Sidewalk
A paved path alongside a street, separated from vehicle traffic and intended primarily for pedestrians.
Pedestrian: A person traveling on foot, including someone using a mobility aid. Sidewalks are built primarily for people traveling on foot.
Curb ramp: A sloped transition between a sidewalk and a street crossing, designed for access. Curb ramps let wheelchair users and others move between sidewalk and roadway level.
Complete streets: A street-planning approach that accommodates people walking, cycling, using transit, and driving. Sidewalk provision is one way complete-streets policies serve pedestrians.
Shared space: A street design approach that reduces separation between road users and encourages negotiation. It contrasts with sidewalks’ physical separation of pedestrians from vehicle traffic.
Pedestrian safety: The protection of people walking from injury, traffic danger, and other hazards. Separating foot traffic from vehicles can reduce exposure to moving traffic.
Curb: A raised edge separating a roadway from a sidewalk or other adjoining surface. The curb commonly marks the boundary between the sidewalk and moving traffic.
Tactile paving: Textured ground surface indicators that communicate hazards or directions through touch. These detectable surfaces can warn of a sidewalk edge or crossing.
Walkability: How well an area supports walking through its built form and street conditions. Continuous, comfortable sidewalks strongly affect whether nearby destinations are practical to reach on foot.
Shared-use path: A path separated from roads and shared by pedestrians, cyclists, and sometimes other users. Unlike a typical sidewalk, it is designed to accommodate multiple nonmotorized travel modes.
Accessibility: The extent to which environments and services can be used by people with diverse abilities. Sidewalk continuity, width, surface, and curb ramps shape accessible travel.