Customizing the Crosswalk Experience

For the 285 million people with visual impairments or 1 in 8 American teens and adults with hearing loss, crossing the street isn't as simple as looking both ways—but responsive design could help.

Numerous interventions are aiming to make busy street crossings more navigable. As CityLab reported in January, scientists and architects are collaborating on cartography that will make wayfinding simpler for people with visual impairments. Plus, back in 2012, Gallaudet University in D.C., a preeminent institution for the hard of hearing, released a set of DeafSpace Guidelines designed to be a reference for creating urban environments that are comfortable for people who communicate with their hands. (For instance, shadows, glare, and densely-packed sidewalks make it tricky for sign language to be readily legible.)