Safety Bollards for Contraflow Bicycle Lanes

Safety bollards have always been useful for marking bicycle lanes.  Now, with the popularity of contraflow bike lanes, using bollards is more important than ever to ensure the safety of both cyclists and motorists.

Contraflow Bike Lanes: a Growing Trend

Contraflow lanes allow bicycles to travel in the opposite direction of motorists.  In cities with substantial numbers of one-way streets, these lanes benefit cyclists in many ways, including the following. They:

•     Reduce motorist/cyclist conflicts
•     Allow cyclists to safely enter the flow of traffic at all points
•     Provide safe, easy access to popular destinations
•     Reduce the distance cyclists must travel on roads used by motorists
•     Offer cyclists safer, more pleasant routes of travel without interfering with motor vehicle traffic

To maximize the safety of everyone who uses public roads, contraflow bicycle lanes should only be placed on streets with the following characteristics:

•     Low volumes of vehicular traffic
•     Sufficient room to construct a contraflow lane to the left of motorists’ direction of travel
•     Substantial current use by cyclists
•     A minimum number of intersecting alleys, driveways, or streets
•     Enough room for signs advising motorists that a contraflow lane is present

Impact of Existing Contraflow Lanes in Major Urban Areas

Contraflow lanes have existed in cities like Cambridge, Massachusetts; Madison, Wisconsin; and Portland, Oregon, for well over a decade.  In each city, they have significantly improved traffic flow, reduced the number of bicycle/motor vehicle accidents, and enhanced the usability of public roadways for everyone.  They’re especially helpful around large colleges and universities where hundreds or even thousands of students commute to and from classes on bicycles.


The Role of Safety Bollards in Marking Contraflow Lanes

Safety bollards, with their high visibility and sturdy construction, are extremely useful on streets with contraflow bicycle lanes. They remind motorists to watch out for bike riders. They also remind cyclists to stay within the lane’s boundaries. Together, these two safety measures can help both motorists and bike riders stay safe on the nation’s roadways.

To learn more about varieties of safety bollards, call Impact Recovery Systems today at 1-800-736-5256.

Parking Lot Safety for Motorcycles

One of the most important yet most neglected skills motorcycle riders should learn is parking lot safety.  While few motorcyclists drive at blinding speeds in areas with parked vehicles, these places nonetheless present unique hazards when it comes to clearance, visibility, and road surfaces.

This article will outline the fundamental skills all bike riders should possess in order to navigate the average parking lot accident-free.  While it will certainly be of interest to motorcyclists, it will also prove useful to public safety officials and others concerned with promoting vehicular safety.

Equipment considerations

Proper equipment use is just as important while riding through parking lots as it is when going 65 MPH down a major highway.  In particular, riders should keep the following points in mind:

• Keep the helmet strap secured.
• Use suitable eye protection, whether this includes goggles, a face shield, or shatterproof glasses.
• Wear a jacket made of cowhide, corduroy, denim, nylon, or other durable material.
• Wear long pants, knee protection, and suitable foot protection.
• Use gloves at all times the bike is in motion.
• Wear high visibility gear.  This is especially important in parking lots, where motorists are usually less alert than when driving on public roads.  Many a biker has been side-swiped by an inattentive driver who pulled out of a spot without looking both ways first.
• Operating the bike’s controls
• Use hand or mechanical turn signals when in the parking lot.  This will further increase the biker’s visibility to auto drivers.
• Apply the front and rear brakes at the same time when parking, just as on the open road.  Remember that up to 70% of your bike’s stopping power depends on the front brake.
• Lean into turns in a parking lot, just as bikers do anywhere else.  It takes very little momentum to upset a modern bike, even at very low speeds.

Using the SEE system in parking lots

The SEE system is used by millions of motorcyclists to get them safely from Point A to Point B.  It can be broken down into the following steps:

1. Search for possible dangers.
2. Evaluate all potential hazards, including turning cars, loose or uneven road surfaces, rain or other precipitation, etc.
3. Execute the proper action to avoid the hazard.

For example, in parking lots, riders should be alert at all times for vehicles pulling out from spots.  Motorcycles are far less visible than the average car or truck, so cyclists should never assume that a motorist sees them.

Just as important as watching for vehicles pulling out of spots is being alert for those pulling into them.  Some drivers focus completely on getting the best spot available, as if it were a competition with others.  No motorcycle rider should ever get hurt because some inattentive person chooses to whip around her in order to park six feet closer to a building.

