Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS)

Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) are crossing signals that offer audio and tactile information for people who cannot see a visual crossing message such as WALK / DON'T WALK. The audio message may be a rapid tick, or the spoken words "Wait to cross Main Street at Elm." This topic includes posts about Lainey's work on APS with blind advocates and the City of San Francisco. It also includes articles about federal regulations about this critical safety technology.

San Francisco APS Agreement

Posted on Updated on July 5, 2021
The Settlement Agreement about Accessible Pedestrian Signals with the City and County of San Francisco was the first in the country to address this critical pedestrian safety issue. The agreement, in which the City agreed to spend at least 1.6 million dollars and install APS at at least 80 intersections, was negotiated by Lainey and co-counsel Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations. Claimants in the case were the California Council of the Blind, the San Francisco based LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco, and blind advocate Damien Pickering. As exhibits to the Settlement Agreement, the parties negotiated Technical Specifications and a detailed tool to help public entities prioritize intersections for APS installation. Contact us if you would like a copy of the tool. Read more… San Francisco APS Agreement

Proposed Public Rights-of-Way Guidelines (Finally) Coming July 26

Posted on Updated on April 25, 2021
The United States Access Board has announced that it will (finally) publish proposed Public Rights-of-Way Guidelines on July 26 – the 21st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The guidelines will address access to sidewalks and streets by people with disabilities, including accessible pedestrian signals, crosswalks, roundabouts, curb ramps, street furnishings, parking, and other components of public rights-of-way. Technical specifications on these issues will be welcomed, but it is important to remember that the Americans with Disabilities Act has required such access for more than twenty years. Read more… Proposed Public Rights-of-Way Guidelines (Finally) Coming July 26

San Francisco APS Press Release

Posted on Updated on April 9, 2021
The press release about Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) was issued as a result of a Settlement Agreement negotiated by Lainey and co-counsel Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations. Claimants in the San Francisco APS case were the California Council of the Blind, the San Francisco based LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco, and blind advocate Damien Pickering. The full Settlement Agreement is posted in the Accessible Pedestrian Signals Settlements Category. Read more… San Francisco APS Press Release

San Francisco – National Leader in Installing Accessible Pedestrian Signals

Posted on Updated on February 8, 2021
SFMTA Expands APS Program Accessible Pedestrian Signal Program Receives Stimulus Funds San Francisco (March 24, 2010)–The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees all surface transportation in San Francisco including the Municipal Railway (Muni), today announced that the City has received federal stimulus funds that will equip five additional intersections with Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS). In the City 116 intersections have been equipped with the devices over the past two and a half years, making San Francisco the national leader on this important safety issue. Read more… San Francisco – National Leader in Installing Accessible Pedestrian Signals

Blind Advocacy for Accessible Technology Has Rich California History

Posted on Updated on May 18, 2016
October 10 – 16, 2010, has been designated by the California legislature as the state’s first ever “Disability History Week.” The official designation is the result of disability community advocacy efforts spearheaded by “Youth Organizing! Disabled and Proud”, a project of the the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. This historic week provides a welcomed opportunity to look at the history made by blind advocates and their organizations in California as part of the on-going push for accessible technology. Read more… Blind Advocacy for Accessible Technology Has Rich California History

More Delay for Federal Pedestrian Signal Regs

Posted on Updated on March 19, 2016
In 1999 a little known federal agency called the United States Access Board had a good idea. Nine years after passages of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Board issued an official notice of its “intent to establish a Public Rights-of-Way Access Advisory Committee.” The committee’s job was to make recommendations for accessibility guidelines for public rights-of-way covered by the ADA. Read more… More Delay for Federal Pedestrian Signal Regs

AFB’s AccessWorld Publishes Article on San Francisco APS

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
The May, 2009 issue of AccessWorld, published by The American Foundation for the Blind, includes an article about San Francisco Accessible Pedestrian Signals written by Lainey and Jessie Lorenz. Jessie is the Director for Public Policy and Information at the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco. In this post we invite you to share your experience with APS. Read more… AFB’s AccessWorld Publishes Article on San Francisco APS