POLICY STATEMENT
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
Adopted June 1995
1 PREAMBLE
1.1 This Policy Statement on Pedestrian Safety has been developed by Blind Citizens Australia, Australia's National organisation of blind and vision impaired people. It reflects the increasing concerns of our members that the environment through which we walk is becoming more cluttered and less easy to negotiate safely. Through this Policy Statement, we seek to work with Local, State and Commonwealth Governments and blindness agencies to implement solutions to the problems caused by our obstacle-ridden environment through community education, new regulations and improved administration of existing laws.
1.2 We point out that blind and vision impaired people have the same rights as others to walk in a safe environment. We also point out that in a visual world, the ease and competence with which a person moves around an environment is often taken as an indication of his or her personal and professional competence. Blind and vision impaired people have the same right to an environment which enables them to present competently as do sighted people.
1.3 We do not speak for people with other disabilities. We do, however, seek solutions to pedestrian safety issues to the maximum benefit of all people with disabilities.
1.4 We recognise that in a country such as Australia, with a federal system of government and with a system of local government, local authorities need to take account of differing circumstances in their regions. Therefore, relevant laws and regulations will necessarily differ. This policy sets out general principles based on the considered views of blind and vision impaired people for the design of a walking environment which is barrier-free and pedestrian- friendly. We pursue the goal of a barrier-free, pedestrian friendly environment in the belief that it is not only of benefit to us but to the community as a whole. For example, by having advertising boards a given distance from shop fronts, all pedestrians have a safe and predicable clearway in which to walk.
1.5 There are existing Local and State Government laws which deal with many of the hazards to pedestrian safety, such as obstructions on footpaths. We request the responsible authorities to give higher priority to the enforcement and administration of these laws in conjunction with the initiatives outlined herein to create a barrier-free and pedestrian-friendly environment for all their citizens.
2 PEDESTRIAN SAFETY HAZARDS
2.1 Stationary pedestrian safety hazards include:
3 LIGHTING
Lighting of streets and pedestrian open spaces should be sufficient to ensure that the surrounding environment, traffic and other obstacles are clearly visible to vision impaired people. Adequate lighting will also benefit the general community by increasing public safety.
4 SURFACES
4.1 To the maximum extent possible, walking surfaces should be a determined, consistent and predictable level. Where changes in level are necessary, gentle slopes should be preferred to steps. Where steps are necessary, the edge of each step should be marked with colour contrasting strips, colour contrasted handrails should be features of all flights of stairs, and these should be well lit. Tactile tiles in suitably contrasting colours should be placed at the tops and bottoms of flights of stairs.
4.2 Responsible authorities should have a footpath maintenance program which ensures that there is a procedure for the reporting and prompt repair of broken pavements. Laws prohibiting the obstruction of footpaths by overhanging trees and branches should be enforced.
4.3 Standard AS1428.4 outlines standards for ground surface indicators for the orientation of blind people and should be adhered to wherever this Policy Statement recommends tactile surfaces.
4.4 Pram ramps at corners and pedestrian crossings should:
(a) have a sufficient slope to be detectable under foot and should not merge into the road;
(b) be wide enough to allow the passage of a pram or wheelchair;
(c) have a kerb edge beside each pram ramp to enable a blind person to line up with a gutter before crossing a road;
(d) be positioned recognising that angle crossings pose a pedestrian safety hazard to blind people. Accordingly, under no circumstances should a pram ramp, due to its angle, direct pedestrians into the path of oncoming traffic; and
(e) be marked with audible traffic signals at all pedestrian crossings.
4.5 Lines marking pedestrian crossings should be clear and colour contrasted. Tactile tiles should be used to mark the edges of pedestrian crossings.
5 PEDESTRIAN CLEARWAY
Regulations should provide for a "pedestrian clearway" on footpaths and in public open space. This should be a minimum of two (2) metres width of clear walking surface reserved for pedestrians, from which obstacles to pedestrian movement are excluded.
6 SIGNS
Regulations should provide that street, parking, traffic, bus stop, taxi and building signs should have clear lettering which is as large as possible, have a colour contrasting background, be made on non- reflecting materials, be clearly illuminated by direct lighting and be positioned to enable a vision impaired person to get close enough to them to read the information. Signs should have colours which distinguish them from other signs. For example, taxi stand signs are blue with white lettering. Signs should not have rough or sharp edges and should be constructed of materials which will minimise the possibility of injury. Subject to considerations of visibility mentioned above, signs should be of a maximum size, prescribed by the regulations and should be positioned at a minimum height of two (2) metres above the walking surface. Moving or rotating signs should not be permitted below the two metre minimum height.
