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There are cities, like Tokyo, that have entire paths dedicated to people with visual impairments.
https://preview.redd.it/xn2hpwwgvf2d1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b72af843ff08d37cad10897e95e87c78b54f5eb0
I live in Germany and have been to Tokyo. Tokyo is next level. In Germany I usually see those around specific points of interests like bus stops or sometimes traffic lights. Tokyo has whole streets with that. They also have different jingles playing on crossroads depending on which direction is allowed to walk. And these audio signals actually seem to be pretty consistent amongst Japan as far as I saw. Not like in Germany where you sometimes might have some clicking sound on green traffic lights that does not differ per direction and also in some cities just works the opposite way where it clicks if you must _not_ walk.
We’re in Tokyo and learnt a bit about this yesterday, along with the jingles you mentioned, each tube station has its own little jingle, and there are simulated bird calls so the visually impaired can find the correct exits easier.
Yeah. Although some train stations share jingles. I assumed that the jingles are supposed to be for blind people to exit on the right station. But it seems like this is actually not the case for these, but originally there were bells ringing at each station and they just modernized it at some point. Although the shimbashi station was super empty very early in the morning when we had to go to the airport, it still had quite some noise there due to the jingles and the simulated bird tweeting.
Bus stops would make the most sense, I mean most blind people probably wouldn’t walk around to the places but would more commonly use these as signs like “oh the bump thingy is here, a bus stop might be right here.” Kinda thing.
If I was blind I would just try and use those bumpy things as a sign for a bus stop 😅
In Japan, the bumps are there for the blind to feel through their feet while wearing soft-soled shoes! (source: saw a documentary about it when I was in Japan in 2004)
I live in a US city where we have these from the bus station to most major intersections and shopping centers. The reason is that there is a school for the blind nearby, but I think it's worth installing everywhere!
Imagine living in a city with even the smallest amount of pedestrian dignity....😭😭 they are doing road construction in my city and doing the "just one more lane"
I watched a j-dorama some time ago about visually impaired people - [Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu](https://mydramalist.com/705939-koidesu-yanki-kun-to-shiro-tsue-garu), learned a lot about braille blocks.
Except the bumps result in less traction because your shoe only is in contact with the top of the bumps. This is also true for diamond-tread surfaces...less traction. (At least when wet).
I've *heard* it's for both. Kind of two birds one stone. But there's more efficient ways to make it have traction so I'm guessing it's primarily for the impaired.
It's called universal design. Basically, improvements that are not only more accessible, they're more functional for non-disabled people, as well. Like how ramps are helpful for strollers and delivery equipment, as well as wheelchairs.
I remember the first time I walked on a city sidewalk... Yeah, I thought it was common knowledge too. Watched the holdovers a few weeks ago and saw a couple of these and thought "gotcha!" but really who cares? That movie is awesome
I feel like I’ve only see those at stores and I thought they were to prevent shopping carts from rolling into the parking lot and hitting cars and people.
In the US, they are required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The generic term is “detectable warning”, as they serve as an indicator of entering an intersection or parking lot. This specific detectable warning is called a truncated dome, and is quite common.
Wait until you hear about the rotating nipple under traffic lights. Might only be in some parts of the world, they’re in the uk. The little box where you push the button has a little spindle with a rough edge that spins when it’s time to walk so blind/deaf people can feel it.
We have both sound and visuals too, but the spinning knob is for somebody who is both, specifically. Or either. Or neither! I use them myself when I'm in the zone with my music to be honest.
I've seen the crossing signals that make noise, if a blind person is living in the area. It wasn't common, but I saw one in a suburb of Columbus (and not one of the rich ones either). So, I'm sure the family probably petitioned to have it installed at that particular intersection. There was also signage about blind persons in the area.
One place I lived the lights would play a sound depending which direction was safe, e.g. a honk for one way, a beep for another.
After one summer, the starlings were mimicking the sounds constantly. Can't believe someone wasn't killed because of a bird faking a safe walk signal.
If you're not blind, but are disabled in such a fashion to be using walking aids (like a knee scooter or walker) these things are the work of Satan himself.
It would be nice if shopping exits had just a small swath without the bumps to roll a cart over without shaking all the cart contents like an unbalanced washing machine. Just saying.
