Chicane

A chicane refers to offset curbs, curb extensions, parking lanes or other forms of horizontal deflection which create a “slalom effect” that can help to reduce speeding along roadways. In addition to calming traffic, chicanes can provide additional public space that can be activated further by seating, landscaping, bicycle parking, or public art.

New York City (NY Street Design Manual)	New York, NY (Wikimedia Commons, By Roy Smith - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Program Goals This Project Type Meets

• Increase safety (speed management)
• Invite public use

Typical Applications

• 1-2 lane residential or urban center roadway

Material Options

• Striping and Surface Treatments
  • Demonstration
    • Sidewalk chalk
    • Cornstarch paint
    • Traffic tape
    • Tempera paint
    • Spray chalk
    • Spray paint
  • Pilot or RAPID Projects
    • Acrylic traffic paint
    • DLPM
    • Epoxy Gravel
    • Thermoplastic
• Vertical Barriers
  • Demonstration
    • Traffic cones
    • Traffic barrels
    • Freestanding delineators
    • Flex post
    • K71 flex posts
    • Wave delineators
    • Low-profile traffic separators
    • Planters
    • Plastic jersey barriers
    • Ceramic markers
    • Parking stops
  • Pilot or RAPID Projects
    • Flex post
    • K71 flex posts
    • Wave delineators
    • Low-profile traffic separators
    • Planters
    • Plastic jersey barriers
    • Concrete jersey barriers
    • Ceramic markers
    • Parking stops

Design Considerations

• Maintain proper drainage and ability to access for street sweeping
• Where applicable, maintain bicycle lane access around or through chicanes
• Provide an appropriate taper or transition zone between offset elements based on target speed and street geometry (see MUTCD). 
• Maintain truck, bus, and fire truck turning ability and make elements mountable if needed.
• Where pedestrians will be able to and/or encouraged to wait, walk, or spend time within the chicane, consider crashworthy barriers such as jersey barriers.

Other Considerations

• Chicanes should not obstruct access to driveways or fire hydrants
• Opportunity to include artistic elements and/or parklets
• If used as public space, consider ADA accessibility, particularly for pedestrians with visual impairments
• If designed on transit routes, consider the impacts of vertical deflection

Other Resources

• City of Orlando Mid-Block Curbside Island Detail
• NACTO Urban Street Design Guide: Chicane
• Streetfilm Stop Animation Video