41. Course 14 Master Glossary - Pedestrian Safety at and Near Bus Stops Study - North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Bus Stop Field Audit
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41. Course 14 Master Glossary - Pedestrian Safety at and Near
Bus Stops Study - North Jersey Transportation Planning
Authority (NJTPA) Bus Stop Field Audit
Thursday, January 29, 2026
7:31 PM
Module 1: Site Context & Location
Focuses on where the bus stop is situated within the physical environment.
1. Near-side Stop: A bus stop located on the approach side of an intersection, before the bus crosses
the cross-street. https://www.google.com/search?q=near-side+bus+stop+diagram&tbm=isch
2. Far-side Stop: A bus stop located immediately after an intersection, which allows the bus to clear
the light before stopping. https://www.google.com/search?q=far-
3. Mid-block Stop: A stop positioned between intersections, often requiring additional pedestrian
crossing infrastructure like a HAWK signal. https://www.google.com/search?q=mid-
4. Right-of-Way (ROW): The legal land area owned by a municipality or state used for transit,
sidewalks, and utilities. https://www.google.com/search?q=public+right-of-
5. Land Use: The type of activity happening around the stop (e.g., residential, commercial, or
industrial), which dictates foot traffic. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Transit-Oriented Development (TOD): Urban design that maximizes residential and commercial
space within walking distance of public transport. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Curb Radius: The sharpness of the corner at an intersection; tighter radii slow down turning
vehicles, protecting pedestrians. https://www.google.com/search?
Module 2: Pedestrian Infrastructure
Focuses on the physical pathways used to reach the bus stop.
1. Buffer Zone: The space (often grass or trees) between the sidewalk and the edge of the road that
protects pedestrians from traffic. https://www.google.com/search?
2. Curb Ramp: A short ramp cutting through a curb or built up to it, essential for wheelchair
accessibility and strollers. https://www.google.com/search?
3. Tactile Paving: Textured ground surface indicators (often yellow bumps) to assist visually impaired
pedestrians in finding the road edge. https://www.google.com/search?
4. Clear Zone: An unobstructed area provided beyond the edge of the traveled way for the recovery
of errant vehicles. https://www.google.com/search?q=roadway+clear+zone+standards&tbm=isch
5. Desire Path: An informal, worn-down grass path created by pedestrians taking the shortest route
between two points. https://www.google.com/search?q=desire+path+urban+planning&tbm=isch
6. Sidewalk Gap: A missing segment of sidewalk that forces pedestrians to walk in the street or on
7. Street Furniture: Objects like benches, bins, and mailboxes; they must be placed so they don't
block the pedestrian path. https://www.google.com/search?
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Module 3: Bus Stop Amenities
The specific features provided at the stop itself.
1. Bus Shelter: A structure providing protection from weather for passengers waiting for the bus.
2. Landing Pad: A firm, stable, and slip-resistant surface (usually concrete) where passengers board
and alight the bus. https://www.google.com/search?
3. Bus Bulb: A sidewalk extension that moves the bus stop into the parking lane, allowing the bus to
stay in the travel lane. https://www.google.com/search?q=bus+bulb+out+extension&tbm=isch
4. Wayfinding Signage: Maps, schedules, and directional signs that help riders navigate the transit
5. Leaning Rail: A space-saving alternative to a bench that allows passengers to rest while standing.
6. Litter Receptacle: A trash bin placed at a stop to keep the waiting area clean and free of trip
7. Information Pylon: A tall, slender vertical structure used to display route numbers and arrival
Module 4: Crossing Safety & Signals
Focuses on how pedestrians get across the street to or from the stop.
1. Crosswalk (Marked): Areas delineated by paint or patterns to direct pedestrians where to cross
and alert drivers. https://www.google.com/search?
2. Pedestrian Refuge Island: A protected area in the middle of a wide road where pedestrians can
wait safely before crossing the second half. https://www.google.com/search?
3. HAWK Signal: A "High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk" beacon used to stop traffic only when a
pedestrian pushes a button. https://www.google.com/search?
4. Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI): A signal timing that gives pedestrians a 3–7 second head start
before the parallel vehicle traffic gets a green light. https://www.google.com/search?
5. Curb Extension (Bulb-out): Widening the sidewalk at intersections to shorten the crossing
distance for pedestrians. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Pedestrian Clearance Interval: The "flashing don't walk" time provided to allow someone to finish
crossing the street safely. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB): Bright, flashing amber lights activated by pedestrians
to warn drivers they are crossing. https://www.google.com/search?
Module 5: Accessibility & ADA Compliance
Ensuring stops are usable by everyone, regardless of physical ability.
1. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): Federal law setting standards for accessible design in
2. Running Slope: The slope of a path that is parallel to the direction of travel (must be kept below
certain percentages for wheelchairs). https://www.google.com/search?
3. Cross Slope: The slope of a path perpendicular to the direction of travel; too much slope can cause
a wheelchair to veer into traffic. https://www.google.com/search?
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4. Protruding Objects: Items like signs or tree branches that stick out into the path of travel and may
be hazardous to the visually impaired. https://www.google.com/search?
5. Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS): Devices that communicate "Walk/Don't Walk" information in
non-visual formats (audible tones or vibrating buttons). https://www.google.com/search?
6. Kneeling Bus: A bus that can lower its front end to reduce the height of the first step or the slope
7. Turning Space: A level area (usually 5x5 feet) that allows a wheelchair user to make a 180-degree
Module 6: Traffic Calming & Speed Management
Methods to slow down cars near bus stops to reduce accidents.
1. Speed Table: Long, flat-topped speed humps often used at crossings to slow traffic while allowing
buses to pass smoothly. https://www.google.com/search?
2. Lane Narrowing: Reducing the width of traffic lanes to psychologically encourage drivers to slow
3. Chicane: Artificial curves in a road created by alternating curb extensions, forcing drivers to steer
back and forth and slow down. https://www.google.com/search?
4. Road Diet: A project that reduces the number of travel lanes (e.g., 4 lanes to 3) to improve safety
and add bike lanes or sidewalks. https://www.google.com/search?
5. Gateway Treatment: Using signs or landscaping to signal to drivers that they are entering a
slower, pedestrian-heavy zone. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Medians: Raised areas between opposing lanes of traffic that can serve as a pedestrian "halfway
house" when crossing. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Speed Hump: A rounded traffic calming device used primarily on residential streets to enforce low
Module 7: Visibility & Lighting
Ensuring pedestrians and bus drivers can see one another.
1. Sight Distance: The length of roadway visible to a driver; must be clear so drivers can see people
waiting at the stop. https://www.google.com/search?
2. Pedestrian-Scale Lighting: Lower-height streetlights that illuminate the sidewalk specifically,
rather than just the road. https://www.google.com/search?
3. Daylighting: Removing parking spaces near an intersection or bus stop to improve visibility for
both drivers and pedestrians. https://www.google.com/search?
4. Retroreflectivity: The ability of a surface (like a sign or paint) to reflect light back to its source,
making it glow at night. https://www.google.com/search?
5. Conspicuity: How easily an object (like a bus stop sign) can be seen against its background.
6. Glare: Harsh light that interferes with vision; lighting at stops must be shielded to prevent blinding
drivers or residents. https://www.google.com/search?q=street+light+glare+shield&tbm=isch
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7. Luminance: The intensity of light emitted from a surface; used to measure if a bus stop is bright
enough for safety. https://www.google.com/search?q=roadway+luminance+standards&tbm=isch
Module 8: Operational Efficiency
How the bus and the street interact during the stop.
1. Dwell Time: The total time a bus spends stopped at a bus stop to board and discharge passengers.
2. Pull-out Bay: A dedicated area off the main travel lane where the bus stops, allowing traffic to
pass while it boards riders. https://www.google.com/search?q=bus+pull-
3. Headway: The time interval between two consecutive buses on the same route.
4. Transit Signal Priority (TSP): Technology that allows buses to communicate with traffic lights to
extend a green light or shorten a red light. https://www.google.com/search?
5. Re-entry Delay: The time a bus loses waiting for a gap in traffic to pull back into the road after
6. Queue Jumper: A short lane that allows buses to bypass traffic at a red light and get ahead of the
7. Route Alignment: The specific path a bus route takes through a city or neighborhood.
Module 9: Audit & Data Collection
The tools used by the NJTPA to study the stops.
1. Field Audit: An on-site inspection where planners record physical conditions and safety hazards at
a specific location. https://www.google.com/search?q=bus+stop+field+audit+checklist&tbm=isch
2. GIS (Geographic Information Systems): Software used to map bus stops and overlay data like
crash history or population density. https://www.google.com/search?
3. Crash Cluster: A specific location or intersection that shows a high frequency of vehicle or
pedestrian accidents. https://www.google.com/search?q=crash+cluster+heat+map&tbm=isch
4. Ridership Data: Statistics on how many people use a stop; used to prioritize which stops get
shelters or benches. https://www.google.com/search?
5. Conflict Analysis: Observing "near-misses" between cars and pedestrians to identify dangers
before a crash happens. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Inventory Management: A database of every bus stop's features (e.g., "Does stop #105 have a
7. Level of Service (LOS): A qualitative measure used to relate the quality of traffic or pedestrian
service (ranked A through F). https://www.google.com/search?
Module 10: Connectivity & Intermodality
How the bus stop fits into the larger travel network.
1. First-Mile/Last-Mile: The beginning or end of an individual trip made without a car (e.g., walking
from home to the bus). https://www.google.com/search?q=first-mile+last-
2. Intermodal Transfer: Moving from one mode of transport (bus) to another (train, bike, or ferry).
3. Bike Storage: Racks or lockers at a bus stop that allow cyclists to safely leave their bikes while
taking the bus. https://www.google.com/search?q=bus+stop+bike+parking&tbm=isch
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4. Pedestrian Network: The interconnected system of sidewalks, paths, and crossings that allows
people to walk through an area. https://www.google.com/search?
