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International Seminar I:
"Transport Problems in Asia"
Under the auspices of the TRANSED 2004 Steering Committee, ECOMO Foundation
International Seminar I:"Accessible Transportations in Asia"
Under the auspices of the TRANSED 2004 Steering Committee, ECOMO Foundation
Sunday, May 23, 9:45-12:30
Program
Commentator: Dr. Akihiro Mihoshi, Kinki University, Japan
1. Accessible Transportation in Western countries
1.1. Pedestrians Who Are Blind at Signalized Intersections: Research on Safety, Orientation and Independence
Dr. Billie Louise Bentzen, Boston College, USA
1.2. Current Status of Barrier-Free in Japan and Trend of STS in Japan, Europe and USA.
Mr. Yoshihiro Wahira, Institution for Transport Policy Studies, Japan
2. Accessible Transportation in Asian countries
2.1. Japan Trial in Transportation Barrier-Free
Dr. Yasutsugu Nitta, Osaka University, Japan
2.2. Improve Barrier-Free and Convenient Construction for All, Including the Disabled and the Elderly
Mr. Chen Xinmin, China Disabled Persons' Federation, China
2.3. The Less Mobile in Korea: Current Status and Perspective
Dr. Kwang Hoon Lee, Seoul Development Institute, Korea
2.4. Towards a Barrier-Free Singapore Transit System
Ms. Judy Wee, Handicaps Welfare Association, Singapore
Ms. Rahman M. Talib, Land Transport Authority, Singapore
PEDESTRIANS WHO ARE BLIND AT SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS:
RESEARCH ON SAFETY, ORIENTATION AND INDEPENDENCE
Billie Louise Bentzen, COMS, Ph.D. and Janet M. Barlow, COMS,M.Ed.
Boston College, U.S.A.
SUMMARY
Research was conducted at two unfamiliar, complex, signalized intersections in each of three U.S. cities to obtain objective data on safety, orientation and independence of pedestrians who are blind as they make crossings. The intersections did not have accessible (audible) signals. Sixteen proficient blind travelers crossed streets at both intersections in each city.
Measures included where participants were standing when they began crossing, where they were headed as they began crossing, where they were when they completed the crossing, when they initiated the crossing (in relation to the signal cycle) and when they completed the crossing (in relation to the signal cycle). Participant requests for assistance with any part of the crossing task, and the occasional need for experimenter intervention for safety were also recorded.
Results demonstrate that pedestrians who are blind have considerable difficulty locating crosswalks, aligning to cross, determining the onset of the walk interval, maintaining a straight crossing path, and completing crossings before the onset of traffic perpendicular to their path of travel.
INTRODUCTION
Pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired often travel in unfamiliar areas and cross at signalized intersections. This research documents safety, orientation and independence of pedestrians who are blind, crossing at unfamiliar, complex, signalized intersections. Data was collected, in three cities, with 16 participants who were unable to see crosswalk lines, pushbutton poles, or pedestrian signals, on the following variables: participants' location in relation to the crosswalk at the beginning of the street crossing; crossing alignment; travel within the crosswalk; location in relation to the crosswalk at the end of the crossing; delay after the onset of the walk interval (or parallel straight-ahead traffic); pedestrian signal status at onset of crossing; vehicular signal status at end of crossing; finding and use of pushbuttons; and requests for assistance or need for intervention for safety at any part in the sequence of crossing tasks. All participants were accustomed to crossing independently at signalized intersections using a long cane or dog guide.
The three cities were Portland, OR, Cambridge, MA, and Charlotte, NC. The six intersections (two in each city) had the following types of geometric and signalization complexity: skewed crosswalk; median; splitter island; right turn lane; more than one left turn lane; offset intersection; leading left turn interval; pedestrian phase on recall; pushbutton actuated pedestrian phase; split phasing; concurrent pedestrian phasing; exclusive pedestrian phasing; mixed exclusive and concurrent pedestrian phasing; and leading pedestrian interval. (See Fig. 1 for two of the intersections used.)
Figure 1. Sample intersections used in research.
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