How Much Do You Know About Blind Ways?

The blind ways that can be seen everywhere seem to have a simple design, nothing more than a few ribs on a brick, but it only appeared nearly half a century ago. In 1965, Japan invented "tactile paving bricks", which is the prototype of today's blind way, aiming to provide a new way for the visually impaired to walk in the city.

1. The purpose of blind way design

Tactile Paving Bricks for the Blind is a kind of bricks whose surface is jagged in order to guide the blind to walk along the safe road. This kind of bricks can remind the intersections and obstacles that are about to appear ahead. Since then, this system has been gradually applied to major railway stations in Japan, as well as along the streets of urban roads, until it is widely adopted all over the world. The tactile paving tiles have two tactile patterns that visually impaired people can detect with a cane or with their feet to provide clues as to which way to go.

2. Two design modes for blind ways

One mode has a series of raised line shapes, meaning "forward". The second design is often referred to as a "truncated dome" pattern, a series of small bumps that act as "stop" signs, often on the edge of a train platform or before a highway.

However, in reality, it is common for blind ways to be occupied by various vehicles, merchants and vendors, and construction is not standardized, and it is still difficult for blind people to travel. But even if the blind path is not occupied, it does not mean that the blind path is useful. Blind roads are not simply a matter of placing a few bricks on the road.

A qualified blind way not only needs to have bumps, but also has a specific color or surface design, so that the blind or partially sighted can identify where the blind way is, where there are turns, where there are stairs or dangers. For the safe travel of this huge group, the construction of a barrier-free environment in the country still has a long way to go.

3. The humanistic care reflected in the blind way

The blind way is not only a special road, but also expresses a city's humanistic care for the blind group and reflects the degree of civilization of the city. The uncivilized behavior and construction defects on blind ways not only make blind people lose their "eyes", but also make urban civilization have "blind spots". It is hoped that car owners will stop occupying blind lanes when parking, and merchants will no longer occupy blind lanes when making money. We also hope that relevant departments will strengthen control over the behavior of occupying and occupying blind lanes, and make up for the defects in the construction of blind lanes as soon as possible, creating a truly barrier-free road environment.