Access For Sight Impaired ConsumersAccess For Sight Impaired ConsumersSeveral years ago, Access for Sight-impaired Consumers launched an initiative with Metro Vancouver's transit authority to re-define their definition and criteria of an "accessible bus stop". Historically, this term referred to a bus stop that was sufficient in design and space to enable a person with a mobility aid (such as a wheelchair, scooter or walker) to board or disembark from a conventional transit or shuttle bus. These "accessible bus stops" met the accessibility requirements for persons with mobility impairments. But not for persons who were blind, sight-impaired or for those who had other sensory disabilities. Nor did they offer full and inclusive accessibility for persons with cognitive issues, dyslexia, seniors with mobility issues (wherein a bench or seat would be beneficial) or for many others.
After numerous meetings, community consulttations and muchrefining, the Universally Accessible Bus Stop Design Guidelines are now complete. The revised criteria includes many features which will enable transit users who are blind or sight-impaired (and others) to independently and successfully locate and identify bus stops when they wish to board a transit bus. The 112 page Universally Accessible Bus Stop Design project report and Guidelines (in an text accessible .pdf format)have now been posted to the TransLink website.
The next phase of this project will be to engage several Metro Vancouver municipalities to retrofit several high-profile, well travelled transit stops to evaluate public reaction and to determine there efficacy. Pilot locations are currently being considered and we will report on their installation progress as retrofits and/or construction begins which is anticipated for the fall of 2011.