Street design
Curb extension
Avancée de trottoir
Curb extension is a projection of the sidewalk into the adjacent roadway, often within a parking lane. It can shorten pedestrian crossing distance, improve visibility, and create space for waiting or planting, while requiring checks of drainage, vehicle turning paths, and cycling movements.
Understanding the term
Extensions change the effective street geometry. Test turning movements for necessary service vehicles without assuming that every occasional large vehicle needs an unrestricted high-speed turn.
Design assessment should follow the complete paths of people and vehicles through the location. Check visibility, drainage, accessible passage, delivery handling, and maintenance under realistic operating conditions. An apparently adequate plan can fail when doors open, vehicles turn, or queues form. Record site constraints and the governing design guidance, then review the arrangement after installation so that changing activity and seasonal conditions do not invalidate the intended function.