Pedestrian Pathways Line Marking

AS/NZS 1428.1 specifies minimum 1.0m clear width for single-direction pedestrian traffic on accessible pathways. Two-way pedestrian traffic requires minimum 1.5m width, though 2.0m is preferable for comfort. Pathways that must accommodate wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or people with walking frames need these minimums strictly. Industrial warehouse walkways often use 1.2m-1.5m width for single-direction foot traffic. Shared paths accommodating pedestrians and cyclists together typically need 2.5m-3.0m total width minimum. A council in Bendigo marked shared paths at 2.0m width (trying to save costs). They received complaints about conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians, particularly where parents with prams encountered cyclists. Council remarked the paths at 2.8m width and conflicts dropped dramatically. Sometimes you can't skimp on dimensions.

Most common treatment: centre line dividing the path, with bicycle symbols on one side and pedestrian symbols on the other. The line is typically white or yellow, 100mm-150mm width. Some councils prefer edge lines instead (one white line creating a bicycle lane on the roadside edge, leaving the remaining width for pedestrians). Symbols painted at regular intervals (every 50-100m) remind users which side is which. A shared path along a creek in Heidelberg initially had no markings. Conflicts between fast cyclists and pedestrians were constant. Council marked a centre line with clear bicycle and pedestrian symbols. User complaints dropped 80% according to council records. The visual separation created behavioral change even though nothing physically prevented users crossing the line.

Absolutely. Large sites (hospitals, universities, industrial complexes, shopping centres) benefit enormously from floor-mounted wayfinding. Typical system: pedestrian pathway marked in standard colour (yellow), with directional arrows at key decision points, and destination markers showing "Emergency Department →" or "Building C →" painted at intervals. Some facilities use numbered junction points matching maps. A hospital in Dandenong South had chronic problems with visitors getting lost trying to find departments. Wall signage was confusing because the building had complex layouts across multiple levels. We marked colour-coded floor pathways with directional arrows and destination labels at every junction. Patient feedback about wayfinding improved noticeably, and staff spent less time giving directions.

Industry conventions based on AS 1319 colour standards: Yellow for general pedestrian pathways (caution colour indicating pedestrian zones in industrial facilities), white for shared path dividing lines or edge lines (neutral traffic lane marking), green for emergency evacuation routes (safety colour indicating escape paths), blue for accessible route highlighting where accessible pathways differ from general routes. Red should be avoided for pathways because it indicates danger or prohibition, potentially causing confusion. A warehouse in Somerton initially marked walkways in white. Workers said they blended too much with white forklift lane markings and weren't obvious enough. We remarked walkways in yellow. The contrast against grey concrete and white vehicle lanes made pedestrian zones instantly recognizable.

Warehouse walkways need higher visibility and more aggressive visual separation because the consequences of pedestrian vehicle conflicts are severe (forklifts can cause fatal injuries). We typically use 100mm yellow boundary lines on both edges of walkways, sometimes with diagonal hatching between the boundary lines for even stronger visual impact. Walkways also need clear demarcation at crossing points where they intersect forklift lanes (yellow/black zebra crossings with "STOP - LOOK" warnings). Shared paths separating pedestrians from bicycles need less aggressive treatment because the risk levels are lower. A simple centre line with occasional symbols is usually sufficient. The material choices differ too. Warehouse walkways need industrial-grade epoxy or thermoplastic withstanding forklift traffic where they cross. Shared paths can use standard high-quality acrylic paint.

Yes, though less frequently than vehicle traffic areas. Pathways experience different wear patterns. Foot traffic is gentler than vehicles, but high-use sections (main entries, connecting busy areas) still wear over time. Standard acrylic paint on warehouse walkways lasts 3-5 years depending on foot traffic intensity. Two-pack epoxy lasts 5-7 years. Outdoor shared paths exposed to weather might need refreshing every 3-4 years as UV exposure fades colours. We recommend annual inspections checking for wear at high-traffic junctions, fading of directional arrows or symbols, and any damage from cleaning equipment or maintenance activities. A logistics centre in Truganina marked walkways in 2018 with two-pack epoxy. Annual inspections show the boundary lines still look excellent five years later. They've touched up directional arrows twice because those see more wear from foot traffic concentrating at decision points, but the main walkway boundaries haven't needed any maintenance.