Accessible Pedestrian Signal Features New possibilities for access

Accessible Pedestrian Signal Features New possibilities for access in the US Janet M. Barlow Accessible Design for the Blind Asheville, North Carolina

4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 2

Old types of audible signals = loudspeakers mounted on pedestrian signal heads 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 3

Pedhead-mounted APS problems Too loud – mask vehicular sounds that blind pedestrians want to hear n Too loud – bother neighbors n Confusing – users have to know what direction they’re facing to figure out which street the signal is indicating n Confusing – users not sure if sound is APS or bird (for cuckoo/chirp signals) n 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 4

Pushbutton-integrated Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) NOT cuckoos and chirps from pedheads! 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 5

Pushbutton-integrated APS n Continuous pushbutton locator tone with rapid tick WALK indication Sounds attached; click on photo to hear sounds 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 6

Pushbuttonintegrated APS n Continuous pushbutton locator tone followed with speech walk indication Sounds attached; click on photo to hear sounds 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 7

Features n Following slides explain each feature u Speaker at the pushbutton u Pushbutton locator tone u Tactile arrow u Audible and vibrotactile walk indications u Locator tone and walk indication volume adjusts in response to ambient noise levels u Audible beaconing on “request” (by holding pushbutton for over 1 second) 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 8

Speakers at the pushbutton 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 9

Pushbutton Locator Tone Sound comes from the pushbutton n Provides information about pushbutton presence and location n 1 tone per second, each tone less than 0. 15 seconds in duration n Volume set to be heard within 6 – 12 feet, or at the building line, whichever is less n Different sounds acceptable (click, beep, etc) n 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 10

Tactile arrow Raised arrow aligned with direction of travel on the crosswalk controlled by the pushbutton n Arrow may be on the pushbutton or on part of the device or sign above the pushbutton n 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 11

Tactile Arrow – examples 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 12

Recommended WALK indications n A rapid tick WALK indication (sound on slide 6) at locations where the speakers for APS for two different crosswalks are separated by at least 10 feet n Vibrotactile WALK indication - arrow (or other surface on pushbutton unit) that vibrates during WALK 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 13

Volume adjustment Relatively quiet unless audible beaconing is called u Volume only 2 -5 d. B over ambient noise level u Audible within 6 - 12 feet of the pushbutton, or the building line, whichever is closer u 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 14

Automatic volume adjustment n Volume of pushbutton locator tone and audible walk indications adjusts in response to ambient sound u Louder when traffic is loud or there is other noise at the intersection u Quiet when traffic or other sounds are quieter (night) 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 15

APS Location is critical Provide information to the user through proximity to the departure point n Impose less of a cognitive load on pedestrians who are visually impaired u ‘I have pushed the button on my right’ u ‘The WALK indication is coming from my right’ u ‘That sound is for my crosswalk’ n Signal can be quieter due to proximity n 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 16

Installation recommendations n n n 4/4/2008 Beside the landing of the curb ramp Separated by more than 10 feet from other APS on corner MUTCD says within 5 feet of crosswalk line and within 10 feet of the curb Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 17

Installation Example n n Near departure point Poles separated by more than 10 feet Low sound intensities Vibrotactile available 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 18

Pushbutton within five feet of crosswalk line extended < 5 feet 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 19

Pushbutton within 10 feet of the curb < 10 feet 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 20

Installation example - APS separated by 10 feet (3 m) Reachable from level landing, within 10 ft of curb, within 5 feet of crosswalk lines 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 21

Installation example - APS aligned with crosswalk lines 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 22

IF it’s impossible to install two poles 10 feet apart (in alterations, not new construction) Two APS may be placed on same pole, or closer than 10 feet, BUT additional features are required n Use speech message WALK indication, and, to clarify message, u Pushbutton information message u Tactile arrow n 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 23

Pushbutton information message Pushbutton message to provide intersection information n Plays when pushbutton is pressed for 1 second or more n Click on photo to hear message 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 24

Pushbutton information message and speech walk message example 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 25

Audible beaconing n n n Sound from the opposite side of the street is used to provide directional guidance during street crossing Provided after pedestrian holds the pushbutton in for over one second to call the audible beaconing Walk tone and the subsequent locator tone increased in volume during the next signal cycle 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 26

Additional possible feature: Crosswalk Map Tactile map of crosswalk u 4/4/2008 Symbols (from bottom of picture) for: t down curb, t bike lane t 2 lanes of cars from left t Island t rail line t 2 lanes of cars from right t up curb Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 27

Thanks to: Lukas Franck of The Seeing Eye, and Billie Louise Bentzen of Accessible Design for the Blind for photos and assistance in development n John Mc. Gaffey from Polara Engineering, Roger Peterson from Prismatek, Doug Gubbe from Novax, for photos and sounds n Doug Barlow for technical help n Lois Thibault, US Access Board, for feedback and suggestions n 4/4/2008 Accessible Design for the Blind Slide 28

For more information, contact: Janet M. Barlow Accessible Design for the Blind 3 Manila Street Asheville, NC 28806 770 -317 -0611 jmbarlow@accessforblind. org