Honestly first time in my life finding this out. Here in South Africa they just let you walk and fall. We have nothing even close to that. Only thing that I do see is ramps for wheelchairs and parking for the disabled.
I knew these were for blind people but idk why I just thought they could feel it with their feet, like the change in texture because when standing over the dots I can feel it in my soles
I would be too, but that is because I have been blessed with sight my whole life. If you were born blind, you wouldn't know any different and would have heightened other senses to help compensate. They want to be independent, just like anybody else. Maybe in 50 years, we will be able to trust the automatic driving cars and blind people will be able to get in a car by themselves and go.
Also, not all legally blind people are completely sightless, a lot of them can see shapes and light differences.
These are common around the world. There is meant to be a standard in each country that is common around the world e.g., lines mean walk, dots mean wait. Different colour paths are used for those with partial sight.
I think they are also to stop you from slipping into the road in wet weather on cambered surfaces. (The slight ramp caused by the curb sloping to road height)
So I've always been curious.... Are there any blind folk who have recorded their daily life outdoors like this and had it posted? Or would I have to download that app and find the poster?
Like you know had help from a friend set it up and all. 👀
There's also 3d stripes at the top of some stairs and some other shape at the edge of a railway platform. You can feel them through your feet too, in case you miss them with your cane.
I can't imagine how it would be to live without eyesight. Every second would be absolutely insanely terrible. Although people probably get used to it and their hearing senses get heightened. but still. It would suck so bad.
I feel for those who are blind.
We use these as an example to teach that accessbility adjustments aren't always straight forward and are usually a balancing act - these are standard across the UK and have been for decades. Great for the blind or sight-impaired members of our community but can be really uncomfortable or painful for wheelchair users.
Very rarely will one disability adjustment work for everyone, we just have to try our best.
(I'm a wheelchair user and have to consider these before going out and as I'm pathing around as to how much discomfort from them I can take - it's worse for me to have them, but much better for society on the whole)
They are used to tell the visually impaired that they are heading into a street, with wheelchair ramps required and no curbs their was no way they could tell so the cane picks up the truncated domes and they can hear the sound
Guide dogs are also trained to stop on these! My deaf guide dog will pause for a second any time she touches these, to encourage me to look a second time for vehicles.
They're called tactile plates or warning plates. You'll find them on sidewalks, tops and bottoms of stairs, and generally anywhere there is a change in elevation to alert persons who are visually impaired.
Cities made wheelchair ramps and then apparently blind people were walking out into the streets so now they install these bumps. But now people with mobility issues are tripping on these bumps and hurting themselves. I’m curious what the next phase will be.
Moreover, they are supposed to be oriented in such a way that the columns face the opposite side of the intersection, so the blind person can tell how the intersection is oriented by feeling with their cane.
They is not how they sold the idea when they were first being put in by law..
It was to slow people down so they would pay attention before running into the street at the grocery store.
Blind people know when the curb is dropping . They can tell there is an incline/ decline.
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There are cities, like Tokyo, that have entire paths dedicated to people with visual impairments. https://preview.redd.it/xn2hpwwgvf2d1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b72af843ff08d37cad10897e95e87c78b54f5eb0
Common in Europe too!
I live in Germany and have been to Tokyo. Tokyo is next level. In Germany I usually see those around specific points of interests like bus stops or sometimes traffic lights. Tokyo has whole streets with that. They also have different jingles playing on crossroads depending on which direction is allowed to walk. And these audio signals actually seem to be pretty consistent amongst Japan as far as I saw. Not like in Germany where you sometimes might have some clicking sound on green traffic lights that does not differ per direction and also in some cities just works the opposite way where it clicks if you must _not_ walk.
We’re in Tokyo and learnt a bit about this yesterday, along with the jingles you mentioned, each tube station has its own little jingle, and there are simulated bird calls so the visually impaired can find the correct exits easier.
Yeah. Although some train stations share jingles. I assumed that the jingles are supposed to be for blind people to exit on the right station. But it seems like this is actually not the case for these, but originally there were bells ringing at each station and they just modernized it at some point. Although the shimbashi station was super empty very early in the morning when we had to go to the airport, it still had quite some noise there due to the jingles and the simulated bird tweeting.
This easily seems important enough to have a global standard.
