Pedestrian-Specific Lighting
Lighting designed for pedestrians isn’t just brighter—it’s also placed differently. Instead of being mounted high above like standard roadway lights, pedestrian lights are usually installed at lower heights, typically between 10 and 25 feet. This creates more focused, effective lighting at the sidewalk and street level, where it’s most needed for visibility and safety.
By using the right type and placement of lighting, communities can make crosswalks easier for drivers to see and much safer for everyone on foot.
Good lighting is essential at pedestrian crossings—especially at night or in low-visibility conditions. Ensuring that crosswalks are well-lit helps drivers see pedestrians clearly and gives pedestrians a better view of their surroundings.
To maximize safety, lighting should be thoughtfully placed.
A recommended approach is to position lights 10 to 15 feet ahead of the crosswalk on both sides of the street and on both approaches. This setup helps illuminate the front of the pedestrian, making them more visible to drivers and reducing the chance of silhouette lighting, where a person appears as just a shadow against a bright background.
Not all areas require the same level of lighting. Pedestrian lighting design varies depending on how many people typically walk through an area at night. These activity levels help guide decisions about how much lighting is needed to keep people safe and visible after dark.
Here’s a quick breakdown of pedestrian activity levels and the types of areas they may apply to:
🔹 Low Activity (10 or fewer pedestrians per hour)
These areas see very few people walking at night.
Examples:
- Quiet suburban streets
- Single-family residential neighborhoods
- Low-density housing areas
- Rural or semi-rural roads
🔸 Medium Activity (11–100 pedestrians per hour)
These areas have moderate foot traffic in the evening and nighttime hours.
Examples:
- Neighborhood shopping centers
- Downtown office zones after business hours
- Parks and community libraries
- Streets near apartment complexes or transit stops
- Light industrial areas
🔴 High Activity (Over 100 pedestrians per hour)
These are busy areas where large numbers of people are expected to walk at night.
Examples:
- Downtown retail districts
- Entertainment venues like theaters or concert halls
- Stadiums and sports arenas
- Major transit terminals
Providing the right level of lighting based on pedestrian activity not only improves visibility but also enhances safety, comfort, and the overall walking experience.
