Yield street
A very quiet residential street for living activities and movement at low speeds and volumes, with a carriageway that requires people driving vehicles to yield to one another to pass.
Urban yield streets
Yield streets are two way, with a typical carriageway width of approximately 7-7.6m and a street reserve of 12-16m. Yield streets are typically laid out in a loose grid network and present a popular route choice for people cycling. Properties on yield streets have rear access and no garages with minimal driveways present.
Common issues
- side-street intersections with large kerb radii, awkward or missing pram ramps and long crossing distances
- high vehicle speeds with unsuitable posted speed limits
- narrow or missing footpaths
- overhead power lines affecting street tree selection and maintenance
- poor sight lines for people walking due to parked vehicles
- poor sight lines from and into driveways due to parked vehicles
- parked vehicles obstructing pram ramps
- a lack of safe priority crossings at intersections and mid-block
- more than one traffic lane in one or both directions
- wide travel lanes that encourage unsafe, high-speed driving
- a lack of safe dedicated cycling infrastructure
- driveways at different levels to the footpaths.
Design solutions
[1] Raised safety platform (Raised Safety Platforms, TS 00143)
[2] Continuous footpath treatment (Continuous Footpath Treatments, TS 02667)
[3] Trees in the verge (Landscape Design Guideline, TS 01595)
The design solutions library includes a full list of appropriate design solutions for yield streets.
Suburban yield streets
Suburban yield streets are two way, with a typical carriageway width of approximately 7.6-8m and a street reserve of 15-16m. Nonetheless, yield streets occasionally become a single travel lane at certain times and places along the street, requiring slower, cooperative driving: one driver yields to another. They are a common street type in suburban estates from the 1960s to today and commonly take the form of a cul-de-sac. Driveways and front-access properties are a frequent occurrence. Parallel car parking is provided on both kerbside lanes.
Common issues
- roll kerbs or flush environments encouraging parking on the verges
- street crossings with large kerb radii, fast-turning vehicles, missing pram ramps
- a lack of footpaths or narrow footpaths
- private driveways affecting street character consistency and downgrading footpaths
- lack of safe priority crossings at intersections and mid-block
- wide travel lanes that encourage unsafe high-speed driving
- little or no shade and low canopy coverage
- a lack of safe dedicated cycling infrastructure on streets signposted above 30km/h.
Design solutions
[1] Trees in the verge (Landscape Design Guideline, TS 01595)
[2] Footpaths (Walking Space Guide, TS 01589)
[3] Painted thresholds (Austroads Guide to Traffic Management, Part 8)
[4] Slow points (Austroads Guide to Traffic Management, Part 8)
[5] Tree planting within kerb extensions (Austroads Guide to Traffic Management, Part 8)
[6] Kerb extensions or build outs (Austroads Guide to Traffic Management, Part 8)
Alternative treatment not shown:
Note: These treatments are most effective as part of a precinct-wide speed reduction. The design solutions library includes a full list of appropriate design solutions for yield streets.