[nabs-l] accessible pedestrian signals APS

Tue May 3 06:26:11 UTC 2011

I like what we have in Barcelona (Spain): blind people can ask for a remote which can be used to activate audible traffic signals. This same remote can also be used to make a bus tell you its number when it comes. The system is not perfect yet, but it works most of the time.
On May 2, 2011, at 7:42 PM, Arielle Silverman wrote:

> Hi Ashley and all,
> 
> I don't know exactly what NFB's official position is at this point. I
> personally am a big fan of audible traffic signals, for a few reasons.
> First, as you pointed out, there are several kinds of intersections
> where the auditory cue to cross is rather subtle-such as
> T-intersections, those where the parallel street is generally quiet or
> those with leading turn arrows, where you have to listen for the
> turning traffic to stop before crossing. I know it is possible to
> reliably cross these kinds of intersections using traffic cues alone,
> but the potential for mistakes (both missing the cue to cross and
> inadvertently crossing at the wrong time) is substantial especially
> for those who have had insufficient training. Second, as far as I
> know, there is no reliable way to tell when your walk signal is about
> to end. So if you come up to an intersection and the light is in your
> favor, there's no way to tell whether you will have enough time to
> cross before the light changes. The only really safe way to handle
> this is to wait until the light turns red and then green again, which
> can be inconvenient. Trust me, I've gambled on these and tried to
> cross without enough time-the result is scary not to mention
> embarrassing. Finally, though I know this logic is not always popular,
> I do think that if the sighted are given a clear cue to cross the
> street and it is not an undue hardship to make that signal accessible
> to the blind, it should be done. I can't imagine an intersection where
> sighted pedestrians are expected to watch the traffic without any kind
> of walk signal or light indicating when it was safe to cross.
> That being said, I don't think this necessarily has to be our biggest
> priority at this time. I also recognize that some blind travelers find
> audible signals bothersome and I would support some way of making the
> sound optional or implementing a tactile (i.e. vibrating) signal,
> which would also benefit the deaf-blind.
> 
> Arielle
> 
> On 5/2/11, Jorge Paez <computertechjorgepaez at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I thought it wasn't supposed to be enforced till like 2012?
>> 
>> 
>> On May 2, 2011, at 7:14 PM, <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> George,
>>> Actually the ACB seems as mad as ever; yes they won in the court; but the
>>> government has not produced accessible currency yet.
>>> Some do not feel the decision will be enforced.
>>> 
>>> Ashley
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message----- From: Jorge Paez
>>> Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 6:57 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] accessible pedestrian signals APS
>>> 
>>> I believe the national is officially against expanding the use of APS.
>>> 
>>> As far as accessible currency, didn't the ACB already close that case in
>>> court?
>>> ACB V. US trasury 2009 or something like that?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On May 2, 2011, at 6:36 PM, <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Hi all,
>>>> 
>>>> I am on the ACB list and as usual with controversial topics, they are
>>>> taking the Accessible pedestrian signal and accessible currency
>>>> topics and really trashing the NFB and they don’t know the real positions
>>>> and facts.
>>>> They think NFB opposes both.
>>>> I may not tell them as they will not listen, but what are the positions?
>>>> Nfb is not opposed to APS fully.
>>>> 
>>>> What is the national position? Any late resolutions?  Also, what do you
>>>> think and when have you found them helpful or not helpful?
>>>> Personally, I’d like the APS at intersections where you have to press the
>>>> walk button as a pedestrian.  We cannot see the walk signal to know when
>>>> our time starts; you have to press the button in order to tell the
>>>> computer that you are a pedestrian and need a walk phase to cross the
>>>> street.  I think these are called actuated signals.  These streets favor
>>>> drivers, not pedestrians; the busier streets get more traffic time.  That
>>>> change of the signal is activated by a computer.
>>>> 
>>>> At fixed time streets, those streets with a set time to cross, without a
>>>> button are easier IMO and you got sufficient traffic cues to hear to
>>>> cross.
>>>> I also think some streets are more complex now a days with more turn
>>>> lanes and islands, and a accessible signal would be great.  Some signals
>>>> even talk to you and count down the time left in the walk interval.
>>>> 
>>>> So I guess I see APS as a benefit  when you have insufficient traffic
>>>> cues to cross the street.  I’ve tried to learn how to cross T streets,
>>>> and those are confusing too; maybe the APS would help there too.  No
>>>> parallel traffic on T-shaped streets.
>>>> 
>>>> Look forward to your thoughts; I know NFB modified their position on APS,
>>>> so I’m not sure what it is now.  I certainly don’t want them everywhere,
>>>> but in several cases with complex traffic patterns I can see their use.
>>>> 
>>>> Ashley
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>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Arielle Silverman
> President, National Association of Blind Students
> Phone:  602-502-2255
> Email:
> nabs.president at gmail.com
> Website:
> www.nabslink.org
> 
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