Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practices (Workshop Edition 2010) (2011) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 47-80

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From page 47...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 47 Chapter 4: Features of APS CHAPTER SUMMARY Th is chapter provides a description of APS features, including WALK indications. Th e features currently available on APS marketed in the U.S.
From page 48...
... 48 Chapter 4: Features of APS Pushbutton information message 66 Audible beaconing 69 Alert tone 71 Tactile map 72 Braille signs 74 Raised print or large print signs 75 Passive pedestrian detection 76 Remote activation 77 Tones or audible messages during clearance interval 78 Integrated information devices 80
From page 49...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 49 Criteria for WALK indications WALK INDICATION IS CRITICAL Th e WALK indication provides critical safety information. Th e WALK indication should be: • Readily detectable in the presence of ambient vehicular sound • Highly localizable • Uniquely recognizable as a WALK signal • Unambiguous with regard to which crosswalk has the WALK interval CRITERIA In the U.S., the MUTCD and Draft PROWAG currently provide some specifi c criteria for WALK interval indications: • Shall have audible and vibrotactile indications of the WALK interval.
From page 50...
... 50 Chapter 4: Features of APS Current recommendations for WALK indications AUDIBLE AND VIBROTACTILE INDICATIONS REQUIRED Audible (speech or tone) and vibrotactile indications of the WALK interval are required by Draft PROWAG.
From page 51...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 51 has the WALK interval. Pedestrians are beside the appropriate APS when they are waiting to cross, normally within arm's reach of the APS, and at some distance from the APS for another crosswalk.
From page 52...
... 52 Chapter 4: Features of APS WALK indication -- tones DESCRIPTION A tone is provided during the WALK interval. Th e WALK indication of APS in the US has typically been provided by an audible signal such as a beep, buzz, percussive sound, or cuckoo/cheep.
From page 53...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 53 interval is similar to the pushbutton locator tone, the WALK interval tone shall have a faster repetition rate than the associated pushbutton locator tone." (4E.06)
From page 54...
... 54 Chapter 4: Features of APS WALK indication -- speech messages DESCRIPTION A speech message is provided during the WALK interval, usually from a speaker located at the pushbutton. Th e message should follow the recommended model: "Maple, WALK sign is on to cross Maple." Th e recommended message for an intersection with an exclusive pedestrian phase is "WALK sign is on for all crossings." ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Th e speech WALK message must be detectable, localizable, recognizable, and must also be correctly understood by all users.
From page 55...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 55 intersection. Th is complex process is much more cognitively demanding, and more liable to result in errors or delay than the use of a tone from a speaker located right beside the crosswalk.
From page 56...
... 56 Chapter 4: Features of APS Vibrotactile WALK indication DESCRIPTION Th e pushbutton or a raised arrow on the APS housing vibrates during the WALK interval. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Vibrotactile information is useful when pedestrians can be aligned and prepared for crossing while still keeping a hand on the APS.
From page 57...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 57 Pushbutton locator tone DESCRIPTION A pushbutton locator tone is "A repeating sound that informs approaching pedestrians that they are required to push a button to actuate pedestrian timing and that enables pedestrians who have visual disabilities to locate the pushbutton." (MUTCD 2003, 4E.09) Th e pushbutton locator tone is referred to by diff erent names in manufacturer's brochures, including: • pole locator • locator signal • locator tone • locating tone • locator audible ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Pushbutton locator tones typically sound from the pushbutton during the fl ashing and steady DONT WALK intervals.
From page 58...
... 58 Chapter 4: Features of APS technology is also used to adjust the volume of the WALK indication. Th e web page at www.walkinginfo,org/aps includes sample locator tones.
From page 59...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 59 Tactile arrow DESCRIPTION A raised (tactile) arrow may be part of the pushbutton as seen in Figure 4-2, above the pushbutton (Figure 4-3)
From page 60...
... 60 Chapter 4: Features of APS WHEN TO USE Tactile arrows are recommended at all locations with an APS. REFERENCES Pushbuttons and arrows should be within 5 feet of the extended crosswalk lines, (MUTCD 4E.09)
From page 61...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 61 Automatic volume adjustment DESCRIPTION Automatic volume adjustment is a term for volume control that is automatically responsive to ambient (background) sound.
From page 62...
... 62 Chapter 4: Features of APS REFERENCES MUTCD 4E.06: "Automatic volume adjustment in response to ambient traffi c sound level should be provided up to a maximum volume of 89 dBA. Where automatic volume adjustment is used, tones should be no more than 5 dBA louder than ambient sound." Draft PROWAG R306.3.2 and R306.2.3.2 requires devices to be responsive to ambient sound.
