This article is about about pedestrian and cyclist underpasses. For other uses, see Subway (disambiguation).
A subway, also known as an underpass, is a grade-separated pedestrian crossing which crosses underneath a road or railway in order to entirely separate pedestrians and cyclists from motor traffic or trains respectively.
The 'Public Subway' sign at this transit system entrance refers to the pedestrian subways underneath the junction, not to the London Underground.
In the United States, as used by the California Department of Transportation and in parts of Pennsylvania such as Harrisburg, Duncannon and Wyoming County, subway refers to a depressed road undercrossing.[1][2][3][4][5] Where they are built elsewhere in the country, the term 'pedestrian underpass' is more likely to be used, because "subway" in North America refers to rapid transit systems such as the New York City Subway or the Toronto Subway. This usage also occurs in Scotland, where the underground railway in Glasgow is referred to as the Glasgow Subway.
Effects
Pedestrian underpasses allow for the uninterrupted flow of both pedestrians and vehicle traffic. However, they are normally considered a last resort by modern urban planners as they can be expensive and cause graffiti and security issues.[6]
Pedestrians will not use an underpass where a more direct at-grade option is available.[6]
Badly designed subways may not provide for disabled users, especially those in a wheelchair who cannot use stairs. As the underpass is normally below the level of the footway and carriageway (rather than the carriageway being lifted over the road), technologies such as stairs, lifts and ramps must be used. A subway under the A38 in Birmingham city centre was criticised for having a ramp on one side but only stairs on the other side.[7]
Usage in different countries
A cycle underpass in the Netherlands
Subways are characteristic of European post-war suburbs and new towns. In Milton Keynes, a new town in the UK, alongside the grid of expressways are a system of shared-use paths known as redways. To reduce conflict with the grid system vehicle traffic (which normally has high speeds), redways normally run underneath grid roads.[8]
In the Netherlands, underpasses for cyclists and pedestrians are often built as part of bikeways, often to replace level crossings or at-grade cyclist/pedestrian crossings. At Bilthoven station, the cycle track and major road previously crossed the railway at grade. To reduce delays, new separate underpasses were built, with motor traffic given a longer route than active travel modes.[9] In 's-Hertogenbosch, the urban ring road has only one level crossing, but has ten overpasses and fourteen underpasses to ensure the road does not form a barrier to cyclists and pedestrians.[10]
Subways are less common in North American cities than in European cities of comparable size. They are constructed when it is necessary for pedestrians to cross a railway line or a dual carriageway such as an interstate highway, and they appear at the exits from underground rapid transit systems, but one would be rarely built to enable people to cross an ordinary city street.[citation needed]
In the Philippines, the term is also underpass, and there are two types: underpasses for pedestrians such as along Ayala Avenue in Makati and in the City of Manila near Quiapo Church, and vehicular ones along the length of EDSA and other thoroughfares. One of the earliest and most notable vehicular underpasses is the "Lagusnilad" in front of Manila City Hall.[citation needed]
Art
Public art in a subway
Subways can present an opportunity for public art projects, especially murals. Most cycle underpasses in the Netherlands have works of art on the walls to make the tunnels less scary.[11] Such public art projects can be community projects to showcase the work of local and lesser-known artists, and can receive positive feedback from members of the public.[12] If done as acts of protest, such art projects can be controversial. In 2021, a mural painted by in Passaic County, New Jersey by Black Lives Matter activists was ordered to be removed by local officials after they received complaints.[13]
Subways can also be designed for users other than pedestrians or cyclists. Wildlife tunnels allow animals to safely cross busy roads, reducing the risk of animal-vehicle collisions. They can also be used by humans walking on trails through nature reserves.
