Testing proposed delineators to demarcate pedestrian paths in a shared space environment: Report of design trials conducted at University College London Pedestrian Accessibility and Movement Environment Laboratory (PAMELA)

A number of tactile surfaces are recommended for use in the UK to provide visually impaired people with information and essential warnings in the pedestrian environment. This research examined how well the meanings attributed to these surfaces can be remembered by people over 65 years of age. Two weeks after receiving a booklet about the surfaces and a short training session, the participants were asked if they could identify the meanings of the surfaces. Most participants were able to remember at least five of the six surfaces. ‘The pedestrian environment user friendly or ‘no-go’ for blind and partially sighted people?’, Sharp, S [DETR, UK]; Savill, T [TRL, UK] Series ‘Setting the Pace’. 8th International Conference on Transport and Mobility for Elderly and Disabled People, Perth, Western Australia, September 1998. Volume 1 ( p267-72) Imprint Leederville: Indomed Pty Ltd, 1998. Abstract: The pedestrian environment can be difficult for blind and partially sighted people to negotiate safely. In the UK in the 1980s, work began to establish a range of tactile surfaces which could be introduced into the pedestrian environment to provide essential information and warning to visually impaired people. In all, seven surfaces were identified. This year, revised guidelines are being issued to Local Authorities which summarise how each of the surfaces should be used. This paper shows how tactile surfaces, when used appropriately, can ensure that pedestrian areas are truly user-friendly and no longer ‘no-go’ areas. The pedestrian environment can be difficult for blind and partially sighted people to negotiate safely. In the UK in the 1980s, work began to establish a range of tactile surfaces which could be introduced into the pedestrian environment to provide essential information and warning to visually impaired people. In all, seven surfaces were identified. This year, revised guidelines are being issued to Local Authorities which summarise how each of the surfaces should be used. This paper shows how tactile surfaces, when used appropriately, can ensure that pedestrian areas are truly user-friendly and no longer ‘no-go’ areas.