From page 63...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 63 Actuation indicator DESCRIPTION An actuation indicator is a light, a tone, a voice message, or a combination of audible and visual indicators that informs pedestrians that the button has been pressed and that their desire to cross has been communicated to the controller. Audible indicators include a click, beep, or the word ‘wait' when the pushbutton is pushed.
From page 64...
... 64 Chapter 4: Features of APS Extended button press DESCRIPTION Extended button press is an option that actuates additional accessibility features. To activate the features, the pushbutton must be pushed and held for more than one second.
From page 65...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 65 HOW USED BY PEDESTRIANS WHO ARE BLIND OR WHO HAVE LOW VISION Use will depend on the feature(s) called by the extended button press.
From page 66...
... 66 Chapter 4: Features of APS Pushbutton information message DESCRIPTION A pushbutton information message is a recorded message that provides the name of the street and intersection with which that pushbutton is associated. It can also provide other information about the intersection signalization or geometry.
From page 67...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 67 • Model pushbutton message for intersections having an exclusive pedestrian phase with right turns-on-red prohibited: "Wait to cross Howard at Grand. Wait for red light for all vehicles" • Model pushbutton message for intersections having an exclusive pedestrian phase with right turns-on-red permitted: "Wait to cross Howard at Grand.
From page 68...
... 68 Chapter 4: Features of APS HOW USED BY PEDESTRIANS WHO ARE BLIND OR WHO HAVE LOW VISION Pedestrians who are unfamiliar with an intersection, or who wish to confi rm their location, will: • Locate and depress the pushbutton for one second or more • Stand beside the pushbutton speaker to listen to the pushbutton information message • Push the button again, if desired, to hear the message repeated At a location with two pushbuttons on the same pole and speech WALK messages, it is particularly important that users understand and recognize the street name.
From page 69...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 69 Audible beaconing DESCRIPTION Audible beaconing is the use of an audible signal in such a way that blind pedestrians can home in on the signal coming from the target corner as they cross the street. Th e PROWAAC report, Building a True Community defi ned an audible beacon as: "a permanently fi xed source emitting sound for directional orientation" (PROWAAC 2001)
From page 70...
... 70 Chapter 4: Features of APS REFERENCE Draft PROWAG does not specifi cally mention audible beaconing, but provides for optional features in 1106.3.4.
From page 71...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 71 Alert tone DESCRIPTION An alert tone is a very brief burst of high frequency sound at the beginning of the audible WALK indication, which rapidly decays to the frequency of the WALK tone. It is intended to alert pedestrians to the beginning of the WALK interval.
From page 72...
... 72 Chapter 4: Features of APS Tactile map DESCRIPTION A raised schematic map showing what will be encountered as the pedestrian negotiates the crosswalk controlled by that pushbutton. Th is feature is available from one manufacturer.
From page 73...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 73 WHEN TO USE A map of the crosswalk may be particularly useful at intersections with medians or islands. REFERENCES Draft PROWAG states that ‘where provided, graphic indication of the crosswalk shall be tactile'.
From page 74...
... 74 Chapter 4: Features of APS Braille signs DESCRIPTION Braille signs should state the name of the street that the pushbutton controls on the sign above the pushbutton housing. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Although this may be helpful to some pedestrians who are blind, many may not locate the sign and the braille without orientation to the device.
From page 75...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 75 Raised print or large print signs DESCRIPTION Th e name of the street that the pushbutton controls is printed in high contrast raised print or large print on the sign above the pushbutton housing or on the pole. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Some individuals who do not read Braille may be able to read large print, or raised print.
From page 76...
... 76 Chapter 4: Features of APS Passive pedestrian detection DESCRIPTION Passive pedestrian detection is sometimes used to call the pedestrian phase and can extend the clearance interval. Th e authors are not aware of U.S.
From page 77...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 77 Remote activation DESCRIPTION At least one manufacturer off ers the option of a handheld pushbutton that sends a message to the APS to call the pedestrian phase. It operates on a limited range radio frequency (such as a garage door opener or car door unlocking device)
From page 78...
... 78 Chapter 4: Features of APS Tones or audible messages during clearance interval DESCRIPTION A tone or other message sounds during the pedestrian clearance interval, at a diff erent rate, tone, or with a diff erent speech message, than the WALK indication or pushbutton locator tone. Th is can include audible pedestrian countdowns.
From page 79...
... Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice 79 REFERENCES MUTCD states that the APS shall indicate the WALK interval, and states that the word ‘wait' must precede any message during the clearance interval.
From page 80...
... 80 Chapter 4: Features of APS Integrated information devices DESCRIPTION Personal pagers, cellular telephones, and other mobile digital communications devices could potentially receive transmitted pedestrian signal messages. Th e increased use of these devices suggests that there may be other technologies and methods to provide information to pedestrians and for pedestrians to call the WALK interval in the future.

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