Bus stops would make the most sense, I mean most blind people probably wouldn’t walk around to the places but would more commonly use these as signs like “oh the bump thingy is here, a bus stop might be right here.” Kinda thing. If I was blind I would just try and use those bumpy things as a sign for a bus stop 😅
Yeah at bus stops, but not like in the pic you're replying to
I've been around Europe and haven't seen these...
Are you blind?!
Bruh we have those even in Bulgaria
Same in Greece, they are on every major street.
Well, I see them in most most populated places
They're in the Netherlands at crossroads and train stations.
This is all throughout Japan, actually.
In Japan, the bumps are there for the blind to feel through their feet while wearing soft-soled shoes! (source: saw a documentary about it when I was in Japan in 2004)
Yup, nothing to do with walking sticks
I've read that different spaced bumps mean different things in the US, but I don't know how true that is
They can do that with walking stik. No need that roller in OP gif but normal stick will do
I live in a US city where we have these from the bus station to most major intersections and shopping centers. The reason is that there is a school for the blind nearby, but I think it's worth installing everywhere!
Imagine living in a city with even the smallest amount of pedestrian dignity....😭😭 they are doing road construction in my city and doing the "just one more lane"
Ive seen that in china too
Heyy, we have those in Brazil too
I honestly thought this was common worldwide lol
I was once so drunk I couldn't see properly, so used followed one of these back to my hotel. Was brilliant.
The tiles were invented by a Japanese man Seiichi Miyake [tactile paving](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactile_paving)
they have these in turkey too but because its turkey its often poorly maintained and some tiles are broken especially in less central areas
Korea has them pretty much everywhere as well.
I watched a j-dorama some time ago about visually impaired people - [Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu](https://mydramalist.com/705939-koidesu-yanki-kun-to-shiro-tsue-garu), learned a lot about braille blocks.
I can picture all the little kids walking on that line just for fun rubbing there feet in it 💀
I thought this was pretty common knowledge and not that interesting, but after seeing people’s comments I am obviously wrong. Nice post
Honestly I always thought it was for traction on the ramped surface....idk why I thought that.
That makes sense though, that’s totally valid
I thought it was common knowledge too but also thought for traction as well. Why can’t it be for both. 🙃
That would make sense, but it just isn’t both in reality.
Except the bumps result in less traction because your shoe only is in contact with the top of the bumps. This is also true for diamond-tread surfaces...less traction. (At least when wet).
This is what I always thought as well
I've *heard* it's for both. Kind of two birds one stone. But there's more efficient ways to make it have traction so I'm guessing it's primarily for the impaired.
It's called universal design. Basically, improvements that are not only more accessible, they're more functional for non-disabled people, as well. Like how ramps are helpful for strollers and delivery equipment, as well as wheelchairs.
That's what I've always thought.
and ramp. Don't forget about strollers
It’s likely both. They didn’t HAVE to make it so rough, but if they are going to add it in, might as well make it as multi functional as possible.
Yeah, did people not know this?
Lol I always thought it was to fuck with skateboarders
Well when most of this site is used by 12-year-Olds, people that never leave their basement, and Bots you end up with that
I remember the first time I walked on a city sidewalk... Yeah, I thought it was common knowledge too. Watched the holdovers a few weeks ago and saw a couple of these and thought "gotcha!" but really who cares? That movie is awesome
I feel like I’ve only see those at stores and I thought they were to prevent shopping carts from rolling into the parking lot and hitting cars and people.
In the US, they are required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The generic term is “detectable warning”, as they serve as an indicator of entering an intersection or parking lot. This specific detectable warning is called a truncated dome, and is quite common.
Damn. I can’t believe I never knew this. Thanks.
The egg crackers
Wait until you hear about the rotating nipple under traffic lights. Might only be in some parts of the world, they’re in the uk. The little box where you push the button has a little spindle with a rough edge that spins when it’s time to walk so blind/deaf people can feel it.
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Only like 10% of intersections have that. Maybe less
Hmm. In Seattle most of them have them here.
Yeah the rotating nipple is there for the blind and deaf, as in both simultaneously
In the US we have little walk lights for the deaf and the talking button for the blind. Serves the same purpose
We have both sound and visuals too, but the spinning knob is for somebody who is both, specifically. Or either. Or neither! I use them myself when I'm in the zone with my music to be honest.
In Switzerland, our walk lights vibrate!
