[Nyabs] Press Release from Committee on Transportation Hearing on Accessibility Legislation

Sat Feb 11 02:20:57 UTC 2012

That is a great point, Alex.

I have noticed that different localities use different types of audible
signals in their APS systems. Does anyone find that one type of signal is
better than another? I have heard chirps, beeps, and humanoid voices
telling me not to cross the street in different cities. Any opinions out
there?

On Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 11:33 AM, Alexander Castillo <
alexandera.castillo at gmail.com> wrote:

> Kate, thanks for the info! I want to point something out in case
> anyone is curious. For quite some time now, many of us have made the
> argument that these audable signals are unreliable, and often in
> places which are not necessary, and are a poor use of the city's
> financial resources. This is not the case here.
>
> The city is changing, and aproaches to traffic and pedestrian
> management  have made street crossings  more difficult. And again, as
> the release points out, in certain parts of the city, one cannot
> simply rely on crossing at the corner, or following the flow of trafic
> in order to get across the street safely. In short, these signals are
> a welcome and necessary part of the city's changing design.
>
>
>
> Alex
>
> On 2/8/12, Kathryn Carroll <carroll.kathryn.e at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hey everyone,
> >
> > Below if a press release from a hearing in which City Council members
> call
> > for support for three bills that will dramatically improve the experience
> > of blind and visually impaired people naigaing the streets of NYC. As
> many
> > of you have probably noticed, "pedestrian plazas" are becoming more
> populat
> > and the need for audio pedestrin signals is becoming more acknowledged.
> >
> > Best,
> > Kathryn
> >
> >
> >   ****
> >  *THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK*
> >
> > OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES VACCA**
> >
> > ****
> >
> > *250 Broadway, Suite 1749***
> >
> > *New York, NY 10007*
> >
> > *(212) 788-7375***
> > *** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> > ***
> > ****
> > January 25, 2012****
> >
> >    ****
> >
> >
> > Contact:          Vito Signorile, 646-596-3338
> >
> >                         Will Colegrove (CM Brewer), 212-788-6975
> >
> > * *****
> >
> > Vacca, Brewer, & Visually Impaired Advocates Call for Enhanced Safety
> > Measures in City Streets****
> >
> > * *****
> >
> > Prior to the City Council Committee on Transportation Hearing on
> Wednesday,
> > January 25, 2012, Transportation Chair James Vacca and Council Member
> Gale
> > Brewer joined members of the blind and visually impaired community at
> East
> > 17th Street and Broadway in Manhattan to demonstrate the difficulties
> that
> > exist for low vision New York City residents when crossing the street at
> an
> > intersection.****
> >
> >  ****
> >
> > At the hearing, Vacca and Brewer demanded from the city Department of
> > Transportation that the needs of all street users are met. The committee
> > heard testimony on three critical bills, Intro 487, Intro 183 and Intro
> > 745, which are intended to make New York streets safer for the blind and
> > visually impaired. Members of the blind and visually impaired community
> > also testified at the hearing, including Karen Gourgey, Chair of
> > Pedestrians for Accessible and Safe Streets.****
> >
> >  ****
> >
> > Introduction 487 by Council Member Brewer would require the installation
> of
> > detectable warning surfaces around the perimeter of pedestrian plazas and
> > bike lanes throughout the entire city. Introduction 183 by Council Member
> > Brewer would require the increased installation of audible pedestrian
> > signals throughout the city, allowing for safer street crossing for the
> > blind and visually impaired. Introduction 745 by Council Member Vacca
> would
> > require DOT to post on its website a list of all major street redesigns
> in
> > a format that is accessible to people with any disability. ****
> >
> >  ****
> >
> > “Pedestrian plazas are quickly becoming a way of life throughout our city
> > and we must make sure that all of our pedestrians know where the plaza
> ends
> > and oncoming traffic begins. This is clearly a matter of safety for not
> > only the members of the visually impaired community, but for all
> > pedestrians. DOT must do more,” said Vacca.****
> >
> >  ****
> >
> > In addition, DOT testified that Accessible Pedestrian Signals at newly
> > signalized intersections carry a minimal cost and Council Members Vacca
> and
> > Brewer called for all new intersections throughout the City to be
> equipped
> > with all new APS. Accessible signals provide auditory cues for members of
> > the blind community to know when it is safe to cross the street.****
> >
> >  ****
> >
> > “The purpose of Intro 183 and Intro 487 is clear: to make New York City
> > streets safe for all of our residents, visually impaired and those with
> > 20/20 vision,” said Brewer. “Both bills are a step in the right direction
> > and I hope this will start a new and important conversation about
> equality
> > in accessibility for all New Yorkers.”****
> >
> >  ****
> >
> > “Every street signal in our city should be equipped with APS. We have
> curb
> > cuts all over the city that allow wheelchair users to travel anywhere
> they
> > would like to go. The situation is no less urgent for members of the
> blind
> > and visually impaired community. APS is not a privilege, it’s a right,”
> > Vacca said.****
> >
> >  ****
> >
> > “It’s thrilling that we have finally reached this point where people are
> > talking programmatically about accessible pedestrian signals and doing
> the
> > kind of work that really helps to make our city accessible to all,” said
> > Gourgey. “I hope that we can work together and figure out what will be
> the
> > best solutions for pedestrians.”****
> >
> >  ****
> >
> > ###****
> >
> > ****
> >
> > ****
> >
> > William Colegrove****
> >
> > Director of Legislation and Budget****
> >
> > Office of Council Member Gale A. Brewer****
> >
> > Council District 6: Upper West Side and Clinton****
> >
> > 250 Broadway, Suite 1744****
> >
> > New York, NY  10007****
> >
> > p: 212-788-6975****
> >
> > f: 212-513-7717****
> >
> > wcolegrove at council.nyc.gov****
> >
> > ****
> >
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> > __._,_.___
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Kathryn Carroll
> > St. John's University School of Law 2013
> > (Ph.) 347-455-1521
> >
>
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-- 
Kathryn Carroll
St. John's University School of Law 2013
(Ph.) 347-455-1521
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