30.10 Countermeasures for Improving Accessibility for Vision-Impaired Pedestrians at Roundabouts

Compared to pedestrians with no vision impairments, pedestrians who have vision impairments typically have longer wait times at roundabouts because they are unable to take advantage of shorter gaps. Continuous flow of traffic also prevents them from taking advantage of sound cues to guide crossings. Several countermeasures can improve accessibility for vision-impaired pedestrians (Table 30.4).

Table 30.4 Roundabout Countermeasures to Improve Pedestrian Accessibility
Countermeasure	Description
Landscaping	Installing landscaping or a planting strip between the sidewalk and curb helps pedestrians with visual impairments orient themselves and locate the crosswalk. Landscaping on splitter islands provide sound separation and helps pedestrians with visual impairments distinguish between approaching traffic and traffic going away from them. Landscaping elements should be maintained so they never block the views of motorists or pedestrians.
Pedestrian-Actuated Signals with Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS)	Installing pedestrian-actuated signals with APS provides information about the signal phase and anticipated traffic patterns.
Accessible Pedestrian Signal Pushbutton and Locator Tone	A pushbutton locator tone helps visually impaired pedestrians locate the APS pushbutton. Place the pushbutton and locator tone immediately beside the curb ramp that leads into a crosswalk.
Curb Ramps and Splitter Island Walkways	Align sidewalk curb ramps and splitter island cut-through walkways with the crosswalk. Use detectable warning surfaces on curb ramps and splitter islands.

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