Accessible Shared Streets Notable Practices and Considerations for Accommodating Pedestrians with Vision Disabilities

Elliott, J. R.; Toole, Jennifer; Barlow, Janet; Bentzen, B. L.; Porter, C.; Lohse, K; Lockwood, I · 2017 · ROSA P / Federal Highway Administration (U.S.)

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Summary

This Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) report addresses the challenge of designing shared streets—environments where pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor vehicles mix in the same space—to be accessible for pedestrians with vision disabilities. While shared streets offer benefits such as economic development, improved safety through low vehicle speeds, and flexible public space, they often lack the navigational cues, such as curbs and defined crossings, that individuals with vision impairments rely on. The report was motivated by the growing implementation of shared streets in the U.S. and the need to ensure these designs meet the needs of all users, particularly the 22.9 million adults with vision disabilities. The document synthesizes findings from an extensive stakeholder engagement process, including workshops, focus groups, peer exchanges, and field visits to existing shared streets. It incorporates input from pedestrians with vision disabilities, orientation and mobility specialists, and government officials. The report reviews existing legal requirements, such as Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and analyzes how pedestrians with vision disabilities navigate using aids like long white canes, guide dogs, and non-visual cues like sound and tactile feedback. It identifies specific navigational challenges in shared streets, including ambiguous rules of the road, confusing surfacing patterns, and the lack of defined safe spaces or crossings. Key findings include a detailed analysis of Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSIs). The report distinguishes between detectable warning surfaces, which alert users to hazards, and directional indicators, which guide travel. It notes that while detectable warning surfaces are well-researched and specified in proposed U.S. guidelines, directional indicators lack U.S. specifications but are effective when following International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards. The report provides a "toolbox" of design strategies, recommending the use of detectable edges, contrast in surface texture and color, and organized furniture zones to create intuitive navigation paths. It emphasizes that patterned paving can be disorienting and that social negotiation of right-of-way disadvantages those who cannot see visual cues like eye contact. The significance of this report lies in its provision of practical, evidence-based guidance for planners and designers to mitigate accessibility barriers in shared streets. It concludes that successful design requires active engagement with people with vision disabilities and the integration of specific tactile and visual cues. By offering a framework for incorporating detectable edges, directional indicators, and clear comfort zones, the report aims to improve safety and independence for pedestrians with vision disabilities, ensuring that shared streets are inclusive public spaces rather than ambiguous environments.

Key finding

Shared streets create navigational challenges for pedestrians with vision disabilities due to the absence of traditional segregation cues, requiring specific design interventions like detectable warning surfaces and directional indicators to ensure safe and accessible travel.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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