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21 Pedestrian Facilities and Crossing Treatments Sidewalk Zones and Widths At minimum, all sidewalks must have a Pedestrian Access Route (PAR), which is the accessible portion of the sidewalk used for active travel. For it to function, it must be kept clear of any obstacles and be wide enough to comfortably accommodate expected pedestrian volumes (as anticipated by density and adjacent land use) including those using mobility assistance devices, pushing strollers, or pulling carts. Depending on the land use context, sidewalks may also include frontage zones (located from the front door to the PAR and may include porches, café seating, awnings, etc.) and/or furnishing zones (zone between the PAR and curb that typically includes light posts, trees, landscaping, etc.) Guidance • The PAR must be a minimum of 5’ of clear space for path of travel per City of Pleasanton standards (not including the curb which is typically 6”). • Recommended minimum PAR widths in Pleasanton: o High pedestrian areas (for example near BART, Fairground Complex, Stoneridge Mall, Downtown, Schools): 8 feet o Commercial Areas Adjacent to Parking: 8 feet o Arterials: 6 feet o Residential Areas Adjacent to Parking: 6 feet (unless parallel parking, then 5 feet) o All other areas: 5 feet • On arterials and other high-volume roadways and/or near high pedestrian generators and other locations where pedestrian volumes may be high, sidewalks shall be separated from the roadway. Additional buffer width from vehicle lanes may be needed to provide greater pedestrian protection and comfort. • Where a sidewalk is directly adjacent to moving traffic, a minimum two-foot buffer for street furniture and utilities should be provided in addition to the listed sidewalk dimensions, according to the NACTO Urban Street Design Guide. Considerations Sidewalk stormwater facilities (including rain gardens) are generally located in the Furnishing Zone but may require greater widths than a typical landscape strip.