Pavement bobbles

[Waterwolf]

You know the bobbly bits on the pavement to tell blind or partially sighted people that there's a crossing or a dropped kerb? Is there any particular reason why some are red and some are yellow? If the majority of the people they;re meant for won't be able to see the colour, what's the point?

[bernardo]

I don't remember seeing any yellow ones, but most blind people are not totally blind, and have some amount of sight ability (tunnel vision, peripheral vision, blurr) so they may be able to perceive colours in some circumstances.

[spainlads]

Pinched from Manchester City Councils website: Uncontrolled crossings should have tactile paving which is buff or a colour (other than red) which provides a contrast with the surrounding footway surface. Tactile paving one tile deep (400mm) should be provided on the approach to dropped kerbs to span the width of the crossing. When the pedestrian crossing is in line with the direction of pedestrian movement the number of tiles should increase to three in depth (1200mm). When the crossing is away from a junction the tactile paving should be two tiles deep (800mm). See diagram 2.1. Tactile paving should generally be installed to provide a perpendicular crossing point to the kerb edge. When the crossing point is askew, skewed tactiles can be used to to direct pedestrians to the line of walk. Crossing points should be located on the pedestrian line of walk, even if this is across a radius kerb. Pedestrian crossing points on segregated cycle tracks should be provided with a corduroy hazard warning surface. http://www.manchester.gov.uk/disability/policies/access/unco ntrolled.htm

[Another Dave]

Pressing the yellow button at most pedestrian crossings does absolutely nothing other than switch on the little light that says WAIT! Most traffic lights change at a set time; pressing the button just brings consistency into a dangerous environment. However, in certain areas (accident black spots, etc.) pressing the yellow button will have an effect. The different coloured strips on the kerb are used to tell guide dogs (dogs can easily differentiate between red/dark and yellow/light) how to behave. If it's red, they will get their owner to press the button. If it�s yellow, they will wait for the traffic to stop on its own -- thereby cutting out any unnecessary, and dangerous, walking about at the side of the road.

[Francis Asis]

Another Dave: Well that's amazing. The colours are there for the dogs? I never cease to be amazed at how intelligent dogs are. And whoever thought of training them to help the blind and deaf. Amazing.