Problem
Cars are dangerous to pedestrians; yet activities occur just where cars and pedestrians meet.
Solution
Except where traffic densities are very high or very low, lay out pedestrian paths at right angles to roads, not along them, so that the paths gradually begin to form a second network, distinct from the road system, and orthogonal to it. This can be done quite gradually—even if you put in one path at a time, but always put them in the middle of the “block”, so that they run across the roads.
Related Patterns
… roads may be governed by Parallel Roads (23), Looped Local Roads (49), Green Streets (51); major paths by Activity Nodes (30), Promenade (31), and Paths and Goals (120). This pattern governs the interaction between the two.
Where paths have to run along major roads — as they do occasionally — build them 18 inches higher than the road, on one side of the road only, and twice the usual width — Raised Walk (55); on Green Streets (51) the paths can be in the road since there is nothing but grass and paving stones there; but even then, occasional narrow paths at right angles to the green streets are very beautiful. Place the paths in detail according to Path Shape (121). Finally, treat the important street crossings and crosswalks, raised to the level of the pedestrian path — so cars have to slow as they go over them — Road Crossing (54).
Alexander, Christopher. A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction. Oxford University Press, 1977, p. 270.