CAG Position Statement - Accessible Pedestrian Signals

Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) are devices installed at signalized intersections that provide auditory, tactile and visual information of when the walk phase is on and enables people who are blind, partially sighted, or deafblind to independently navigate the crosswalk. APS must be installed at all signalized pedestrian crossings in a consistent manner, providing equitable access to the built environment for pedestrians who are blind or have low vision. Read the full Position Statement for further information and CAG recommendations.

Position Statement on Accessible Pedestrian Signals

Revised – May 30, 2023

About the Consumer Access Group (CAG)

The Consumer Access Group (CAG) is a coalition of blindness related not for profit organizations. Each partner contributes their expertise to developing position statements on blindness related concerns. These statements enable organizations and individuals to advocate with a common voice on blindness-related issues, increasing the capacity of each to more effectively promote social inclusion for Canadians who are blind, deafblind and partially sighted.

Issue

Across Canada, the operation and features of accessible pedestrian signals (APS) are far from standardized. In order to enhance the safety and independence of Canadians who are blind, deafblind, or partially sighted (hereafter referred to as blind), as well as to ensure consistency that is easily recognized by pedestrians who rely on APS systems across the country, accessible pedestrian signals require agreed upon operating standards.

Background

Pedestrians who are blind cannot always determine when it is legal to cross streets without audible and/or vibrotactile indications that coincide with the visual traffic signals available to sighted pedestrians.  APS provide non-visual indications to blind pedestrians to know when the walk signal is in their favour.  These non-visual signals can also provide directional guidance that can assist in the crossing of non-perpendicular intersections and multi-lane crossings. APS provide audible and vibrotactile indications that confirm when it is legal to make a street crossing not only for pedestrians who are blind, but also for many other users who may benefit from non-visual prompts, such as children, seniors, and people with cognitive disabilities.

In the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 9 states, in part, that “States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment… open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas.”[1] Part of what it takes to provide equal access to the physical environment is the installation of APS.

In May 2008, an APS Committee consisting of Canadian consumer representatives, orientation and mobility instructors, and traffic engineers submitted a set of recommendations to the Transportation Association of Canada and culminated in the release of the “Guidelines for Understanding, Use, and Implementation of Accessible Pedestrian Signals”.[2]

The guidelines, while comprehensive in some areas, leave room for the discretion of deploying agencies that has resulted in a wide variety of APS operations across Canada. These inconsistencies are confusing and ultimately dangerous to pedestrians who are blind.  The goal of the following recommendations is to promote consistency from one jurisdiction to another. See also Clearing Our Path.

Recommendations

All intersections with traffic control signals must be equipped with APS that meet the following criteria.

1.    Acoustic Locator

An acoustic locator tone should be used to indicate the presence of an APS and its push button. The tone should be audible at no more than 3.7 meters from the push button or from the nearest building line, whichever is closer. The tone should sound for no longer than 0.15 seconds and repeat no more than every 1.5 seconds. The sound should be 30 to 90 decibels, automatically adjusted to be 2 to 5 decibels louder than ambient sounds.  The pitch should be at a level that is easily identifiable by a trained user.

2.    Activation

APS should be activated automatically, manually, or through a wireless accessible pedestrian system. Automatic activation should be used for traffic signals that automatically cycle between walk and don’t walk. Where manual activation is employed, activation should only require a single press. Visual, audible, and vibrotactile confirmation of a successful activation should be provided.

When an APS has already been activated, it should not acknowledge a new activation but should instead complete the cycle.

3.    Accessibility

There must be a high contrast ratio between the pole and the pushbutton. The pushbutton should be raised and should have a diameter of 50 millimeters. Access to the pushbutton must be clear of obstacles and snow accumulation so that the pushbutton is always accessible to all pedestrians.

Touchless activation using proximity sensors may replace the button but the other features should be present.

When the pushbutton is pressed and held for 1.5 seconds, enhanced features will be activated in addition to the visual, audible, and vibrotactile features.  There should be a tactile, high-contrast arrow parallel to the path of travel, tactile crosswalk mapping, and a cardinal direction guide. Names of the intersecting streets must be provided in uncontracted braille, raised lettering, and verbal messaging. The name of the parallel street must proceed the name of the street to be crossed and must be separated by the word “crossing” (e.g., Broadway crossing Main). Audible messages must be concise, eliminating words such as street, avenue, or drive, unless these words are essential to avoid ambiguity.

At crosswalks and intersections employing flashing amber signals, the press of an APS button should result in a verbal announcement stating the following: “Amber lights are now flashing. Use caution. Vehicles may not stop immediately.”

4.    Walk Indications

Until a more specific national standard is established, the walk indication for crossings of a north-south direction should be distinct from the walk indication for crossings of an east-west direction, and be consistent throughout the city/region.  Sounds for both directions should be clearly differentiated from naturally occurring and other ambient sounds so that they can be easily recognized.

5.    Crossing Time

Additional crossing time must be considered in conditions that could delay pedestrians, such as when a pushbutton cannot be located within 3 meters of the curb, when the crosswalk is unusually long or complex, or when the crosswalk slope or running grade warrant extra crossing time.

6.    Operations

Post-installation inspections to assess sound conflicts during varied traffic conditions should be conducted in consultation with people who are blind or partially sighted.

An APS must be operational at all times, except during repairs, maintenance, intersection or sidewalk construction, or temporary shutdowns for special events.

Review Date: May 2025
Endorsed by the following CAG organizations:
  • Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians 
  • Canadian Council of the Blind
  • Canadian National Institute for the Blind

Printable PDF Version

Printable version of our Accessible Pedestrian Signals statement