Introduction to pavements and footpaths
Pavements should offer a safe, comfortable, and accessible space for walking and wheeling, while also creating a sense of place for people to socialise, rest, and play. Pavements should be direct and connected.
Active places include well-designed pavements and footpaths that encourage people to walk or wheel. Priority must be given to active travel movements.
Pedestrian routes should be of high quality and should provide direct connections. It is important to understand where people will want to walk to, for instance schools, shops, green spaces, health facilities, community facilities, public transport and other facilities. This includes identifying desire lines, which is the preferred route people will want to take.
The route should be direct, logical and intuitive to understand. It should be easy for people to find their way. Pavements and footways should link to other routes and facilities as part of a holistic, connected network.
Walking and wheeling routes must be accessible to all legitimate users and separated from motor vehicles and cyclists. There should be regular opportunities for sheltering and resting along the route (ideally every 50 metres or less).
Walking routes should:
- be at least two metres wide, and wider in areas of higher activity (for instance outside schools and shops, in the vicinity of public transport stops, or where taller buildings are proposed or established)
- have good pedestrian comfort
- be free from barriers and trip hazards
- be step free
- have a smooth, even surface that is high grip. If paved, joints are mortared
- have good lighting
- have appropriate crossings in compliance with Cycle Infrastructure Design (LTN 1/20)
- avoid steep gradient
- minimise clutter, including signage poles, lamp posts and guard rails
Additional considerations
Routes should be designed as an integral part of the streetscape and street design. Any street furniture (including temporary furniture and fittings) should not be a hazard and their placement should be consistent. Ideally, pedestrian routes are not near moving vehicles and associated traffic noise and fumes. If this is not possible, a buffer strip should separate the carriageway from the footway where feasible, to reduce the impact of pollutants emitted by vehicles. Streets should be designed so that they prevent footway parking.
In order to discourage crime and anti-social behaviour, footways and pavements should be well lit, have good visibility and should be overlooked by nearby buildings to create natural surveillance. Footpaths and pavements should be maintained to ensure they remain attractive and safe to use. More details are available in the maintenance feature.
In some cases, pavements are not necessary due to low traffic volumes and a shared space may be suitable. More details are available in the shared space feature.
