To calm traffic and make intersections more pedestrian-friendly, the curbs and sidewalks can be bumped-out into the right of way by using the space otherwise devoted to on-street parking on the intersecting roads. This shortens crossing distances and forces cars to slow down as they negotiate narrower lanes.
![Source: City of San Diego Planning Division](http://designyourtown.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/RPA_Details-Links-L74-Corner-Bulb-Outs-or-Neck-Downs.jpg)