Perhaps the most dangerous part of a parking lot is at the ends where vehicles make turns to go down succeeding rows.  As riders approach these ends, they should look twice for cars coming from either direction.  Also, riders should signal their intention to turn well before doing so.  This could save their lives.
Special parking lot safety hazards to be on the alert for any of the following circumstances can make parking lots especially dangerous.  Bikers should be extra careful in case they spot any of them.

• Pot holes, loose road material such as gravel, or rises/bumps in the road.
• Slick spots caused by oil or other fluids.
• Dark conditions, including periods during or just prior to rainstorms.
• Hazard markers or other warning signs.

By following the above recommendations, motorcycle riders can safely share parking lots with other bikers as well as drivers of passenger vehicles.

Originally posted at www.impactrecovery.com

Traffic Safety Products that Help Ensure Cyclist Safety

Originally Posted at:  www.impactrecovery.com

Traffic safety products play an integral role in ensuring the safety of bicyclists in urban areas.  Their use is part of a specialized sub-discipline known as bicycle transportation engineering.  It seeks to create bike-friendly areas along and within existing roadways.  It also focuses on the layout and construction of dedicated paths for cyclists as well as pedestrians.

Some of the ways that transportation engineers have tried to make streets safer for cyclists include the following modifications:

• Shared use paths – These are bikeways that run parallel to conventional roadways, yet are physically divided from them by delineators or safety signs.
• Bicycle lanes – These are portions of roadways meant specifically for use by cyclists.  They’re normally marked by a solid white stripe on the pavement.  They’re much narrower than motor vehicle lanes and run alongside the edge of the road.
• Shoulders – These are traditionally used as a place for inoperable vehicles to pull over.  However, in many areas, they have been modified for use by cyclists and those on foot.
• Wide outside lanes – One of the chief complaints motorists have about sharing the road with cyclists is having to slow down to accommodate them.  Wide outside lanes are intended to eliminate this problem by giving vehicles more room to pass bicycles safely.  They are chiefly used in rural areas where shoulders are frequently underdeveloped and unsafe for bicycle traffic.
• Shared bus lanes – These are dedicated bus lanes that also permit cycle traffic, depending on the local public transport schedule.  These are especially popular in France and the UK.
• Shared space streets – These are simply public streets that give equal priority to all types of vehicles.  Motorists must accommodate the rate at which cyclists travel.  While widespread in parts of Europe, they have only recently been introduced to the United States.
• Bike paths – Often built on the sites of abandoned railroad tracks, these paths are completely independent of public roadways.  They’re normally shared by cyclists and pedestrians, as well as horses in some locations.  Bike paths are also popular features of greenways.

Other Bicycle Safety Measures
In addition to creating special routes for bicycles, transportation engineers are taking other measures and developing additional traffic safety products to ensure the safety of bike riders.  These include:

• Modified traffic lights that are able to detect the presence of cyclists, taking their presence into account when issuing signal changes.
• Modified road surfaces that move potholes, surface markings, storm drains, and other impediments to bikes away from their path of travel. 
• Bicycle parking lots that allow bike owners to secure their cycles to secure metal stands, discouraging theft.  Some of these parks have staff members on-site, while others are routinely patrolled by law enforcement.

Factors Involved in Creating Bicycle Safe Zones
Not all urban roadways can be converted to bike-friendly areas with the same degree of ease.  Planners normally give priority to those zones that can be transformed with minimal effort.  Some factors that guide the decision process include the following:

• The level to which motor vehicle traffic in the area can be reduced.
• The prospects for establishing traffic calming measures.
• The level to which danger zones for cyclists, such as junctions and crossways, can be monitored and improved.
• The prospects for establishing reasonably secure bicycle parking facilities in the area.

The Role of Traffic Safety Products in Ensuring Cyclist Safety
Infrastructure features that promote bicycle safety fall into two categories:

1. Signage that alerts motorists to the presence of cycles.  These often feature messages like “share the road” along with a graphic showing a bicycle. 
2. Elements like raised curbs, walls, fencing, and bollards, which create physical barriers between motorists and cycles.

The trend towards greater cycle use is part of a new emphasis on physical fitness and a greener environment.  As such, it has the potential to do great good and should be encouraged as much as possible.  Modest infrastructure modifications and new traffic safety systems are small prices to pay in exchange for creating a healthier, more active populace, which is what cycling is all about.

