The need for new pedestrian crossings is determined by the environment, the number of users and the junctions around the suggested site. The safety prerequisites for pedestrian crossings must also be satisfied. The aim is not to build new pedestrian crossings without a justified need. If the need for a new pedestrian crossing is justified and the prerequisites for a safe pedestrian crossing are satisfied, the technical planning of the new pedestrian crossing may be started.

The need for a pedestrian crossing is always assessed on the basis of its potential users. Pedestrian crossings are marked along natural passages in the following cases:

1. the pedestrian crossing has at least 200 pedestrians per day
2. discretionally if

• the pedestrian crossing has over 100 daily users
• the pedestrian crossing is used by approximately 20 schoolchildren or elderly persons daily
• the pedestrian crossing is used by 40–50 people of working age daily.

For example, pedestrian crossings are not usually used with passage to bus stops outside urban areas, unless the stop has a large number of users (e.g. feeder transfer stops).

Often, feeder transfer stops that are located along main roads require grade separation. In principle, pedestrian crossings are not used in the immediate vicinity (within approximately 100 metres) of pedestrian underpasses or elevated crossings. In pedestrian zones and other areas with many services and a large number of pedestrians, the minimum distance between pedestrian crossings on the same road is 50–150 metres.

A pedestrian crossing marks the section of the road that is allocated to pedestrians for crossing the carriageway, bicycle way or tramway. The type of pedestrian crossing selected in different situations depends on the speed limit for motorised traffic, the amount of traffic, the traffic environment and the functions surrounding the area.