Hardened Daylighting

Hardened Daylighting is a safety measure that improves visibility for drivers and pedestrians by restricting parking adjacent to crosswalks. Physical treatments such as bollards, granite blocks, and bike corrals are then used to enforce these restrictions.

Hanover Square, Manhattan
Forest Avenue and Bard Avenue, Staten Island

Benefits

  • Improves sightlines for both drivers and pedestrians. Keeping crossings clear of visual obstructions makes it easier for drivers to review approaching pedestrians, reducing the likelihood of conflicts
  • Physical treatments such as bollards, granite blocks, and bike corrals help prevent vehicles from parking too close to intersections, ensuring that sightlines remain unobstructed
  • Improved traffic flow is achieved by reducing accidents and preventing illegal parking. 
  • More navigable intersections contribute to a more pedestrian-friendly environment, encouraging walking and cycling, which can improve public health and reduce environmental impact
     

Considerations

  • Assess the specific visibility needs of pedestrians and drivers at each intersection, considering factors such as traffic volume, pedestrian activity, and potential blind spots
  • Consider the turning radii of vehicles to determine the appropriate setback distance for hardened daylighting measures, ensuring that turning vehicles have adequate visibility of pedestrians and oncoming traffic
  • Be mindful of any existing physical constraints such as existing infrastructure, utilities, or street furniture, that may impact the implementation of hardened daylighting measures
  • Plan for regular maintenance of hardened daylighting measures, including cleaning, repainting, and repairing physical barriers, to ensure ongoing effectiveness and safety
     

Application

  • Intersections with heavy pedestrian traffic, such as near schools, parks, shopping centers, and transit hubs, benefit greatly from hardened daylighting to improve visibility and reduce the risk of conflicts

Design

  • When implementing daylighting measures, incorporating physical treatments to reinforce visibility and prevent illegal parking or standing is essential 
  • Integrate street furnishings such as bike racks, or other barriers like concrete or granite blocks to delineate the daylighting area and provide additional protection from encroaching vehicles
  • Install flexible delineators along the curb line to define the daylighting zone and deter vehicles from parking or standing in restricted areas 
  • Install bollards strategically within the daylighting zone to prevent vehicles from encroaching into the daylit area 
  • Use of planters can create a visually appealing barrier that discourages vehicles from entering the daylighting zone 
  • Apply pavement markings to the daylighting zone to provide visual cues to drivers and pedestrians about the presence of the daylighting zone
     
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