Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Modern stoplights beep when I press the button, but give no audible indication to cross, wtf? (self.Blind)
submitted by 1_p_freely
Apparently society really doesn't care whether we get smashed by a car while crossing the street. Making stoplights beep to tell me when I'm supposed to cross wouldn't be particularly hard to do when there is already a beeper in the light! But I asked the city, and they told me that they don't do it by default because sighted people don't like the noise. Well, I don't like being woken up at 6 AM by someone running a jackhammer, but it happened to me on Sunday, that's called life. It was probably someone working for the city again; they're exempt from their own rules (most authoritarians are) about noise levels during early and late hours.
So if there was justice in this world, everyone, not just blind people, would get to cross streets with a blind fold on, and I would be allowed to play some extremely loud Metallica at 6 AM in front of wherever that person who was running the jackhammer early in the morning lives.
Anyway, yeah, if I encounter a street light that I want to beep, I'm supposed to call the city and ask them to switch the feature on. Yeah, that's right, every single one. Because in 2019, accessibility is important, except, apparently not for people who need to cross streets with two ton vehicles traveling on them.
Rant over.
So if there was justice in this world, everyone, not just blind people, would get to cross streets with a blind fold on, and I would be allowed to play some extremely loud Metallica at 6 AM in front of wherever that person who was running the jackhammer early in the morning lives.
Anyway, yeah, if I encounter a street light that I want to beep, I'm supposed to call the city and ask them to switch the feature on. Yeah, that's right, every single one. Because in 2019, accessibility is important, except, apparently not for people who need to cross streets with two ton vehicles traveling on them.
Rant over.
KillerLag 6 points 4y ago
Are you sure you didn't activate the APS? Next time you try it, press and hold the button for about 5 seconds, it should make a second beep. That would activate the APS (depending on the model). I've seen some older models where the button was hidden on the bottom, though,
There is a setting where it can be turned on by default, but yes, that generates a lot of complaints and most places don't enable that. Even in my city, I think there is only one or two lights where the APS is always on, and they are in commercial areas (far away from residential).
There is a setting where it can be turned on by default, but yes, that generates a lot of complaints and most places don't enable that. Even in my city, I think there is only one or two lights where the APS is always on, and they are in commercial areas (far away from residential).
BlackKingBarTender 2 points 4y ago
O&M student here. In our program we're reading articles on best practices for APS and intersection design and apparently the mandates for accessible design on intersections is pretty minimal and well below best practice suggestions. Chirps are bad, voice notifications alerting that the walk sign is crossing over so and so street is better. I know extended button presses include more in-detail information about the intersection, but I wasn't aware some APS systems only give auditory notification after the press and hold. Is that relatively common?
KillerLag 2 points 4y ago
It's the standard all over Toronto (press and hold, with chirps and beeps). I believe in Montreal is similar, with sounds. There are only a few exceptions in Toronto which uses a verbal prompt.
I've had a number of older clients complain, because they don't have the physical strength to push the buttons. I know there was a company called Key2Access that is making an APS that can be accessed via Bluetooth through your phone. I believe it is being installed in Ottawa (and possibly another Canadian city), but I haven't kept up to date with that.
https://coolblindtech.com/key2access-is-advancing-pedestrian-mobility-for-the-blind-with-wireless-technology/
Another thing about the press and hold is that the button vibrates with the chirps, for the deafblind. It also acts as a back up for when the speaker is busted (surprisingly high vandalism rates on them lately).
I've had a number of older clients complain, because they don't have the physical strength to push the buttons. I know there was a company called Key2Access that is making an APS that can be accessed via Bluetooth through your phone. I believe it is being installed in Ottawa (and possibly another Canadian city), but I haven't kept up to date with that.
https://coolblindtech.com/key2access-is-advancing-pedestrian-mobility-for-the-blind-with-wireless-technology/
Another thing about the press and hold is that the button vibrates with the chirps, for the deafblind. It also acts as a back up for when the speaker is busted (surprisingly high vandalism rates on them lately).
RJHand 1 points 3y ago
The problem I've found with the vibration at least with the streets I normally cross is some poles are located in odd places where lining up with them does not put you in a good or safe spot for crossing the street. I'm in Boston though currently not Toronto as I'm away at school, but I'm sure Toronto probably has some issues with that as well, the ones I've seen there were alright but I'm not right in toronto either and I imagine most major cities have some issue with things like that, wouldn't surprise me anyways lol.
KillerLag 2 points 3y ago
There are issues with where many of them are placed. They are suppose to be on the farther side, close to the curb. However, sometimes they install them further away with no obvious reasons. I suspect for some of them, there is something underneath that makes installing a pole difficult. For others, I would suspect they are saving on the cost by using existing poles, even though they are in non-optimal situations.
