90% of NYC Intersections Lack Audible Crossing Signals for Blind Pedestrians

"With a dense footprint and extensive public transit service, New York City has several advantages over most US cities when it comes to mobility for visually impaired, low vision and blind residents. The city has been making progress, yet roughly two-thirds of the NYC subway system is not fully ADA compliant, and 90 percent of the city's intersections lack audible pedestrian crossing signals."

"In much of the US, decades of planning and land use decisions have actively worked against accessibility, pushing everything and everyone farther apart from each other. Like age-friendly improvements, making cities work better for blind residents also makes them safer and more livable for people of all abilities."

New York City possesses advantages for visually impaired mobility due to its dense footprint and extensive public transit, yet significant accessibility gaps remain. Approximately two-thirds of the NYC subway system lacks full ADA compliance, and 90 percent of intersections are missing audible pedestrian crossing signals. Tactile navigation tools are often degraded or improperly installed, resulting in dangerous situations for blind and low-vision residents. Decades of urban planning decisions across the US have prioritized sprawl over accessibility. However, designing cities for blind residents benefits all populations by creating safer, more livable environments that improve mobility and quality of life for people of all abilities.

Read at Planetizen