We have a few sites where we have used the “X-Flo” product from Motus as a replacement for kerbside detection. These operate in conjunction with a conventional loop card. The product essentially has an inductive loop inside it along with a metal frame that moved when stepped on.
I seem to recall the Siemens touch sensitive ones not being popular with blind people, as there was no ‘click’ when activated and they thought the buttons were broken.
TAL 4/98 mentions two experimental pad detectors during the Toucan development, a fibre optic type at Warwick and a piezo-electric type at Nottingham. I also recall there being a trial of a tactile paving pad in Reading at some point (Castle St roundabout outside Police Station if I remember correctly).
I suspect these trials weren’t successful as I’ve not seen or heard anything about these since.
I have recently been asked whether any alternative to a pedestrian push button exists that would be appropriate to help someone with multiple sclerosis and who is unable to press the push buttons at signal installations. This person moves around in a wheel chair and is unable to reach the push buttons that are mounted at about 1.05m above the footway.
Has anyone else encountered a similar problem and is anyone aware of a reasonable solution to this problem?
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