Pedestrians Crossing Signs at Roundabouts: Ensuring the Safety of Foot Traffic

Roundabouts have helped promote traffic safety since they were first used over a century ago.  While they have reduced the frequency and severity of vehicle crashes, they have been less successful at safeguarding people on foot.  To meet this challenge, safety officials are using pedestrian crossing signs to direct walkers away from the circular portions of roundabouts, where they are at greatest risk of being struck by automobiles.

This article will provide a brief review of roundabout history, the primary benefits of roundabouts for motorists, and, lastly, examine ways to extend their safety-enhancing effects to pedestrians.  As persons on foot make up an increasingly large percentage of the traffic in most urban areas, the time to take their needs into consideration when designing roads is now.  Creating safer conditions for those who choose to walk rather than drive will reduce pollution and promote public health, two goals that are well worth pursuing.

The History of Roundabouts

The use of circular junctions to direct traffic began with the construction of the Columbus Circle in New York City in 1904.  The British followed suit by building similar junctions in Letchworth Garden City in 1909.  Originally intended as safe havens for pedestrians, their traffic calming functions soon became apparent, and their use began to multiply.

The roundabout as it is known today first emerged in the 1960s, when the rule that vehicles must yield to oncoming cars was adopted internationally.  Traffic engineers and safety officials noticed how effective the intersections were at reducing vehicular crashes, particularly the so-called “T-bone” and perpendicular wrecks that are the most dangerous types in terms of injuries and death.

Ironically, the country that first adopted roundabouts, the U.S., was the most resistant to their widespread use.  Nonetheless, during the 1990s, the junctions became common sights in most municipalities.  As of 2011, there were some 3,000 roundabouts in the States.  In contrast, France had more then 30,000, despite being much smaller.

Benefits of Roundabouts

As mentioned before, roundabouts are effective traffic calmers.  They also have other desirable features, such as the following:

• They’re far safer than conventional, signal-controlled junctions.  Crashes are far less likely at roundabouts, but, when they do happen, they occur at lower speeds and at slighter angles.  This greatly reduces the resulting property damage, injury, and loss of life from wrecks
• Roundabouts reduce delays and congestion, since vehicles do not have to come to a full stop before proceeding (except in cases where they must yield).
• Traffic flows more naturally at roundabouts than at signal-controlled junctions.  Drivers are not controlled by an artificial traffic signal.
• The circle of land within a roundabout makes an ideal spot for a monument or other public decoration (though the choice of what types of decorations to use should be guided by concerns for public safety, as will be discussed momentarily).

Issues with Pedestrian Use of Roundabouts

One of the key limitations of roundabouts is that they have insufficient safeguards and/ or pedestrian crossing signs to protect local foot traffic.  This is due to the vehicle-centric approach that spurred their invention.  This issue is normally dealt with in two ways:

1. By not placing benches, fountains, or similar items in the centers of roundabouts.  While attractive, such decorations would induce pedestrians to visit them.  The central portion of the junction is not a park, and it should never be made to resemble one.  Statues, works of art, and ornamental trees are fine for use in these areas, but should be surrounded by fencing or other impediments to curious pedestrians.
2. By routing foot and bicycle traffic away from the roundabout with crosswalks marked by traffic safety systems, such as signage and caution lights.  These measures prevent foot traffic from crossing at unauthorized locations, while also making drivers more alert to the presence of walkers.

Installing marked crosswalks at roundabouts is imperative to the safety of drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.  With due caution and planning, all citizens can use public routes safely.

Originally posted at www.impactrecovery.com

Railroad Crossing Safety for Commercial Vehicles

Originally posted at www.impactrecovery.com

Railroad crossing safety takes on special importance where commercial vehicles are concerned.  When a train collides with a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), the total amount of damage done is far greater than with a passenger car.  This is because commercial vehicles are significantly larger and weigh much more.  For example, consider a semi pulling a trailer being struck by a train that stretches more than a mile in length.  The sheer mass of the objects involved in the wreck makes the results for more catastrophic.

Additionally, commercial vehicles like school buses usually carry large numbers of people.  If a bus stalls on a crossing grade, then the results can be devastating for many, many people.  One of the worst accidents in transportation history occurred on October 25, 1995, when a school bus carrying high school students in Fox River Grove, Illinois was struck by an oncoming freight train.  Seven students died and 21 more were injured, some critically.

