Chicanes
Purpose 
Reduce vehicle speeds and create a calmer traffic environment by adding a shift to the travel lane of the street.
Description
Chicanes can be created by offsetting curb extensions or on-street parking on alternating sides of the street. Drivers must slow down to navigate the travel lane shifts created by the offset curbs or parking. Depending on design, chicanes may also increase the amount of public space along a street for landscaping, stormwater management, or amenities like bike parking or benches.
Safety Benefits
- Slows traffic speeds.
- May improve driver attention to the roadway as they must navigate shifts in the travel lane.
Street Types and Context
Applicable Street Types
Chicanes are applicable to local minor streets.
Other Location Guidance
Chicanes should be used on roadways with a maximum of two travel lanes and should be avoided on bus routes, truck routes, and major bike routes.
Primary User Groups
Key Implementation Considerations
- Chicanes may reduce the number of on-street parking spaces.
- Signage and striping around chicanes can help ensure that drivers are aware of a shift in the travel lane.
- Plantings within chicanes should be low vegetation or trees with high canopies to maintain visibility.
- Chicanes may have adverse effects on drainage along the roadway. If this is a concern, chicanes may be designed as edge islands with a 1–2-foot gap from the curb.
Expected Crash Reduction
Speed reduction by 4%. One study found chicanes to reduce crashes resulting in injured pedestrians by 40% (Distefano & Leonardi, 2019)
Cost
Typically, a low to medium cost treatment. Utility relocation and designing for adequate drainage can increase the cost of implementation.
Timeline
Typically, chicanes can be implemented within one to three years. Quick-build approaches using temporary materials for curb extensions or creating an alternating parking scheme are low-cost options for testing out the treatment in a short timeframe.
Application in Arlington
Visit Vision Zero Program Dashboard: Chicane to see where this tool has been implemented.
Vision Zero Dashboard
References
