The City of Sydney today launched the first step in a comprehensive wayfinding and tactile signage network that will make the city more accessible for people of all abilities.
The $8 million Legible Sydney Wayfinding System will link central Sydney streets using tactile and braille street signs, pedestrian-friendly maps, information pylons, new signs and digital technology. The first stage will be tested along two busy city routes.
With around 2,100 informative braille and tactile signs to be installed throughout the 26 square kilometre city area, the completed tactile sign rollout will be the most comprehensive of its kind in the world.
Vision Australia’s Susan Thompson, Rolf Geerlings and Margaret Steggles attended the launch which was hosted by Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
“Vision Australia is proud to have provided our expertise and guidance to the City of Sydney in the development of this initiative,” said Susan. “ We hope that the new signs will give confidence and reassurance to people who are blind or have low vision who are moving around the city,” she added.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the world-class wayfinding system will help make Sydney easier for all to navigate.
“We want walking to be a positive experience for the entire community. Wayfinding is a critical step in our plan to create a city where walking is easy and convenient for everyone,” the Lord Mayor said.
“This infrastructure will deliver major economic, environmental and health benefits. It will help local businesses by increasing pedestrian traffic, boost people’s health and wellbeing, and ease traffic congestion by encouraging more people to walk.”
The new wayfinding system was welcomed by Age and Disability Discrimination Commissioner Susan Ryan, who called on other councils to follow the City of Sydney’s lead.
“It will provide people who are blind or vision impaired with crucial information about their whereabouts, allowing them to navigate the streets of Central Sydney with greater independence, ease and confidence,” Commissioner Ryan said.
“I encourage other local councils across Australia to assess the accessibility of their signage to ensure the rights of blind and vision impaired people are protected and enhanced.
The new tactile signs featuring white lettering and braille on an aluminium plate appear on 38 poles next to pedestrian crossing buttons along the York Street test route between Druitt and Margaret streets.
While the tactile signs are designed to primarily help people who are blind and vision impaired, it will also make street location information easier to access for everyone. The new signs will replace the current rubber panels installed in the early 1990s that have become worn out from use.
On the second test route, three pylons and 16 flag and finger signs will connect Wynyard Park and Walsh Bay near Barangaroo. The 1.5 kilometre route will travel from York Street, through the Kent Street underpass and along Kent Street to Hickson Road, Walsh Bay.
Pylons and tactile signs will also feature QR tags that can be used for digital links to City websites, Transport for NSW information and timetables and Destination NSW tourism information.
Wayfinding infrastructure is detailed in a new draft walking strategy and action plan, which includes:
- Creating at least five kilometres of additional pedestrianised streets and laneways
- Breaking up large city blocks with laneways, arcades and roads;
- Rolling out improved pedestrian lighting and footpath networks; and
- Working with the NSW Government to improve pedestrian waiting times at crossings.
The strategy is now on public exhibition. Visit sydneyyoursay.com.au to comment before 17 November 2014.
The signs were developed in consultation with Vision Australia and Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.