Dear Inclusive Design Community,
Editor’s note: At the end of the post below, click on the link to Margaret Gallaghers, host of CBC Radio’s North By Northwest episode Telling the story of Karim’s and Fraser’s journey as blind and partially sighted individuals navigating the streets near Metrotown in Burnaby, BC.
First, a big thank you to Vic Leach, Pedestrian Safety Advocate with Walkers' Caucus - New West & Burnaby, BC. Who has volunteered countless hours to implement this White Cane Week initiative in British Colombia, Canada.
That said, in a world where accessibility is often an afterthought, it is encouraging to connect with elected officials actively supporting a White Cane Week initiative. This initiative pairs local residents who are blind, deafblind, or partially sighted to lead walks with locally elected officials, providing them with firsthand experiences to navigate and assess the accessibility of our sidewalks, crosswalks, and intersections.
I will be leading four walks as part of White Cane week In North Vancouver.
These accessibility awareness walks will begin with Councillor Herman Mah of DNV and continue throughout the week with Councillor Jessica McIlroy (CNV), MLA Susie Chant (NV Seymour), and Councillor Tony Valente (CNV). Each of them has embraced the opportunity to experience both the independence and challenges of navigating our streets from the perspective of someone who is blind.
In leading these walks in North Vancouver, I have the privilege of representing the many residents on the North Shore living with vision loss. With the hope of conveying to our elected officials. That with proper orientation, mobility and blindness skills training along with accessible design standards being applied in our communities. Will enable people who are blind, deafblind or partially sighted to more fully participate in our local communities.
Beyond the immediate benefits of enhanced accessibility, it is essential to recognize the broader positive impact on the community. Improved accessibility not only facilitates the independent mobility for all people with disabilities, but also contributes to reducing injuries and, consequently, the burden on local healthcare systems. Additionally, creating a more accessible environment fosters a sense of inclusivity, encouraging people with disabilities to be more active and less isolated.
During our walks, we will be identifying key areas for improvement. Focusing on crucial points likely to be discussed for people who are blind, deafblind or partially sighted, such as:
Curb Cut Aways: / Curb Ramps:
- Orient the pedestrian in the direction of the path of travel across the street and not into the centre of the intersection as has been done in some applications.
- Feature truncated dome tactile indicators to indicate transition at bottom of ramp, just prior to entering the street level
- Clear width of a curb ramp should be one meter excluding flared sides. If the ramp is part of a marked crosswalk, the width should be the width of the marked crosswalk.
- Surface of the curb ramp should be firm, stable, and slip-resistant.
- Ensure strategically placed wheelchair-accessible curb cutaways guide pedestrians directly to crosswalks. Maintain an ideal width matching that of the crosswalk and feature truncated dome tactile indicators to indicate transition at bottom of ramp, just prior to entering the street level.
Pedestrian-Controlled Traffic Signals:
- Install poles with easily accessible push buttons at crosswalks to accommodate pedestrians.
- Ensure that audible crossing signals are not only sufficiently loud but also appropriately timed, providing a safe and discernible indication for those with visual impairments during street crossings.
- Additionally, incorporate audible locator sounds emanating from the pedestrian push-button boxes every 2-3 seconds to assist blind individuals in locating the button for pedestrian crossing.
- Consideration should be applied to set locator or crossing audible signals to corelate with the louder background noise during the day and the quieter time at night.
Sidewalk Accessibility and Separation from Street:
- Ensure sidewalks maintain a clear path, minimizing obstacles that could disrupt linear routes of travel for individuals using white canes or guide dogs.
- Use distinct borders to signal the transition from the sidewalk to parallel traffic, aiding individuals with visual impairments in navigating the pedestrian environment safely and independently.
In conclusion, let's seize the opportunity presented by White Cane Week to make meaningful strides toward a more accessible, safer, and inclusive community for everyone. Attention to these considerations will undoubtedly contribute significantly to achieving these goals.
Sincerely,
David Brun, North Vancouver, BC Canada
Below is the link mentioned at the start of the post.
Walk This Way: Fraser, Karim and Enzo with Margaret Gallagher from CBC Radio on January 28, 2024.
Fraser Hiltz, Karim Damani and guide dog Enzo joined Margaret Gallagher from CBC Radio’s North by Northwest to explore some of the accessibility issues facing people who are visually impaired. Representing the New Westminster and Burnaby Walkers' Caucus, Fraser and Karim led Margaret Gallagher on a guided walk. You can listen to their North by Northwest segment at the following link:
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-43-north-by-northwest
