As part of One Accessibility advocacy, we share information about disability issues, inclusion, and or accessibility features on Maps. Look out every week for this enlightening post.
Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s Accessibility Uncovered post!
Our Accessibility topic for this month is about Accessible road features in our areas. I am specifically going to talk about the ‘Accessible roadside pavement and pedestrian crossings in the UK’. Having an understanding regarding the road features help us understand how the connected places are accessible to all and help us better contribute on Maps. Our previous month topic was ‘Accessible stores near me’, You can read about stores across the world in the previous posts of the series.
So , what are current regulations, legislation and guidance to make the pedestrian crossings in the UK accessible? Let’s have a look at current regulations in force :
- The highway authority has the duty under the Highways Act 1980 to keep the streets and pavements clear of obstacles and clutter to allow every pedestrian to walk along them safely.
- The new Equality Act 2010 (former Disability Discrimination Act 1995 – DDA) provides a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and avoid any discrimination caused by physical features. The Act also requires local authorities to provide information that is accessible for everyone.
In 2005 the Department of Transport in the UK published “Inclusive mobility guide” , a guide to best practice on access to the pedestrian and transport infrastructure in the UK. The aim of this guidance is to provide advice on best practice to assist professionals to meet their responsibilities under the Equality Act. Although these guidelines do not have any legal status , they do provide guidance on best practice that relevant organizations can apply to their particular situation.
These include specifications on:
- Audible and tactile signals at pelican crossings and controlled junctions
- The Design of Pedestrian Crossings
- Tactile Paving Surfaces
The main purpose of these guidelines is to set road designs for people with mobility issues and physical impairment to the highest possible standards that can benefit everyone.
According to the Department of Transport of the UK, two audible signals and one tactile signal standard are currently available: the normal standard “bleeper”, the “Bleep and Sweep” signal and the tactile cone. The standard “bleeper” is the audible solution used when all cars are stopped at a junction. For more complex crossings, the “bleep and sweep” signal is used. The tactile signal is a small cone fitted underneath the push button box. The cone rotates when the green man pedestrian signal is lit.
You can see these road features across the UK. Along with these there are also other useful road features in the UK like accessible paths , ramps , parking spaces allocated specially for disabled drivers , parents with baby/kids , etc. that make the roads and places accessible to all ! You can check about Accessible tourist spots in London with all these features , click here for the Maps list link .In case you wish to contribute towards accessibility and wish to know more , click here.
Thank you for reading, I hope you liked to read about the accessible road features in the UK ! Do you have similar or other road features in your country that help the shops or places accessible and useful for all ? Please let me know! I would love to know about other features like this one !
If you have a question, suggestion, or contribution, feel free to comment below. You can read last week’s roundup article here and check the list of our other articles under "Accessibility Uncovered".
Accessibility related posts. You are a true ambassador of Accessibility.
I just try my best to keep spreading awareness regarding accessibility through posts and meet-ups.