Typical South Africa roadside pedestrian infrastructure in a global context : a comparative analysis with Australia standards

Abstract

This paper presents a detailed comparative analysis of the roadside pedestrian design standards used in Australia and South Africa. The study examines the variations and similarities between the design of pedestrian access paths along the roadside with a focus on geometric design of landings, ramps, walkways, kerb ramps as well as safety features such as handrails and tactile ground surface indicators. The design standards related to the elements of design include design criteria from Australian Standards AS 1428.1, Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport and South African National Standards SANS 10400-S. Evaluating these standards can provide insight into areas where noticeable variations are present and reasoning behind these differences can be explored. The findings of the comparison provide insights into the variations and similarities between Australia and South Africa design standards. Focussing on the variations could provide insight into areas where more investigations are required or where more studies and development of design standards are required.