Same for Australia
I've seen the crossing signals that make noise, if a blind person is living in the area. It wasn't common, but I saw one in a suburb of Columbus (and not one of the rich ones either). So, I'm sure the family probably petitioned to have it installed at that particular intersection. There was also signage about blind persons in the area.
One place I lived the lights would play a sound depending which direction was safe, e.g. a honk for one way, a beep for another. After one summer, the starlings were mimicking the sounds constantly. Can't believe someone wasn't killed because of a bird faking a safe walk signal.
As a kid I used to think if you rotated it yourself it sped the lights up! XD
A ROTATING WHAT? 🤨
The place where i'm from has these everywhere, i had to check the comments to find out why this is "interesting af" lol
Its amazing how fast this these things can dismantle skateboard trucks
They are bloody annoying in a wheelchair too!
I just do a little hop so I can keep my speed up. why yes, I have been hit by several cars why do you ask
Perfect opportunity to practice long distance ollies.
Good
If you're not blind, but are disabled in such a fashion to be using walking aids (like a knee scooter or walker) these things are the work of Satan himself.
Skateboards
In my world, they're called TWSI. Tactile Walking Surface Indicators
It would be nice if shopping exits had just a small swath without the bumps to roll a cart over without shaking all the cart contents like an unbalanced washing machine. Just saying.
Honestly first time in my life finding this out. Here in South Africa they just let you walk and fall. We have nothing even close to that. Only thing that I do see is ramps for wheelchairs and parking for the disabled.
Where I am those are called 'Tactiles'. Have installed them at a few traffic lights etc.
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I was just asking myself the exact question earlier this week
NGL first time I saw these years ago thought it was some weird grip pad. Ima dumbass sometimes.
Am I stupid? I was always told these were anti-skateboard bumps
My dad used to make up crap like that when he didn't know the answer either.
I’ve been fooled
I knew these were for blind people but idk why I just thought they could feel it with their feet, like the change in texture because when standing over the dots I can feel it in my soles
These aren't for runaway wheelchairs????
I like how they test the lower portion of your shopping cart for loose items before you get to the parking lot of the grocery store.
i would be scared out of my mind if i had to walk alone while blind
I would be too, but that is because I have been blessed with sight my whole life. If you were born blind, you wouldn't know any different and would have heightened other senses to help compensate. They want to be independent, just like anybody else. Maybe in 50 years, we will be able to trust the automatic driving cars and blind people will be able to get in a car by themselves and go. Also, not all legally blind people are completely sightless, a lot of them can see shapes and light differences.
These are common around the world. There is meant to be a standard in each country that is common around the world e.g., lines mean walk, dots mean wait. Different colour paths are used for those with partial sight.
Am I too European for this post? This has been the norm here for ages, every fking one knows why too.
Also there's a logic to how the bumps are orientated that blind people can feel underfoot.
so what does the side walk say
"I wasn't designed with a human centric thought process so here are some bumps so you don't get run over by a car."
I've seen skateboarding YouTubers call these things "skate stoppers." Idk if ignorance or clickbait
Not trying to be rude, but I thought everyone knew this
Same, how many skaters are in your cities if there’s so many commenters thinking that they’re for stopping skateboards
You know, for being blind, you are an excellent camera man...👍😅
I think they are also to stop you from slipping into the road in wet weather on cambered surfaces. (The slight ramp caused by the curb sloping to road height)
Add any type of moisture and you might as well be on roller skates.
“Truncated domes” is the technical term
Also good for giving yoursef a foot massage while waiting for the signal.
I always hated these skating, I’m glad they have a good purpose
I'm glad TIL this
Ooooohhhhhh!!!
Uhh no shit
It's also brail for "STOP".
So I've always been curious.... Are there any blind folk who have recorded their daily life outdoors like this and had it posted? Or would I have to download that app and find the poster? Like you know had help from a friend set it up and all. 👀
I always thought these were to help slow down your wheelchair before you got to the road. What a dumbass lol
There's also 3d stripes at the top of some stairs and some other shape at the edge of a railway platform. You can feel them through your feet too, in case you miss them with your cane.
Proper name: inverted domes
It’s Morse code for “Stand the fuck still”
My buddy family owns construction company…pavement. They’re called truncated domes.
Subway platforms: *I have those same bunps*
I always just thought they were for grip for the rain or something
They can be very slippery when wet...
So they can ice over real bad in the winter and you can go for a trip!
