Navigating Through Intersections

The most critical kind of space that blind travelers encounter is the intersection of two pathways. These pathways can be the intersection of two sidewalks, two hallways, or most importantly, two streets. Collisions occur at intersections. It is a space for accidents waiting to happen. Intserections.

Thinking about the intersections of streets

There are generalities that define any intersection and there are individual characteristics that make each intersection unique. Blind travelers must study the intersections that they routinely negotiate. They must understand the concepts that define intersections generally and know how these apply to their target intersection, and they must know the unique character of the intersections along their travel routes. There are times in unfamiliar locations when the blind traveler must rely entirely on the generalities, but this is much less safe and efficient. The more an intersection is understood and the more practice the traveler has in mastering the space, the safer it is to cross. The situation becomes increasingly dangerous when the knowledge is general and unpracticed.

Analyzing an intersection:

01. How wide are the streets? How many lanes? How long will it take to cross the street given a specific travel speed?
02. What is the camber like; flat? steep?
03. What kind of traffic control is at the intersection?
04. How smart is the intersection's technology? Is there flow control? Is the intersection actuated? Are there Ped-Heads? Talking signage?
05. What are the typical traffic patterns that occur? Right turn on red? Left turn at a one way? complex turning in several directions?
06. What kind of intersection is this? Rotary (round-a-bout)? More than two streets that converge on the space? T-instersection? What generalizations apply to this kind of crossing?
07. Where is the intersection located? Queit residental neighborhood? Small business area? Busy downtown?
08. What is the speed limit near the intersection?
09. What businesses, public building, schools, etc. are near the intersection? What type of pedestrian typically crosses, Children? Elderly? Young adult business people? Special populations (special education students)?
10. What sounds are typical at or near the intersection? Beacons? Masking sounds?
11. What kind of curb cuts are at each corner? Blended? Do the ramps direct the traveler reliably straight, or do they skew the direction of travel? Are there surface tactile markers for lining up correctly?
12. How does the intersection traffic flow (vehicles and pedestrians) change over the day; how does time affect the character of the intersection? Does a school or business let out at a certain time near the crossing? Does the debsityu of traffic increase or decrease at rush hours?
13. Does the intersection change with the seasons? How do snow piles form at corners, etc.?