CAG Position Statement - Accessible Roundabouts

Roundabouts present significant challenges to pedestrians who are blind, deafblind, or partially sighted (hereafter referred to as blind). The continuous flow of traffic at roundabouts removes many of the audible indications that pedestrians who are blind use to navigate street crossings. Additionally, visual barriers in the center island of a roundabout may increase the auditory barriers for pedestrians who are blind. Read the full Position Statement for further information and CAG recommendations.

Position Statement on Accessible Roundabouts

Revised: October 17, 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

Roundabouts present significant challenges to pedestrians who are blind, Deafblind, or partially sighted (hereafter referred to as blind). People who are blind require access to audible, visual and tactile information in order to make judgements about when to cross a street. The continuous flow of traffic at roundabouts removes many of the audible indications that pedestrians who are blind use to navigate street crossings. Additionally, visual barriers in the center island of a roundabout may increase the auditory barriers for pedestrians who are blind.

Despite this, the number of roundabout installations in Canada is increasing. This research-based document outlines essential elements in the design of roundabouts aimed at making them accessible for all pedestrians, including those who are blind.

Background

Roundabouts have the capacity to calm traffic; reduce vehicular accidents, delays, and emissions; increase roadway capacity and efficiency; and mark community gateways.

As a result, roundabouts are replacing many traditional intersections in cities across Canada. This rapid installation of roundabouts has led to major concerns regarding the accessibility of these free-flowing intersections to all pedestrians. Research has shown that roundabouts can present significant challenges to the independent travel of people with vision loss (see Footnote 1). 

In the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which the Canadian Government (with the support of all provinces and territories) ratified in March 2010, 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, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas” (see Footnote 2).

Equal access to the physical environment requires ensuring that people with disabilities can make use of the same streets and sidewalks as everyone else.

Footnote 1: See, for example, Schroeder et al. (2011) “Crossing Solutions at Roundabouts and Channelized Turn Lanes for Pedestrians with Vision Disabilities.” Available at http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_674.pdf.

Footnote 2: See the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Available at https://social.desa.un.org/issues/disability/crpd/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-crpd. 

Recommendations

The organizations listed below oppose the installation of roundabouts where there is pedestrian traffic. Pedestrian infrastructure should be separate from roundabouts in all cases. Where this is deemed not possible, the following recommendations must be followed.

  1. Traffic engineers and communication specialists must be consulted to create the most effective public education strategy, with the goal of ensuring the safety of all at the roundabout. This strategy must be reviewed and renewed on a regular basis. 
  2. A marked crosswalk equipped with an Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) must be installed at each pedestrian departure point. Activation of the APS must trigger a red stop light for traffic. See CAG Position Statement on Accessible Pedestrian Signals https://consumeraccessgroup.blogspot.com/. The location of the crosswalk must ensure that the APS audible signal can be heard over constant traffic sounds from the roundabout and allow drivers ample time to stop for pedestrians using the crosswalk.
  3. The center island and the environment surrounding the roundabout must befree of features which may block the drivers’ view of pedestrians, including those who are wheelchair users, as well as acoustic barriers that mask traffic sounds. These include but are not limited to: fountains, bus stops, mailboxes and garbage receptacles.
  4. Clear and consistent wayfinding aids must be utilized, including
    • Landscaping, or a definite curb, at street edges of sidewalk
    • High contrast curb cuts on both departure and destination curbs
    • Standardized, well-defined and color contrasting crosswalks
    • Guidance Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI) spanning the sidewalk, guiding the blind pedestrian to the crosswalk
    • Attention TWSI that span the entire width of all curb cuts. See CAG Position Statement on Tactile Walking Surface Indicators https://consumeraccessgroup.blogspot.com/.
  5. Crosswalks must be perpendicular to all curbs. 
  6. Snow removal practices must ensure tactile landmarks can be located during all seasons.
  7. Pedestrian crosswalks associated with roundabouts must feature lighting to assist in visibility of pedestrians.

Review Date: October 2025
Endorsed by the following CAG organizations: