[nagdu] Audible Traffic Signals

[Jewel S.]

In my experience, drivers ignore the audible crosswalk signals as much
as they do the non-audible signals. Here in Raleigh, we have quite a
few strategically-placed audible signals at major intersections, such
as downtown (there are too many to name downtown) and at the
intersection of Clarke Avenue and Woodburn or Oberline. Clarke Avenue
is the street that runs perpendicular to those two, and both Oberline
and Woodburn are main streets for Cameron Village, a large shopping
center over many blocks).

In my experience in Raleigh, while the audible signals do coordinate
with the traffic signals, so cross traffic is never going when I cross
with the audible (and it's nice to know that they won't, because they
have a red light), right-turners ignore the audbile signals
altogether. I have had to stop in my tracks in the middle of the
crosswalk to allow a car to turn right in front of me (on a one-way
street, which we have almost exclusively one-ways downtown in
Raleigh). The audibles are great for pedestrians, sighted or blind. I
remember when I was sighted, the audible signals were great because 1)
if I wasn't paying attention and talking, it would draw my attention,
and I wouldn't miss my turn to cross, and 2) if the sun was in my eye
and I couldn't see the crosswalk signal, I could still be sure it was
my turn). The other thing I like about the audibles in Raleigh is that
all north-south audibles are one sound and all east-west signals are
another. They are not intrusive, being a cuckoo and a chirp, but are
great for orientation. When I walk from the rehab center on Ashe
Avenue, where my rehab counselor is, to Cameron Village, as I walk
down Woodburn, I know I am almost at Clarke when I can hear the
audible signals ahead of me. When I got lost in Cameron Village, I
stopped, listened, and heard the audible at Clarke and Oberlin, and
walked to it and found my way from there. Great landmarks!

Audibles are great things, but they do not enforce yielding. They -do-
help blind pedestrians determine which way they are going, where they
are, and when the light is right for them to cross. I love the audible
signals in Raleigh. The only concern I have is people who rely
completely on audible signals and not on their own senses of where
cars are. Audibles are not at every crosswalk or intersection, and
right-turners should be looked out for even if the audible is telling
you to cross. So, I fear that someone will get hit because they are
relying only on the audible, and not paying attention to traffic
around them and step right in front of a turning car. Not saying it'd
be their fault, as they *should* have right of way, but we have to pay
attention to traffic becaue they don't pay attention to us.

~Jewel

On 3/25/10, Albert J Rizzi <albert at myblindspot.org> wrote:
> You know that is a good question. Maybe I could pose it to the people at the
> national organization  on disability. They track cities and grade them on
> their accessibility, I think Indianapolis  is touted as the most accessible
> city in our country, I will write to carol glazer the president and get her
> two cents on the subject. Unless of course the nfb has done a study, or
> maybe the ACB.
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> doing it."
>
>
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Julie J
> Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2010 8:49 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Audible Traffic Signals
>
> I was asked questions last night about audible pedestrian signals during my
> presentation.  I of course know what they are and generally how they work.
> However I have never actually had the experience of crossing a street that
> has them.  I'm not convinced that we really need them here where I live, but
>
> I'd like to have some facts about APS.  Is there some authoritative source
> that outlines when they are necessary?
>
> The particular intersection that everyone but me is concerned about is a not
>
> extremely busy two way street  that intersects a moderately busy one way.
> I cross it twice a day, to work and back.  Sometimes I wait a couple of
> cycles to get it figured out, but generally I cross at my first opportunity.
>
> It's not a particularly easy intersection, but I don't feel unsafe either.
>
> Thoughts?
> Julie
>
>
>
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