7 STATIONARY OBJECTS
7.1 Regulations should provide for objects located on footpaths and in public open space (particularly, advertising A/Boards, tables, chairs and benches, garbage/rubbish bins, recycle receptacles, bicycles and bicycle racks, statues and poles and posts) to be positioned on the kerb side, or sufficient distance from a building line, in a manner which allows for a minimum pedestrian clearway of two (2) metres in width. The regulations should also prohibit the location of items on footpaths and in public open space, other than poles for traffic signs and traffic lights, within nine (9) metres of a pedestrian crossing or intersection.
7.2 The regulations should ensure that items located on footpaths and in pedestrian walkways have clear contrast with their background, and, that to avoid injury to people, they do not have sharp, pointed or jagged edges, corners or protrusions.
8 ITEMS ON FOOTPATHS AND WALKWAYS
8.1 The Regulations should make provision for a permit issued in connection with the use of premises such as a shop, restaurant, office or retail outlet to contain conditions limiting the numbers of signs, A/Boards, items of furniture and merchandise displays that can be placed on footpaths and pedestrian walkways. Permits should not be issued if the location of items on footpaths and walkways would result in pedestrian clearways of less than two (2) metres in width.
8.2 The Regulations should only permit items for which a permit is issued to be positioned outside the area in front of the premises during its normal business hours. It should be positioned so as to minimise obstruction of a pedestrian walkway. Potted plants should be restricted to the premises and not be permitted on footpaths and pedestrian walkways.
8.3 Solid items such as furniture and display stands should be required to have clear contrast with their surrounds and should not have sharp, pointed or jagged edges, corners or protrusions which will injure people. Signs, furniture and merchandise on footpath and pedestrian walkways should be kept in good repair.
8.4 Regulations should prescribe a minimum height of 2.1 metres for the lowest point of awnings from premises and should prohibit the hanging of items from walls and awnings.
8.5 Occupiers of premises should be made responsible for ensuring that garbage/rubbish bins and recycle receptacles are not left on the footpath or pedestrian walkway for more than 24 hours on the normal collection days.
8.6 People selling merchandise or food on footpaths and walkways should be restricted to designated areas and times which are well publicised to the community and which do not hinder pedestrian movement.
8.7 It should be a condition of the issue of a permit for the location of items on footpaths and in walkways that the owner or occupier of the premises to which the permit is issued should have a minimum public liability cover.
8.8 These regulations should be enforceable by penalties which, in the case of persisting offenders, should include the confiscation of offending material.
9 STRUCTURAL WORKS
9.1 Regulations should require that open access holes and trenches, dug as part of street work, be guarded by firmly fenced and properly maintained barricades, extending from ground level to a height of at least 1.5 metres and that these barricades be suitably coloured to contrast with their surroundings and be adequately lit at night. These barricades should be constructed in such a way that a white cane will not normally pass underneath.
9.2 Laws prohibiting the dumping of loads of soil, sand, bricks and construction rubble on footpaths should be enforced.
10 MOTORCYCLES, PARKED VEHICLES AND BICYCLES
10.1 Road Traffic Rules should prohibit the driving and parking of motor vehicles and motorcycles on footpaths and should prohibit the parking of motor vehicles and motorcycles within nine (9) metres of a pedestrian crossing. Adequate street parking should be provided for motorcycles.
10.2 The Road Traffic Laws should totally prohibit the riding of bicycles on footpaths. Cyclists should be required to ride on the road, in the lane nearest the kerb, or in designated bicycle lanes. Safe bicycle racks of colour contrasting colours should be provided and be located on the kerbside.
10.3 Laws regulating the conduct of users of roller blades, skate boards and other forms of small-wheeled pedestrian transport should require users to comply with a code of conduct which should require them to travel at safe speeds, at a minimum distance from pedestrians and to give warnings when overtaking pedestrians. Laws regulating users of skate boards and roller blades should be strictly enforced, particularly in pedestrian clearways and areas of heavy pedestrian use.
11 UNRESTRAINED DOGS
Unrestrained dogs constitute a severe pedestrian safety hazard for blind people. This is particularly so for those blind people who use guide dogs as the unrestrained dog is not only a threat to the person, but can be both a distraction to and a danger to the guide dog which is their form of mobility. Responsible authorities are requested to bear this in mind and ensure that laws regarding unrestrained dogs in public places are strictly enforced.