Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System
A choker that requires motorists to yield to each other in Charlotte, North Carolina. Source: City of Charlotte
Chokers are curb extensions that narrow a street by widening the sidewalks or planting strips, effectively creating a pinch point along the street. Chokers can be created by bringing both curbs in, or they can be done by more dramatically widening one side at a midblock location. They can also be used at intersections, creating a gateway effect when entering a street.
Chokers can have a dramatic effect by reducing a two-lane street to one lane at the choker point (or two narrow lanes), requiring motorists to yield to each other or slow down. In order for this to function effectively, the width of the travelway cannot be wide enough for two cars to pass: 16 feet is generally effective (and will allow emergency vehicles to pass unimpeded). This kind of design is usually only appropriate for low-volume, low-speed streets.
