Dear Access Board:
I am writing with concern about accessible
pedestrian signals (APS's) and
detectable warnings.
This is a subject matter of great importance to me
as a totally blind
pedestrian and also as a consumer that knows not all people with visual
impairments have the same abilities.
When crossing an intersection, many variables are
taken into consideration.
I must be able to listen to all of the traffic, and it is when my parallel
traffic begins a steady flow through the intersection that I know it is safe
to cross. The problem arises when intersections are not straight shots, but
at angles and/or when multiple streets intersect. Also, the ability for
motor vehicles to turn on a red light or for their to be lanes designated as
turn lanes, which I am not able to see. This is fresh in my mind for in our
town a main cross road intersection has just been "improved". But now instead
of just finding the crosswalk and listening for the traffic I must first find
a post with buttons on it so I can push a button to stop the traffic. Next I
must find the crosswalk I need to be on before the light changes again. At
this intersection there are now 5 lanes of traffic in each direction with turn
lanes both left and right. Not always is there enough traffic to be able to
rely on traffic sounds so crossing here is now not easy for the blind. Plus
now there is no real difference in the sidewalk or street, no slope to warn
and nothing for my feet to feel, to tell me I am on the approach to the
street.
Then there are those curbs that are
very near to being flush with the street and/or unexpected drop-off that
could lead to tracks or other unsafe areas which host traffic from large
moving vehicles. And of course there's unforeseen construction or bad
weather that can interfere with travel. These are just a small sampling of
reasons for the need for APS and detectable warnings.
These APS and detectable warnings are not to take
the place of using proper
orientation and mobility skills as a visually impaired person traveling with
a cane, dog guide, or other mobility aid, but rather to assist an individual
in their travels, allowing them to make safe choices with the assistance of
their environment.
Sighted people receive many cues from the
environment to help them make safe
choices. They can see when a car is going to turn in front of them or when
the sign says "walk" or "don't walk." They can assess the type of
intersection they have arrived at, at a glance. The end of a platform will
not come without warning, because they will see it as they approach it.
This isn't about giving blind people too much
information, or information th
at others don't receive. Rather, this is about giving blind people equal
access to the external environment and in the process, lessening the chance
for accidents.
Yes, in all cases, whether a pedestrian is sighted
or blind, there will be
some who will choose not to utilize their environment. The fact is, blind
people should have the right to discriminate between what information they
need and what they don't want to use.
Too many people have died unnecessarily. Whether
it be :the inability to
determine the edge of a platform, find a cross walk or read the traffic
properly, or whether it be that a person is newly blind, is in the process
of losing their vision or someone blind all of their life, we all need equal
access to our environment.
Therefore, I urge the Access Board to take
whatever steps necessary to
ensure that all people, including those with vision loss, are able to walk
the diverse streets of this great country with confidence and an assurance
that their environment is truly accessible.
Sincerely,
Ernest Jones
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