New Smartphone App Enhances Accessibility at Regina Intersections
Navigating busy intersections in Regina is set to become significantly more manageable for individuals experiencing vision or hearing impairments.
The City of Regina has unveiled an innovative smartphone application named PedApp, designed to enable pedestrians to activate crosswalk signals remotely. This initiative represents a pivotal stride toward fostering greater accessibility and inclusivity within urban environments.
Details of the Initiative:
Accessibility consultant Ashley Nemeth, who is visually impaired, emphasizes the challenges faced when crossing streets with a guide dog or cane. Traditionally, finding a signal pole requires navigating away from a straight path, leading to potential hazards as individuals realign before the signal changes.
“This app allows for a more direct route without detouring to locate the pole,” Nemeth remarked. “Such advancements enhance travel safety substantially.”
The PedApp functions in tandem with existing Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) at intersections. Once users connect the app, it audibly communicates the intersection name and desired direction, coupled with countdown tones, haptic feedback, and verbal cues via the smartphone.
According to Nemeth, this technology not only augments safety but also bestows individuals with disabilities a heightened sense of independence and assurance. “The more resources available for safe navigation, the better,” she asserted. “This tool enriches our capacity for self-sufficiency.”
Currently, the app is operational at nine intersections along Victoria Avenue, stretching between Albert and Broad streets, with plans for further expansion through 2025.
City transportation manager Vikas Ravada stated that the new system enhances accessibility without compromising existing infrastructure.
“We have 97 intersections equipped with accessible signals, and installation efforts are ongoing,” Ravada explained. “Once the infrastructure is established, the app’s activation can occur swiftly in just a few days.”
“This enhancement does not diminish our infrastructure,” Ravada continued. “Our objective is to ensure all downtown intersections are equipped by the end of 2025, with additional areas identified for future coverage.”
This project emerged through a collaboration with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).
CNIB Perspective:
Mohammed Ali, CNIB’s advocacy lead in Saskatchewan, initially harbored reservations regarding the app’s practicality, concerned that users might be distracted by their phones while navigating. However, his subsequent trials reshaped his perspective.
“In scenarios where snow accumulates or signal poles are difficult to access, this application revitalizes the possibility of safe crossings,” Ali articulated. “It truly holds transformative potential.”
Lisa Telfer, a certified orientation and mobility specialist with Vision Loss Rehabilitation Saskatchewan, asserted that the app will benefit a diverse population, extending beyond those with blindness.
“The introduction of technology that enhances safety is universally beneficial,” Telfer noted, including those who are deaf-blind or face mobility challenges in her remarks.
The city has established a dedicated webpage at regina.ca/pedapp, offering residents the opportunity to view a demonstration video and gain further insights into the initiative.
Nemeth asserts that advancements such as this app play a crucial role in a broader movement towards inclusivity in Regina.
“The City’s Accessibility Plan encompasses over 60 actions aimed at enhancing accessibility across all municipal departments,” she remarked. “This is yet another stride toward that visionary objective.”
Source link: Ckom.com.