Studies show that many commercial drivers are under-trained when it comes to knowing how to cross rail grades safely.  Unless and until this situation changes, the specter of more deaths from train-CMV collisions will continue to plague communities across the United States.

It’s important to note that railway crossing rules for commercial vehicles differ in many important ways from those for passenger cars and trucks.  This article will look at safety procedures for both professional truckers and bus drivers.

CMV Procedures for Crossing Railroad Tracks

The first step in rail crossing safety begins with route planning.  Commercial drivers should avoid railroad crossings whenever possible.  Officials who manage school or commercial busses should do the same when mapping out routes for such vehicles.

In the event a rail crossing is unavoidable, drivers should use the following procedures:

1. Keep an eye out for warning signs that railroad tracks are near.  The classic X-shaped round sign is the best indicator.  Also look for tracks paralleling the road and listen for the sound of a train whistle nearby.
2. When approaching a crossing, begin slowing the vehicle well ahead of time. 
3. Come to a stop between 15 and 50 feet from the tracks.  Use a pull-out lane if available.
4. Turn off the vehicle radio, fan or other climate control devices, roll down the driver’s window, and listen for a train.  School bus drivers should open the folding door and make sure the students are quiet during this time.
5. Look both ways for a train.  Then look again.  This is known as “doing a double take.”  If trees, posts, buildings, or other objects block a clear view, then rock back and forth if necessary to see around them.
6. Look for a stop sign or traffic light on the other side of the crossing.  If there is one, then judge whether the vehicle’s length will fit in between the sign or signal and the tracks (remember that trains extend past the track’s width as much as three feet on each side).  If there’s any doubt that the vehicle will fit within the available space, then don’t attempt to cross at that point.  Remember that both busses and trucks overhang their rear wheels by several feet.  Many times, an accident has occurred because the driver forgot this crucial fact.
7. Be especially alert to railroad crossing safety when the crossing encompasses multiple sets of tracks.  This is common near large urban areas.  Be certain to look both ways for each set, using the double-take method mentioned earlier.  For example, if the grade has three sets of tracks, look both ways a total of six times.  Make sure all the sets are clear before proceeding forward.  Also, keep an eye out while crossing the grade, just in case a train does appear.
8. If there is no sign of an approaching train, and if there is sufficient room beyond the tracks for the vehicle to fit, then proceed carefully over the crossing.  Do so in the lowest possible gear.  Under no circumstances should gear shifting occur at a railway grade.  This can cause the engine to stall at the worst possible moment.
9. After making the decision to pull forward, don’t stop.  Occasionally, a crossing gate on the far side of the grade may start to close after a vehicle has started to cross.  If this happens, then keep going.  Break through the gate if necessary, but under no circumstances stop the vehicle while crossing the tracks.
10. There’s a popular myth that says trains only run at certain times of the day.  Don’t believe it.  Train schedules can be highly irregular, depending on delivery schedules and other factors.  So, if you see tracks, always assume a train might be just down the tracks.

What to Do if the Vehicle Stalls on the Tracks

1. GET OUT.  Don’t stop to retrieve belongings.  Just exit the vehicle immediately.  Bus drivers should direct their passengers to leave in an orderly fashion.  If there is an emergency door at the rear of the bus, then this is the time to use it.  Evacuating the vehicle as quickly as possible is the highest priority when a stall occurs.
2. Someone near the crossing is an emergency phone number for the railroad.  Find the number and call it as soon as possible, so that any approaching trains can be warned ahead of time.  Remember that trains require a mile or more (the length of 18 football fields) to come to a complete stop, so giving the engineer as much advance notice as possible is crucial.
3. Call local law enforcement to advise them of the incident.  Commercial and school bus drivers should contact their superiors as well, to apprise them of the situation.  Under no circumstances should bus passengers be allowed to return to the vehicle for any reason.  Keep everyone calm until help arrives.
4. If a train is in sight, then immediately start running TOWARDS it, not away.  At the same time, stay as far from the tracks as possible.  This will minimize the risk of being struck by debris when the crash occurs, and it WILL occur if the train can be seen or heard.