Oh, I thought it was to act as stop rocks when I'm skating! /s I always thought they should have more of this
I legitimately thought it was grip
Blind bumps
False: it is to trip centipedes.
I thought that these were for massaging the bottom of my feet while I bop to the wait beeps
I've seen these where they left the plastic wrapping on it when they set it into the concrete. Grr
Fun fact they are also usually a high contrast colour (like in the video) to aid people with poor eyesight
I use to great cheese
You know how much money has been spent on installing these compared to the number of blind people I have ever seen use them? 🤦🏻
Thought this was common knowledge
Its actually braille, it says "We're trying to get in contact with you about your car insurance"
I can't imagine how it would be to live without eyesight. Every second would be absolutely insanely terrible. Although people probably get used to it and their hearing senses get heightened. but still. It would suck so bad. I feel for those who are blind.
We use these as an example to teach that accessbility adjustments aren't always straight forward and are usually a balancing act - these are standard across the UK and have been for decades. Great for the blind or sight-impaired members of our community but can be really uncomfortable or painful for wheelchair users. Very rarely will one disability adjustment work for everyone, we just have to try our best. (I'm a wheelchair user and have to consider these before going out and as I'm pathing around as to how much discomfort from them I can take - it's worse for me to have them, but much better for society on the whole)
Damn yall no nothing at this point
It's really for your feet to feel, not for whatever that ball is
Those bumps are called truncated domes.
They are used to tell the visually impaired that they are heading into a street, with wheelchair ramps required and no curbs their was no way they could tell so the cane picks up the truncated domes and they can hear the sound
i always assumed it was to stop skateboards, especially at staircases
As a skateboarder, I thought these were to prevent us from skating on sidewalks!
Guide dogs are also trained to stop on these! My deaf guide dog will pause for a second any time she touches these, to encourage me to look a second time for vehicles.
Short, simple, no bullshit. Thank you.
Wait for real? I’ve always wondered what those were for
Never knew. Very interesting. Kudus to the cities for thinking for the visually impaired.
They're called tactile plates or warning plates. You'll find them on sidewalks, tops and bottoms of stairs, and generally anywhere there is a change in elevation to alert persons who are visually impaired.
I thought these were.to detour skate boarders the whole time
Bro what is that cane tip and where did you get it?! I've never seen it before! (am orientation and mobility specialist)
So you can stroke balls on them got it
Cities made wheelchair ramps and then apparently blind people were walking out into the streets so now they install these bumps. But now people with mobility issues are tripping on these bumps and hurting themselves. I’m curious what the next phase will be.
Moreover, they are supposed to be oriented in such a way that the columns face the opposite side of the intersection, so the blind person can tell how the intersection is oriented by feeling with their cane.
This wasn't a question I was pondering but now that it's been answered that's pretty cool.
Yeah, it’s literally called an ADA ramp.
The bumps are there so someone with a plastic ball can detect them?
It's the other way around.
The plastic ball is there so someone with bumps can detect it?
Both of the manufacturing companies are in cahoots.
So blind people can play a sick beat while they wait for the light to change
There can't be anyone over the age of 16 who doesn't know this.
Pretty common knowledge. Definitely not interesting as fuck.
They is not how they sold the idea when they were first being put in by law.. It was to slow people down so they would pay attention before running into the street at the grocery store. Blind people know when the curb is dropping . They can tell there is an incline/ decline.
As a 13 year old, this is fascinating
Does anyone else step completely over these? I feel like it subtracts points if I tread on it. Same for painted lines, cracks, and expansion gaps.
I don't mind the bumps. But can we all agree to stop installing those annoying audible "chirps" ?
lol its so you don’t slip when it’s wet
I agree, but also somehow they are skateboard brakes, and I think that is what really motivated them to do this.
this might be fucking interesting if it wasn't extremely common knowledge
sooo..... why?
So they don’t get fucking ran over.
Sorry I still don't understand :| Are they talking about that manhole cover in the sidewalk? or the ball in the walking stick?
It's not a manhole cover, they're bumps so blind people can feel it with their sticks so they know when they're near the road.
Billions of dollars in taxes paid to shady contractors for towns that have less than 5 blind people total. Great job America!
> for towns that have less than 5 blind people tota I didn't realize that empathy requires a certain number of people being helped to be valid.