5. Curb Management: The planning of how the curb is used (bus stops vs. parking vs. delivery zones).
6. Catchment Area: The geographic area from which a bus stop attracts passengers (usually a 5-10
7. Wayfinding Totem: A standalone landmark sign used at major hubs to provide maps and local
Module 11: Environmental & Physical Conditions
Focuses on the external factors that affect the comfort and safety of the stop.
1. Urban Heat Island Effect: When a bus stop is significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas
due to pavement and lack of shade. https://www.google.com/search?
2. Permeable Pavement: Pavement around a stop that allows water to seep through, preventing
puddles (ponding) where passengers stand. https://www.google.com/search?
3. Bioswale: A vegetated ditch near a bus stop designed to manage stormwater runoff and improve
4. Solar Path Lighting: Small, solar-powered lights embedded in the sidewalk or stop to provide
illumination without grid power. https://www.google.com/search?
5. Wind Mitigation: Using shelter design or trees to block harsh winds that can make waiting for a
bus uncomfortable or dangerous. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Ponding: The collection of water in low spots on the sidewalk or landing pad, which can freeze and
cause slip hazards. https://www.google.com/search?q=sidewalk+ponding+hazard&tbm=isch
7. Tree Canopy: The layer of leaves and branches that provides natural shade and cooling for
pedestrians waiting at a stop. https://www.google.com/search?
Module 12: Traffic Laws & Policy
The legal framework governing how drivers and pedestrians interact.
1. Vision Zero: A strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe,
healthy, equitable mobility for all. https://www.google.com/search?
2. Complete Streets: A policy that requires streets to be planned and operated to enable safe access
for all users, including pedestrians. https://www.google.com/search?
3. Right-Turn-on-Red (RTOR): A law allowing drivers to turn right at a red light; often restricted at
bus stops to protect pedestrians. https://www.google.com/search?
4. Yield-to-Bus Law: Laws requiring motorists to yield to buses re-entering the traffic flow from a bus
5. Speed Limit (Statutory): The legal maximum speed set by the state for specific types of roads
(e.g., 25 mph in school zones). https://www.google.com/search?
6. Encroachment: When a vehicle or structure illegally occupies a portion of the sidewalk or bus stop
7. Jaywalking (Legal Definition): An informal term for crossing the street outside of a crosswalk or
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against a signal. https://www.google.com/search?
Module 13: Safety Mechanics & Human Factors
The psychology and physics of how accidents happen.
1. Reaction Time: The time it takes for a driver to see a pedestrian and apply the brakes.
2. Stopping Distance: The total distance a vehicle travels from the moment a hazard is seen until it
comes to a complete stop. https://www.google.com/search?
3. Blind Spot: Areas around the bus where the driver’s view is obstructed; pedestrians are most at
4. Off-tracking: The path of the rear wheels of a bus as they follow a shorter path than the front
wheels during a turn. https://www.google.com/search?q=bus+off-tracking+diagram&tbm=isch
5. Pedestrian Volume: The number of people walking in a specific area; higher volumes usually
require wider sidewalks. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Vulnerable Road User (VRU): Non-motorized road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, who
have no protective "shell" in a crash. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Gaze Behavior: Where a driver or pedestrian is looking; planners study this to ensure signs are
placed in the line of sight. https://www.google.com/search?
Module 14: Maintenance & Management
Ensuring the safety features stay in good working order.
1. Snow Clearance: The removal of snow from the bus stop and landing pad to ensure ADA
compliance in winter. https://www.google.com/search?q=bus+stop+snow+clearance&tbm=isch
2. Graffiti Abatement: The removal of illegal markings on shelters to ensure the stop remains
welcoming and signs remain legible. https://www.google.com/search?
3. Vegetation Overgrowth: Plants or trees that block signs or narrow the sidewalk, requiring regular
4. Pavement Cracking: Deterioration of the walking surface that can lead to tripping hazards or
5. Signal Malfunction: When a pedestrian push-button or light fails, requiring immediate repair to
prevent unsafe crossings. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Pressure Washing: Cleaning the landing pads and shelters to remove grime and maintain slip
7. Service Life: The expected timeframe a piece of infrastructure (like a shelter) remains functional
before needing replacement. https://www.google.com/search?
Module 15: Public Engagement & Equity
How the community participates in making stops safer.
1. Equity Analysis: Studying if bus stop improvements are being distributed fairly across all
neighborhoods, regardless of income. https://www.google.com/search?
2. Public Workshop: A meeting where residents can give feedback to the NJTPA about which bus
stops feel the most dangerous. https://www.google.com/search?
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3. Crowdsourced Data: Information collected from the public (via apps or websites) about safety
4. Language Access: Providing stop information and safety signs in multiple languages to serve all
community members. https://www.google.com/search?q=multilingual+transit+signage&tbm=isch
5. Environmental Justice: Ensuring that transit-dependent populations are not unfairly burdened by
poor safety infrastructure. https://www.google.com/search?
6. Stakeholder: Anyone affected by the transit system, including riders, drivers, business owners,
and local government. https://www.google.com/search?
7. Tactical Urbanism: Low-cost, temporary changes (like paint or traffic cones) used to test safety
improvements before they are permanent. https://www.google.com/search?
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