^Dutch, Bicycle (2012-04-08). "25 Ways to cross a major road". BICYCLE DUTCH. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
^Dutch, Bicycle (2020-02-04). "Cheerful art in a cycle tunnel". BICYCLE DUTCH. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
^McEvoy, Louise (2020-08-22). "Graffiti artist brightens up Stevenage underpass with imaginative murals". The Comet. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
^NJ.com, Anthony G. Attrino | NJ Advance Media for (2021-07-29). "Black Lives Matter mural on Parkway bridge underpass must come down, highway officials tell town". nj. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
External links
Media related to Underpasses at Wikimedia Commons
May 04, 2023
subway, underpass, this, article, about, about, pedestrian, cyclist, underpasses, other, uses, subway, disambiguation, subway, also, known, underpass, grade, separated, pedestrian, crossing, which, crosses, underneath, road, railway, order, entirely, separate,. This article is about about pedestrian and cyclist underpasses For other uses see Subway disambiguation A subway also known as an underpass is a grade separated pedestrian crossing which crosses underneath a road or railway in order to entirely separate pedestrians and cyclists from motor traffic or trains respectively source source source source source source source source source source A subway under a busy road in Prague Czechia Contents 1 Terminology 2 Effects 3 Usage in different countries 4 Art 5 Wildlife tunnels 6 Gallery 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksTerminology Edit The Public Subway sign at this transit system entrance refers to the pedestrian subways underneath the junction not to the London Underground In the United States as used by the California Department of Transportation and in parts of Pennsylvania such as Harrisburg Duncannon and Wyoming County subway refers to a depressed road undercrossing 1 2 3 4 5 Where they are built elsewhere in the country the term pedestrian underpass is more likely to be used because subway in North America refers to rapid transit systems such as the New York City Subway or the Toronto Subway This usage also occurs in Scotland where the underground railway in Glasgow is referred to as the Glasgow Subway Effects EditPedestrian underpasses allow for the uninterrupted flow of both pedestrians and vehicle traffic However they are normally considered a last resort by modern urban planners as they can be expensive and cause graffiti and security issues 6 Pedestrians will not use an underpass where a more direct at grade option is available 6 Badly designed subways may not provide for disabled users especially those in a wheelchair who cannot use stairs As the underpass is normally below the level of the footway and carriageway rather than the carriageway being lifted over the road technologies such as stairs lifts and ramps must be used A subway under the A38 in Birmingham city centre was criticised for having a ramp on one side but only stairs on the other side 7 Usage in different countries Edit A cycle underpass in the Netherlands Subways are characteristic of European post war suburbs and new towns In Milton Keynes a new town in the UK alongside the grid of expressways are a system of shared use paths known as redways To reduce conflict with the grid system vehicle traffic which normally has high speeds redways normally run underneath grid roads 8 In the Netherlands underpasses for cyclists and pedestrians are often built as part of bikeways often to replace level crossings or at grade cyclist pedestrian crossings At Bilthoven station the cycle track and major road previously crossed the railway at grade To reduce delays new separate underpasses were built with motor traffic given a longer route than active travel modes 9 In s Hertogenbosch the urban ring road has only one level crossing but has ten overpasses and fourteen underpasses to ensure the road does not form a barrier to cyclists and pedestrians 10 Subways are less common in North American cities than in European cities of comparable size They are constructed when it is necessary for pedestrians to cross a railway line or a dual carriageway such as an interstate highway and they appear at the exits from underground rapid transit systems but one would be rarely built to enable people to cross an ordinary city street citation needed In the Philippines the term is also underpass and there are two types underpasses for pedestrians such as along Ayala Avenue in Makati and in the City of Manila near Quiapo Church and vehicular ones along the length of EDSA and other thoroughfares One of the earliest and most notable vehicular underpasses is the Lagusnilad in front of Manila City Hall citation needed Art Edit Public art in a subway Subways can present an opportunity for public art projects especially murals Most cycle underpasses in the Netherlands have works of art on the walls to make the tunnels less scary 11 Such public art projects can be community projects to showcase the work of local and lesser known artists and can receive positive feedback from members of the public 12 If done as acts of protest such art projects can be controversial In 2021 a mural painted by in Passaic County New Jersey by Black Lives Matter activists was ordered to be removed by local officials after they received complaints 13 Wildlife tunnels EditMain article Wildlife crossing Subways can also be designed for users other than pedestrians or cyclists Wildlife tunnels allow animals to safely cross busy roads reducing the risk of animal vehicle collisions They can also be used by humans walking on trails through nature reserves Gallery Edit A subway road sign ex USSR A subway in Ashgabat A pedestrian and cyclist subway under a roundabout in Cardiff Wales A subway under the railway viewed from taxi station in Nokia Finland A subway in Hong Kong leading to an underground MTR station and shopping centres The entrance to a subway in Saint Petersburg A frog subway Subway connecting Red and Blue subway lines in the Loop area of Chicago Victorian era pedestrian subway under a railway at Godalming in the United Kingdom built in 1859 A pedestrian tunnel in Louvain la NeuveSee also EditTunnelReferences Edit dot ca gov Upcoming road trip pennlive com cumberlink com state pa us permanent dead link a b Pedestrian Overpasses Underpasses safety fhwa dot gov Retrieved 2022 01 03 Cardwell Mark 2020 10 30 Charity slams underpass with ramp at one end and stairs at other BirminghamLive Retrieved 2022 01 03 Franklin J 1999 TWO DECADES OF THE REDWAY CYCLE PATHS IN MILTON KEYNES Traffic Engineering amp Control 40 7 8 ISSN 0041 0683 Dutch Bicycle 2020 12 08 Cycling underpass at Bilthoven Station BICYCLE DUTCH Retrieved 2022 01 03 Dutch Bicycle 2012 04 08 25 Ways to cross a major road BICYCLE DUTCH Retrieved 2022 01 03 Dutch Bicycle 2020 02 04 Cheerful art in a cycle tunnel BICYCLE DUTCH Retrieved 2022 01 03 McEvoy Louise 2020 08 22 Graffiti artist brightens up Stevenage underpass with imaginative murals The Comet Retrieved 2022 01 03 NJ com Anthony G Attrino NJ Advance Media for 2021 07 29 Black Lives Matter mural on Parkway bridge underpass must come down highway officials tell town nj Retrieved 2022 01 03 External links Edit Media related to Underpasses at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Subway underpass amp oldid 1142802134, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
