Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Effect of Device Features

The U.S. Access Board's Draft Guidelines for Accessible Public Rights-of-Way recommends the use of push-button-integrated accessible pedestrian signals (APSs). This research compared the effect of specific features of push-button-integrated APSs on the ability of blind pedestrians to locate and correctly use push buttons and to cross accurately during the pedestrian phase. A rapid-tick walk signal promoted the fastest onset of crossing compared with speech messages and bird calls and is therefore the preferred signal. However, speech walk indications are needed where two APSs are mounted on the same pole. Although variations in the standard features made little difference to users who were thoroughly familiar with devices, empirical evidence from participants with less knowledge of the devices as well as subjective data lead to the recommendation that APS devices include a push-button locator tone, a rounded push button with an activation tone or message, a tactile arrow incorporated into the push button, responsiveness to ambient sound, and a push-button information message and beaconing in response to an extended button press.