safe, direct movement to a transit stop. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Network Density
The number of connected pedestrian routes within a given area. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Pedestrian Priority Zone
An area where pedestrian movement is prioritized over vehicle flow. https://www.google.com/search?
MODULE 8 — Mid-Block Crossings, Intersection Design & Crossing
Treatments
1. Mid-Block Crossing
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A pedestrian crossing located between intersections to reduce unsafe informal crossings.
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2. Raised Crosswalk
A crosswalk elevated to sidewalk level to slow vehicles and improve visibility.
3. Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB)
A signal that stops traffic to allow safe mid-block pedestrian crossings. https://www.google.com/search?
4. Refuge Island
A protected median space allowing pedestrians to cross in two stages. https://www.google.com/search?
5. Sightline Obstruction
Anything that blocks a driver’s or pedestrian’s view of approaching traffic.
6. Advance Yield Markings
Pavement markings placed before a crosswalk to encourage earlier yielding.
7. Turning Movement Conflict
A safety risk created when vehicles turn across pedestrian paths. https://www.google.com/search?
MODULE 9 — Land Use, Roadway Context & Environmental
Conditions
1. Context-Sensitive Design
Designing transportation features to match surrounding land use and community needs.
2. Roadway Functional Class
A classification (local, collector, arterial) that determines speed and safety needs.
3. Environmental Load
Weather, lighting, and other external conditions affecting pedestrian safety.
4. Frontage Activity
Pedestrian-generating activity adjacent to the roadway (shops, schools, housing).
5. Land Use Intensity
The density and type of development surrounding a bus stop. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Activity Node
A concentrated area of pedestrian activity shaping transit demand. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Environmental Stressor
Any condition (glare, heat, rain) that increases pedestrian vulnerability.
MODULE 10 — Lighting, Visibility & Nighttime Safety
1. Illuminance
The amount of light falling on a surface, affecting visibility and safety. https://www.google.com/search?
2. Lighting Uniformity
Consistent lighting levels that prevent dark spots and improve visibility.
3. Retroreflective Materials
Surfaces that reflect light back toward its source, improving nighttime visibility.
4. Glare Control
Techniques used to reduce excessive brightness that impairs visibility. https://www.google.com/search?
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5. Contrast Visibility
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The ability to distinguish objects from their background at night. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Task Lighting
Focused lighting that illuminates specific areas such as boarding pads. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Visibility Envelope
The area within which pedestrians and bus operators can clearly see each other.
BATCH 3 — MODULES 11–15
TCRP Report 112 — 7 Key Words per Module with Definitions + Image Search URLs
MODULE 11 — Speed Management, Roadway Geometry & Operating
Speeds
1. Operating Speed
The actual speed at which drivers travel, often higher than the posted limit.
2. Design Speed
The speed a roadway is engineered to accommodate, influencing geometry and safety.
3. Speed Differential
The difference in speed between buses and surrounding traffic, affecting conflict risk.
4. Horizontal Deflection
Roadway features that shift vehicle paths to slow speeds (e.g., chicanes).
5. Vertical Deflection
Raised elements such as speed tables that slow vehicles through elevation changes.
6. Lane Narrowing
Reducing lane width to encourage slower driving behavior. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Speed Feedback Sign
A digital sign displaying driver speed to encourage voluntary compliance.
MODULE 12 — Signage, Pavement Markings & Communication
Systems
1. Regulatory Signage
Signs communicating legally enforceable rules such as yielding or stopping.
2. Advance Warning Sign
A sign placed before a bus stop or crossing to alert drivers to upcoming activity.
3. Pavement Legend
Text or symbols painted on the roadway to guide driver behavior. https://www.google.com/search?
4. High-Visibility Markings
Bold pavement markings that increase driver awareness of crossings or bus zones.
5. Real-Time Arrival Display
A digital system showing bus arrival predictions to riders. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Bus Zone Delineation
Markings or signs that clearly define the area reserved for bus stopping.
7. Conflict Warning System
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Technology that alerts drivers or pedestrians to potential conflicts. https://www.google.com/search?
MODULE 13 — Maintenance, Operations & Safety Management
1. Preventive Maintenance
Scheduled upkeep designed to prevent hazards before they occur. https://www.google.com/search?
2. Corrective Maintenance
Repairs performed after a defect or hazard has been identified. https://www.google.com/search?
3. Safety Audit
A systematic review of bus stop conditions to identify risks. https://www.google.com/search?
4. Risk Register
A documented list of hazards, their severity, and mitigation strategies. https://www.google.com/search?
5. Inspection Cycle
The scheduled frequency at which bus stops are evaluated for safety. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Maintenance Priority Level
A ranking system determining which repairs must be completed first. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Operational Protocol
A standardized procedure guiding staff in maintaining safe operations. https://www.google.com/search?
MODULE 14 — Crash Data, Safety Analysis & Performance
Measurement
1. Crash Typology
A classification system describing the type, cause, and context of crashes.
2. Exposure Metric
A measure of how often pedestrians or vehicles are present in a conflict zone.
3. Surrogate Safety Measure
A non-crash indicator (e.g., near-misses) used to predict safety risk. https://www.google.com/search?
4. Hotspot Analysis
A method for identifying locations with high crash frequency or severity.
5. Safety Performance Function (SPF)
A statistical model predicting expected crash frequency based on roadway characteristics.
6. Near-Miss Observation
Recording close calls to identify risks before crashes occur. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Risk Score
A composite measure combining likelihood and severity of potential crashes.
MODULE 15 — Equity, Community Engagement & Inclusive Planning
1. Equity Lens
A planning approach evaluating how decisions impact different demographic groups.
2. Participatory Planning
A collaborative process where community members shape transportation decisions.
3. Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs)
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Pedestrians, cyclists, seniors, children, and people with disabilities at higher risk.
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4. Environmental Justice (EJ)
Ensuring no group bears disproportionate transportation burdens. https://www.google.com/search?
5. Inclusive Outreach
Engagement strategies designed to reach diverse and underserved populations.
6. Safety Co-Design
A process where residents collaborate with planners to design safety solutions.
7. Access Burden
The additional time, distance, or risk required for certain groups to reach transit safely.
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Bus Stop Safety Table |
https://bus-stop-safety.blogspot.com/2026/01/bus-stop-safety-table.html |
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