1_p_freely [OP] 1 points 4y ago
If they have a hard time pressing it with fingers, press it with an elbow. That's what I do. Not because it is hard to press, but to avoid germs on my hands.
KillerLag 1 points 4y ago
I have suggested that as well, but not all of my clients are capable of that. I know some people use their support cane handle as well, but then there is a risk of falls as well.
1_p_freely [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Never knew about this, thanks!
bondolo 3 points 4y ago
Try pressing and holding. Someone decided that APS systems were annoying and require you to hold the button to activate them. Unfortunately it not consistent.
J13ein 2 points 4y ago
In the UK not sure where you are but they have spinning bits underneath them and it’s hard to see but it is their and spins when you can cross the street Their might be something like that where you are not sure tho
HDMILex 2 points 4y ago
Keep calling the city, honestly that's all you can do. Complain and complain until they get tired of you.
Or see if keeping the button pressed for a few seconds works.
Or see if keeping the button pressed for a few seconds works.
Waste_Abrocoma_2956 1 points 7m ago
there should be Smart Phone apps to do this. and also Smart Watch apps for blind people.
CloudsOfMagellan 1 points 4y ago
https://youtu.be/r1KiMy-_Yfc
SLJ7 1 points 4y ago
I want to add one thing:
If pressing and holding does not work, I would suggest complaining about that, as it is a standard.
If it does work, their staff are highly uneducated and quite the fuss should probably be raised over the fact you had to go to Reddit to find out how to use the traffic signals installed by the city. Follow this up with a random call every so often to test whether they actually have the necessary info or not.
I don't always believe in audible signals being necessary for every street, but they sure as hell help on busy intersections and the fact they are available but turned off by default is pure undiluted bullshit. I would not let the city get away with this if I were you; there are probably plenty of ways you can raise hell in the local media too.
Please keep us posted; I always like to hear updates on this sort of thing.
If pressing and holding does not work, I would suggest complaining about that, as it is a standard.
If it does work, their staff are highly uneducated and quite the fuss should probably be raised over the fact you had to go to Reddit to find out how to use the traffic signals installed by the city. Follow this up with a random call every so often to test whether they actually have the necessary info or not.
I don't always believe in audible signals being necessary for every street, but they sure as hell help on busy intersections and the fact they are available but turned off by default is pure undiluted bullshit. I would not let the city get away with this if I were you; there are probably plenty of ways you can raise hell in the local media too.
Please keep us posted; I always like to hear updates on this sort of thing.
TacticalAvocado222 1 points 4y ago
A lot of major crosswalks in my area don't even have buttons.
AllHarlowsEve 1 points 4y ago
I'm jealous that you have ones that can even be activated. My area is full of lots of hills, sidewalks only on one side of the street, and people who drive like they have no goddamn sense.
Back when I lived in a larger city, they told me that they couldn't install a new audible signal... but they could move an already existing one. /sigh.
Back when I lived in a larger city, they told me that they couldn't install a new audible signal... but they could move an already existing one. /sigh.
Clavast 0 points 4y ago
Those walk signals are absolutely worthless, though. It’s pretty foolish for anyone to put absolute faith in those things. Just because the light says it’s safe doesn’t mean it actually is safe. The walk signal doesn’t make sure that nobody is going to run a red light. It also doesn’t account for less considerate drivers who will cut pedestrians off in the middle of the cross walk.
A lot of blind people don’t go out of their way requesting audible signals because they don’t actually do all that much for us. I much more prefer to rely on my hearing and mobility skills to get across large streets and those chirps actually only get in the way of me listening to traffic patterns.
Don’t become a pancake just because a signal said it was safe to cross. Pay attention to your surroundings, make informed decisions as to when it’s safe for you to cross, and go for it. The city won’t give a shit and, frankly, I don’t think they should. Sighted folks have access to those, yes; but they also have access to eyes that can tell them when someone is running a red. You have ears that can do the same — and if you don’t have the best hearing, then those signals won’t help much anyway.
A lot of blind people don’t go out of their way requesting audible signals because they don’t actually do all that much for us. I much more prefer to rely on my hearing and mobility skills to get across large streets and those chirps actually only get in the way of me listening to traffic patterns.
Don’t become a pancake just because a signal said it was safe to cross. Pay attention to your surroundings, make informed decisions as to when it’s safe for you to cross, and go for it. The city won’t give a shit and, frankly, I don’t think they should. Sighted folks have access to those, yes; but they also have access to eyes that can tell them when someone is running a red. You have ears that can do the same — and if you don’t have the best hearing, then those signals won’t help much anyway.
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