ME360 Exercise 1:
Pierce School Bridge Sketch
Context:
The context of this video is that it is filmed at entrance / exit of a school, where kids cross a road instead of using the bridge above. This video seems like it was filmed when kids are leaving school, showcasing the problem.
Problem:
Kids are jaywalking the street where cars are could be going full speed, instead of using the bridge above that allows them to cross the street without being in the way of cars.
Why?:
These kids are likely jaywalking instead of taking the bridge because it is more convenient to use the street. Taking the bridge means they would have to go up a floor, walk across the bridge, then go back down. Walking straight across the street means they don't have to go up and back down.
Solutions:
The first solution that comes to mind is to simply put stop signs, but there is a major caveat that comes with this. Presumably, the bridge was built to purposely not stop traffic on this narrow street, otherwise a crosswalk would have been a lot cheaper than investing in a bridge. With this new constraint: "don't stop oncoming cars" we can move forward with a couple ideas.
Solution 0: Crosswalk with Stop Signs
The simplest and possibly cheapest solution. As explained above, this defeats the purpose of not trying to slow on coming cars.
Solution 1: Speed Limit Signs / School Zone Sign Down the Street
This is also an extremely cheap solution, but it does not guarantee the kids' safety, as cars may not follow the speed limit signs.
Solution 2: Car Detector Device
If there is no way to prevent kids from crossing unsafely, we could use a detection system to alert kids trying to cross of cars down the street they may not see. This is assuming the worst case scenario of cars going full speed with no plan of stopping. This system would have a sensor down the street that relays if there is a moving car, back to where the kids are crossing.
Solution 3: Crosswalk with Yield Signs and School Zone Signs
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This is my favorite design by far. Because of the School Zone signs down the street, cars should already be sufficiently slowed enough to be able to evaluate kids trying to cross. With a crosswalk and Yield signs, cars should have enough time to yield to kids trying to cross. This design does not slow cars as a stop sign does, and is extremely cheap.
Discussion:
Solution 3 is the best mix of cheapest, most effective, and most straightforward of the options listed above. This project does not necessarily require any technology, it just uses rudimentary road rules already in place that drivers follow.
This project can absolutely be created by a team of 4 with just $400 and 6 months as a capstone.
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Our team discussed possible options to incentivize using the bridge, or block off the road. But with only $400 fencing all the way down the street may cost more than the budget allows, and there may be neighborhood complaints about the aesthetic. Incentivizing the bridge is near impossible, because already the most efficient solution is to just stay on the first floor and use the street; kids that want to cross the street will simply just do it.