Evaluating Accessible Pedestrian Signals for Visually Impaired Persons in Copenhagen

This project, sponsored by Dansk Blindesamfund, investigated Accessible Pedestrian Signal systems to improve accessibility for people with visual impairments in Copenhagen. Current APS devices have problems with audibility, noise pollution, maintenance, and cost. Various systems were analyzed after investigating the needs of the visually impaired, the community and the government. Short-term solutions include changing the signal tone from beeping to knocking and improving error reporting. Long-term solutions should work towards a more tactile-oriented system

A Pilot Study of Pedestrians with Visual Impairments Detecting Traffic Gaps and Surges Containing Hybrid Vehicles

The increasing number of hybrid and quiet internal combustion engine vehicles may impact the travel abilities of pedestrians who are blind. Pedestrians who rely on auditory cues for structuring their travel may face challenges in making crossing decisions in the presence of quiet vehicles. This article describes results of initial studies looking at the crossing decisions of pedestrians who are blind at an uncontrolled crossing (no traffic control) and a light controlled intersection. The presence of hybrid vehicles was a factor in each situation. At the uncontrolled crossing, Toyota hybrids were most difficult to detect but crossing decisions were made more often in small gaps ended by a Honda hybrid. These effects were seen only at speed under 20 mph. At the light controlled intersection, parallel surges of traffic were most difficult to detect when made up only of a Ford Escape hybrid. Results suggest that more controlled studies of vehicle characteristics impacting crossing decisions of pedestrians who are blind are warranted

The Impact of Weather Conditions and Infrastructure Design on the Mobility of People with Impaired Vision

University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. July 2019. Major: Design. Advisor: Gordon Legge. 1 computer file (PDF); viii, 104 pages.Nineteen normally-sighted, low vision, and blind pedestrians provided self-reported effects of environmental, infrastructural, and social factors influencing outdoor mobility in the Minnesota’s Twin-Cities metropolitan area. Focus groups and interviews were conducted to gather data on challenges associated with year-round, independent outdoor navigation emphasizing winter pedestrian mobility. Study themes included weather pressures (e.g., precipitation, temperature), infrastructural/engineering features (e.g., street, sidewalk, intersection design and maintenance), and safety concerns related to motorists and obstacles. Results identify pedestrian hazard impacts on quality of life and behavioral adaptations visually-impaired pedestrians create to increase safety and efficiency during mobility. Conclusions prompt considerations for urban planners, engineers, community activists, and stakeholders concerning mobility issues for visually-impaired pedestrians. Recommendations are provided to promote equity and wellbeing in pedestrian mobility

Enhanced Accessibility for People with Disabilities Living in Urban Areas

[Excerpt] People with disabilities constitute a significant proportion of the poor in developing countries. If internationally agreed targets on reducing poverty are to be reached, it is critical that specific measures be taken to reduce the societal discrimination and isolation that people with disabilities continue to face. Transport is an important enabler of strategies to fight poverty through enhancing access to education, employment, and social services. This project aims to further the understanding of the mobility and access issues experienced by people with disabilities in developing countries, and to identify specific steps that can be taken to start addressing problems. A major objective of the project is to compile a compendium of guidelines that can be used by government authorities, advocacy groups, and donor/loan agencies to improve the access of people with disabilities to transport and other services in urban areas

Determining the practicality of universal design of streetscapes as an approach to achieving accessibility in the built environment : case study of Chatsworth town centre, eThekwini.

Masters of Art in Town and Regional Planning. University of KwaZulu-Natal. Durban, 2017.Universal Design (UD) is an all-encompassing method to designing for the broader population and is rapidly gaining popularity amongst design practitioners and planners globally. The framework outlined in the Universal Design approach can accommodate everyone at any stage in their life by providing convenience and accessibility. The thesis adopts a human right based approach to design which it tried to investigate how Universal Design can ensure social inclusion and participation by informing the design of products, systems, services, as well as the built environments to accommodate all users whilst still respecting their diversity. The research employs qualitative mixed methods approach including a survey of 160 individuals around the Chatsworth Town Centre and interviews with key informants (professional designers and local government officials). A key question was how the design and planning of universal design can be retrofitted within Chatsworth town centre and whether universal design could directly influence an increase or decrease in accessibility. This study found out that residents did have issues with accessibility. Inaccessibility was associated with areas that exhibited poor planning and design. In addition, barriers in the environment were concentrated around these areas. An analysis of the specific planning and design problems within the Chatsworth town centre indicate that modifying the environment using various design measures will reduce inaccessibility. Residents' responses regarding the use of the various universal design elements to address barriers in the built environment was positive. A key issue is that besides architects, planners are also central to implementing the universal design elements, since it incorporates both planning and design

Older Pedestrian Characteristics for Use in Highway Design

DTFH61-91-C-00028The objective of this project was to develop traffic planning and engineering guidelines for the design of pedestrian facilities that are sensitive to the needs of older pedestrians. A detailed task analysis and literature review were conducted to identify the aspects of the pedestrian's tasks that are difficult for older persons, including motor, sensory, perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral factors. Several activities were undertaken to identify specific problems experienced by older pedestrians that could be addressed by changes in design standards and operational practices. These activities included analysis of accident exposure data, a survey of older pedestrians, focus group discussions, and a survey of practitioners. It was determined that older pedestrians experience difficulties at signalized intersections and often do not have sufficient time to cross. A field study was conducted to determine the walking speed, startup time, and stride length of older pedestrians. More than 7,000 pedestrians in 4 cities were observed in order to measure these parameters. Specific recommendations for changes to highway design and operational practices are described