A crossover is a piece of infrastructure that allows a vehicle to cross over a footpath. A crossover has a ramp to enable a vehicle to transition from the level of the street to the level of the footpath, and is typically constructed from stronger materials than a footpath, so it can withstand the weight of a vehicle.

Definition of a crossover. Image credit: Vic Gov Dept Transport and Planning.

Problem

The problem with Council’s crossover requirements is that they allow wide crossover ramps to decrease the width of the flat section of footpaths. This decreases amenity for people walking or rolling on a wheelchair, in contravention of Council’s Transport Strategy, which states that pedestrians have the highest priority, and that footpaths should target a minimum useable flat width of 2 metres.

Example showing different crossovers, one which delivers a flat section, and one that doesn’t. Image credit: Streets Alive Yarra.
These crossovers should have a wide flat section and a narrow ramp. Image credit: Streets Alive Yarra.
These crossovers should have a wide flat section and a narrow ramp. Image credit: Streets Alive Yarra.
These crossovers should have a wide flat section and a narrow ramp. Image credit: Streets Alive Yarra.

There are more examples on our pages that discuss sloping footpaths and narrow footpaths.

Assessment

Issues with Council’s existing requirements include:

  • they don’t reference the Transport Strategy’s preferred minimum footpath width of 2 metres
  • they don’t limit the width of the ramped section, instead allowing it to occupy 1/3 of the available footpath width (when the footpath is wider than 2.15 metres)
  • they don’t seek to define a narrow, steep ramp, which would encourage drivers to slow down before crossing, which would decrease the risk of colliding with a person on the footpath

Overall, in our view, Council’s existing crossover design requirements reflect a ‘driver first’ approach instead of the ‘pedestrian first’ approach defined in the Transport Strategy.

Required footpath width

To enable people to access properties, Yarra’s Transport Strategy rightly targets a flat unobstructed width of 2 metres, which aligns with the NSW Walking Space Guide, the Victorian Traffic Engineering Manual, and Australian Standard AS1428.1, so that two wheelchairs can pass each other.

Required footpath width to enable people to access properties. Image credit: Traffic Engineering Manual Vol 3 Part 2.19.

Encouraging drivers to slow down and look

Narrow steep ramps, such as those used in speed humps, encourage drivers to slow down and look before crossing, which helps reduce collisions, damage, or injury. In other words, the ramp acts as a traffic calming measure. Crossover ramps can act in the same way.

This speed hump encourages drivers to slow down. Image credit: Streets Alive Yarra.

Australian Standards

One possible justification for a wide shallow ramp is to comply with Australian Standards, so that the underside of the vehicle doesn’t scrape. Indeed, Yarra’s standard drawing YSD601 references Australian Standard AS/NZS 2890.1:2004. Clauses 2.5.3 and 2.6.2 of the Standard consider the risk of scraping the underside of a vehicle, and refer to Appendix C Ground Clearance Templates. In turn, Appendix C describes the B85 car (for domestic properties) and the B99 car (for all other properties). Traversing these profiles over the cross section of a crossover leads to a typical ramp width of 1200 mm. 

However, our understanding is that AS/NZS 2890.1:2004 does not have the status of law, and instead acts as a guide. Traffic engineers would of course understand that Councils are permitted to define their own requirements. We can see that Council has already made the decision, via YSD601, that it’s acceptable to vary from AS/NZS 2890.1:2004, because when the available footpath width is 2150 mm, YSD601 defines a ramp width of 717 mm, which is narrower than the 1200 mm guidance from the standard. Typically, standards can be understood to be one method of demonstrating engineering due diligence (which is a guard against claims of liability), and that other methods are available, such as aligning with best practice.

Introductory text to AS/NZS 2890.1:2004.

Best practice

Best practice footpaths give a clear visual cue that drivers need to slow and give way, because they are crossing a pedestrian priority area. Examples of best practice in Australia include:

Example of a semi mountable kerb (SM2) in Wallan. Image credit: Google Maps.
Example of a 600 mm wide crossover ramp in Ceduna. Image credit: Google Maps.
Example of a 600 mm wide crossover ramp in Yarra, on Burgess Street. Image credit: Streets Alive Yarra.
Example of a 600 mm wide crossover ramp in Yarra, on Elizabeth Street. Image credit: Google Maps.

Proposed changes

Streets Alive Yarra proposes that Council should revise YSD601, Yarra City Council Public Domain Manual Technical Notes, and Vehicle Crossover Design Requirements Sheet November 2023 to all show:

  • for footpaths narrower than 2.3 metres, a semi mountable kerb (SM2) with a width of 300 mm (or 0.3 metres)
  • for footpaths wider than 2.3 metres, a maximum ramp width of 600 mm (or 0.6 metres)
  • a note stating that Council’s requirements reflect the Transport Strategy, i.e.:
    • people walking have priority
    • footpaths on residential streets should target a minimum unobstructed flat width of 2 metres, and if this can’t be achieved, the footpath should be planned to be widened
    • footpaths on higher demand streets should be wider
  • a note stating that the ramp width may be modified by exception if local circumstances require, and that applications for an exception should include a cross sectional drawing that demonstrates why the default ramp width fails to provide a safe or useable geometry
Proposed crossover requirements. Image credit: Streets Alive Yarra.

Expected outcomes

Adopting this proposal can be expected to deliver the following outcomes:

  • wider, flatter footpaths that are better for people walking or using a wheelchair
  • best practice crossovers, with the minimum possible intrusion into the footpath
  • safer footpaths, with drivers slowing down and looking before crossing

Conclusion

Council should specify that the maximum width of a crossover ramp is 600 mm (for footpaths wider than 2300 mm) or 300 mm (for footpaths narrower than 2300 mm), to:

  • give priority to people walking or using a wheelchair
  • provide a safe and effective footpath width
  • encourage drivers to slow down and look before crossing footpaths

That specification would bring Council’s crossover requirements into alignment with adopted policy, i.e. the Transport Strategy, and best practice.

Appendix – Yarra’s existing requirements

Council’s existing crossover requirements are published at:

Appendix – Yarra’s Transport Strategy

Relevant parts of Yarra’s Transport Strategy include:

  • Transport Vision: Opportunities to change and improve all aspects of the transport system have been actively pursued and implemented to make the city a liveable, economically prosperous and environmentally sustainable place.
  • Need for action: Frustration that things take too long to do is another theme that consistently emerges from community engagement…Frustrations about timeframes to deliver outcomes are understood and there are opportunities for us to get more done more quickly through decisive decision-making and project management and delivery innovations.
  • Priority #1: Prioritise walking, cycling and using public transport over car use.
  • Priority #3: Implement a New Deal for Walking – make the network suitable for all ages and abilities.
  • Preferred footpath width: the preferred minimum unobstructed clear width for a footpath is 2 metres.
  • Opportunities for walking: embed the need to provide good outcomes for pedestrians in all council transport projects and study work.
Yarra’s transport mode hierarchy. Image credit: City of Yarra Transport Strategy.