Parking lots are often overlooked when considering pedestrian safety, but they are busy areas with constant interaction between vehicles and pedestrians. This interaction can be hazardous, especially for individuals with visual impairments. Ensuring that these environments are safe and accessible for everyone is not just a legal requirement but a moral imperative. Detectable warning surfaces (DWSs) are worthwhile in achieving this goal, providing necessary cues to navigate these spaces safely.

While walking on the sidewalks, you may have noticed small, colorful bumps where the sidewalk meets the road. What are these bumps? Why are they placed so strategically at the edge of the sidewalk, at crosswalks, and near public transportation? What purpose do they serve? Are they there to increase the grip on the road? Or, do they serve some other purpose? Let’s find out!

An accessible world is crucial for people of all abilities to work, live, and play. However, even in the most progressive cities, people with disabilities struggle to live their lives, which only gets worse in the suburbs and rural areas.

With an estimated one billion people to become urban-dwellers by 2050, many cities recognize the need to shift to more accessibility. Beyond the physical difficulty of navigating city and suburban obstacles, many individuals with disabilities must deal with a level of fear as they try to move through a world that is more or less inaccessible.

An ideal bike pathway is seamlessly incorporated into city infrastructure, easily serving cyclists and pedestrians without hampering motor vehicle traffic. Preferably in bright contrast with its surroundings, this bike pathway stands out from the pavement to provide recognizable traffic patterns that keep cyclists and pedestrians safe.  

Urban planners have explored many options for bike pathways in order to determine the best option for commuters.