Which of the following is a typical walking speed of a pedestrian in feet per minute?

• A. 180 ft/min
• B. 210 ft/min
• C. 240 ft/min
• D. 300 ft/min

Answer: (B)

The typical walking speed of a pedestrian is commonly recognized to be around 210 feet per minute. This average speed takes into account various factors that can influence pedestrian movement, such as physical condition, terrain, and environment. In urban planning and transportation engineering, this value is often used in modeling pedestrian traffic flows and determining the design of sidewalks, crosswalks, and other infrastructure elements that accommodate foot traffic.

While there may be variations depending on the specific demographic or situation, 210 ft/min strikes a balance that aligns with estimates from research in pedestrian behavior, making it a practical reference point for planning and design purposes. Other values provided in the options, while representing speeds that some individuals may reach, are not typically averaged out for pedestrian walking speed in civil engineering literature.