Identifying and addressing roundabout accessibility issues confronting persons with vision loss in Canada: a pilot study
Abstract
Municipalities and Transportation Agencies in Canada are building more roundabout
intersections to promote efficient and safe movement of traffic for their low carbon
footprint, low lifetime maintenance cost, and better safety performance thereby reducing
collision frequency and severity, among other benefits. The main disadvantage is that
Persons with Vision Loss (PWVL) feel unsafe when crossing the street on roundabouts.
One of the objectives of this research project is to identify the concerns and challenges
experienced by PWVL on roundabouts in Canada through a workshop and opinion
surveys involving participants scattered across the country. Another objective is to
conduct a field study assessing if the installation of sound strips on the road could help
PWVL when deciding to cross the streets on the roundabout in Thunder Bay. To achieve
these objectives the research team collaborated with the City of Thunder Bay, the staff,
and clients of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) to plan and facilitate
various events. It should be mentioned that 3D models of roundabout were used in
training and to illustrate points relevant to roundabout accessibility when discussing with
PWVL and other stakeholders. [...]