Railroad Crossing Signs and Signals

1. The crossbuck sign consist of two white boards intersecting each other in an “x” shape.  It, along with the round crossing sign, is a sure signs that tracks are close by.
2. Sometimes the crossbuck sign is combined with a smaller one underneath that says how many sets of tracks lie ahead.  For example, a site with three sets will have the crossbuck sign and the message “three tracks” below.
3. The high center/high profile sign alerts drivers that the crossing isn't safe for low-clearance vehicles to use. 
4. Quiet zone signs usually say “no train horn.”  They indicate that the surrounding community has met the requirements to ban train whistles from being sounded within its limits.  In place of the whistle are enhanced crossing notices, including audible alerts that can only be heard from a short distance away.

Conclusion


Being a commercial driver entails demonstrating the highest levels of professionalism and devotion to safety at all times.  At no other time is this more important than when crossing railroad tracks.  Following the procedures outlined in this article will help to ensure greater safety for both motorists and the public in general.  

A Look at the Basics of Railroad Crossing Safety

While highway safety systems get a great deal of publicity, railroad crossing safety is a vital yet often overlooked part of accident prevention.  The lack of attention paid to the issue is tragic, as statistics reveal these sobering facts:

• Each year, over 2,000 collisions occur between motor vehicles and trains in the US.
• Those accidents are the cause of more than 200 deaths and 400 injuries each year.
• According to a study by the DOT, 94% of those incidents were caused by driver inattentiveness or disregard for safety.
• Almost 50% of vehicle-train collisions occur at crossings where warning devices such as lights and/or warning gates are in place.
• A train-related wreck is 20 times more likely to result in death than a collision with another motor vehicle.

The reasons why train wrecks so often lead to death come down to physics.  Simply put, the larger and heavier a moving object is, the more damage it will inflict on whatever it hits.  The typical train weighs in excess of 3,000 tons and can be more than a mile in length.  Stopping such a massive vehicle requires a length longer than 18 football fields lined up one after the other.  Even if the engineer sees someone on the tracks ahead, he or she won’t have time to stop before striking the person.  

Facts like these become more real to the average person when the national media reports on a tragic wreck.  One such incident occurred on November 16, 2012, when four persons were killed and 17 others injured in a collision that involved a parade float and a train in Midland, Texas.  The truck pulling the float was unable to pull forward due to vehicles in front of it, trapping it directly on the crossing.  The float was intended to honor military veterans, and in fact, several ex-servicemen and women were among those killed or seriously hurt.

Given the lethal potential of train collisions and the high number of incidents that occur each year, what can be done to safeguard the public?  Installing impassible barriers at crossing sites is simply not practical.  More than 200,000 miles of railroad tracks crisscross the United States, and the rails intersect with public roads at tens of thousands of locations.  If officials are to prevent these accidents, then the key to achieving this goal is public education.

The following is a list of safety fundamentals that should be rigorously taught to drivers.

• First, understand the message that railroad crossing safety signs are meant to convey.  They’re not intended to simply say “stop” or “slow down before you cross.”  Rather, they’re telling drivers to perform three specific actions:

1. Stop completely, and do so at least 15 feet away from the tracks.
2. Look in both directions.
3. Listen for a train.  If you need to, then roll down the windows, turn off the vehicle’s radio and climate control, and stop talking on the cell phone, but be sure that there’s no sound of a whistle or of an approaching locomotive.

• Only after fully completing the above three steps should motorists proceed over the tracks.
• Before starting to drive over the tracks, make sure there’s enough room to cross them completely.  In the Texas incident discussed above, a vehicle ahead of the parade float prevented the driver from moving forward, leading to the tragic outcome.  Don’t get stuck behind vehicles that are on the other side of the crossing.
• Be especially cautious when faced with double tracks.  Many people only pay attention to the first set, starting over the grade when it’s clear.  All too often, they fail to notice the train coming right at them on the second set of rails.  So exercise a higher degree of awareness when facing a dual-track crossing.
• Don’t pass other vehicles when approaching a crossing.  The car or truck in front may be blocking a clear view of an approaching train.  Also, the speed used in passing may prevent the driver from stopping before reaching the tracks.
• To ensure rail transit pedestrian safety, never walk on or near railroad tracks.  Some people think that railway corridors are public property, and use them as their own private hiking trail.  Others walk their dogs or jog alongside the tracks.  This is especially dangerous because such activities distract people from what’s going on around them.  These persons also tend to forget that trains are three feet wider on each side than the tracks they’re on.  Remember that these routes are owned by private companies, and respect them accordingly.
• Never, ever try to “beat” a train.  Approaching locomotives create an illusion that fools drivers into thinking that the engine is further away than it actually is.  Foolishly trying to outrun a 3,000-ton vehicle is simply that – foolish.
• Don’t fall for the misconception that trains always run at scheduled times.  Some people think it’s safe to cross the local grade because “trains never come by at this time of day anyway.”  In reality, railway companies frequently get behind their schedule or run ahead of it in order to complete deliveries in less time.  The lesson for motorists is to always assume a train is coming.
• If a crossing gate in front of your vehicle lowers while you’re crossing the tracks, then drive straight through it.  Don’t hesitate.  Doing so could cost you your life, if indeed a train is approaching.
• Never drive around lowered gates when approaching a crossing.  If the gate appears to be malfunctioning, and if there’s no sign of an approaching train, then look for a number posted at or near the crossing.  This is an emergency line for the freight company.  Call them at the earliest possible moment to alert them to the problem.

