Shoulder (road)
A hard shoulder, or simply shoulder, is a reserved area by the verge of a road or motorway. Generally it is kept clear of motor vehicle traffic. Shoulders have multiple uses, including:
- In the event of an emergency or breakdown, a motorist can pull into the hard shoulder to get out of the flow of traffic and obtain an element of safety
- Shoulders, especially paved or hard shoulders, increase road safety. They allow some extra space should a motorist need to take evasive action or need to recover control of their vehicle before a run-off-road collision occurs.
- Emergency vehicles such as ambulances and police cars may also use the shoulder to bypass traffic congestion
- Shoulders provide space for bicyclists to ride out of vehicle traffic
- In areas without sidewalks, pedestrians can walk on shoulders
- On curbed roadways, shoulders move the gutter away from the travel lanes. This reduces the risk of hydroplaning, and reduces splash and spray of stormwater onto pedestrians using an adjacent sidewalk.
- Shoulders provide structural support of the roadway
- Shoulders move water away from the roadway before it can infiltrate into the road's subbase, increasing the life expectancy of the road surface.
- In some urban areas, shoulders are used as travel lanes during peak commuting hours.
Read more about Shoulder (road): General Characteristics, Use As Bus-only Shoulder, Peak Period Use By All Traffic, Increased Cyclist Safety
Famous quotes containing the word shoulder:
“Why am I so determined to put the shoulder where it belongs? Women have very round shoulders that push forward slightly; this touches me and I say: “One must not hide that!” Then someone tells you: “The shoulder is on the back.” I’ve never seen women with shoulders on their backs.”
—Coco Chanel (1883–1971)