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Advocacy & Outreach

Judge Rules NYC Crosswalks Fail to Protect the Blind

by
Holly
-
October 24, 2020
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Judge Rules NYC Crosswalks Fail to Protect the Blind

Living in New York City has its own unique set of challenges. The concrete jungle isn’t always friendly, especially when you’re trying to cross the street with your kids and guide dog in tow. Now a New York City Judge is recognizing the challenges for the blind and visually impaired, ruling most crosswalks violate laws protecting people with disabilities. U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in Manhattan said the city has violated three laws protecting the disabled with its failure to equip most crosswalk signals to aid the blind or those with bad eyesight. The judge said it is yet to be decided what the ramifications of the ruling will be because the first phase of the court proceeding was to assess liability.

Blind woman sitting on bench holding cane and golden retriever guide dog at her feet in harness.
Image Description: Blind woman sitting on a bench holding a cane and a golden retriever guide dog at her feet in harness.

“Pedestrians with visual disabilities often encounter danger, inconvenience, and humiliation while attempting to use the City’s crosswalks,” he wrote.

Of the city’s 120,000 pedestrian control signals, nearly all of 13,200 signals at 45,000 intersections only communicate crossing information in a visual format, the judge said. Those signals are inaccessible to the blind leaving fewer than 5 percent of signals that aid blind people, he said.

The American Council of the Blind of New York, Inc. filed suit in June 2018 against the city, the mayor, the Department of Transportation, and the DOT commissioner claiming that they have “long failed” to provide crosswalk signal information that a blind or low-vision person can use — instead relying on visual signals at the majority of intersections, according to the decision.

“We are thrilled with the dramatic changes that this victory will mean not only for those who are blind or low vision but for all New Yorkers who want safer streets,” plaintiff lawyer Torie Atkinson said in a statement. “The American Council of the Blind of New York is very pleased with the verdict in this particular case,” said ACBNY president Karen Blachowicz.

In response, Laura Freyer, a spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office said, “The City is dedicated to making our streets more accessible to all New Yorkers with and without disabilities, including those who are blind or have low vision. We will continue to install Accessible Pedestrian Signals across the City and are consistently working to increase access for the blind and low vision community in all facets of life.”

Do you have an accessible crosswalk system in your city? Tell me about it by emailing Holly@blindmotherhood.com.

 

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I'm a legally blind wife, mother, and social worker living in chaotic New York City! With the help of my guide dog, Frances, "mostly" wonderful husband, and a devout Christian faith; I navigate my world “never losing sight of life, love, and laughter.”

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