Despite the best of railroad crossing safety, sometimes train wrecks occur anyway.  This is often due to the vehicle breaking down while crossing the grade.  This happens more often than most people think.  Driving over tracks can cause tires to stick, scrape the bottom of the powertrain, or cause other damage that disables a car or truck.  When this occurs, those in the vehicle should do the following:

1. Get out of the car or truck immediately.  Don’t try to grab things from the trunk, rooftop, or back seat.  Get at least 50 feet from the tracks.
2.  Look and listen carefully for signs of an approaching train.  If there’s no sign of one, then look for the freight company’s emergency number at or near the crossing.  Call them as soon as possible to alert them to the stalled vehicle.  DO NOT go back to the car or truck, either to retrieve items or to attempt to fix the problem.  In the moments you’re doing so, a train could show up.
3. If a train is approaching when the vehicle stalls, then everyone must exit it immediately.  The driver and passengers should then run TOWARDS, not away from, the train, taking care to stay as far away from the tracks as possible while doing so.  Many people mistakenly believe that running from the train is the best course of action, but in reality this will expose them to debris flying off the tracks after the collision occurs.

As mentioned earlier, public education is the key to preventing train-related accidents.  Officials should strongly emphasize railroad crossing safety, both for new drivers seeking their licenses as well for as seasoned motorists.  As with so many things in life, knowledge makes all the difference when being around trains.


Reposted from www.impactrecovery.com

2009 MUTCD Regulations for Private Parking Lot Safety

Originally posted here.

 The federal government has a compelling interest in keeping all drivers safe.  These interests are outlined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).  The 2009 MUTCD outlines standards for devices like signs, flexible delineators, markings and other traffic elements.  These standards apply to many areas of both public and private roadways; however, there are some gray areas where language in the manual is not so clear.

Does the 2009 MUTCD Apply to Private Parking Lots?

Private lots are often used for public purposes.  A business may be privately owned and be erected on private property, making parking amenities also privately owned.  Places such as malls, shopping centers, movie theaters, and similar establishments all have private parking lots.  These entities have the right to determine who can be in their lot and who cannot.  Some of these lots are vast and even connect public roadways.  Drivers may even feel that they are still on a publicly-maintained roadway because of the uniform application of signage and street markings.

While all of this might lead you to believe the MUTCD should govern these areas, in order to enhance parking lot safety, the language is not so clear.  The 2009 MUTCD as interpreted by the Federal Highway Administration states that private lots are not subject to standards outlined in the manual.  This means that signage, markings, delineators, and other traffic control devices do not have to legally conform to 2009 MUTCD standards.  These changes were adopted in December of 2009 and they also apply to public parking lots and structures. However, Intro P3 C of the MUTCD states, “Parking areas, including the driving aisles within those parking areas, that are either publicly or privately owned shall not be considered to be ‘open to public travel’ for purposes of MUTCD applicability.”

If the 2009 MUTCD requirements did apply to private parking lots and structures, certain regulations would have to be followed.  For example, delineators are commonly used as guidance devices more than as warning devices.  Any time there is a change in horizontal alignment on a roadway, a delineator must be used.  This would apply to private parking lots and garages as well if the 2009 manual so warranted.  Dimensions and application of retroreflective elements on delineators would also apply.  

The extensive standards for traffic control devices in regards to parking lot safety do not currently apply to privately owned and operated parking areas according to the 2009 MUTCD.  However, in the future, feasible standards may be developed that allow for consistent regulation of private parking lots.