Tactile Paving Is a Part of the Urban Silent Language

Some residents may overlook it, but tactile paving exists in the sidewalks and public places around us. These small protrusions are usually square and painted yellow, with dots or stripes, and the tactile paving is located in public areas such as intersections, sidewalks, lanes, and subway stations.

Tactile paving uses bright yellow so that people with visual impairments can also recognize it. In the 1970s, when they were proven to be particularly safe on station platforms, Japan National Railways began using and mandating their use. By 1985, they were being used across the country and around the world and had become a regular and necessary part of the "urban language" for a time.

Materials for tactile paving

Over time, tactile paving has not changed much because the basic concept remains the same. The size of the bricks may sometimes vary, but they are usually square or rectangular. The most important thing is that they provide contrast and texture variations. They are made of cement, stone, rubber, or sometimes high-strength adhesive strips placed on traditional road surfaces. There are also polyethylene and metal versions (especially for interiors) as well as color variations such as yellow, pipeline clay, and red tiles. It is normal to install this kind of tactile paving in subway stations, train stations, bus stations, hospitals, shopping malls, and other public places.

Design principles of tactile paving

Because tactile paving makes the surface irregular, it may be a bit uncomfortable for those who use wheelchairs, strollers, or canes to pass through it. Therefore, it is only used when absolutely necessary, not on all roads. Its use always follows some rules: circular blocks mark the edges of sidewalks and crosswalks; stripes appear where there are no obstacles. They are generally not installed along the walls, although they exist in any feature that could become an obstacle.

For some specific projects at stations, there are more detailed accessibility regulations specifying what blocks, safety strips, and yellow strips must look like on sidewalks, platforms, stairs, and door edges to visually guide all passengers to reduce values. Yellow tactile paving has become very common and has been integrated into urban life.

The concept of improving blind roads is still in the initial research stage, and there is still much to be considered and studied; however, the shortcomings of existing blind roads are obvious, and their incomplete design concepts and lack of humanistic care characteristics are also worth considering. On the other hand, attention should also be paid to design innovation and technological innovation, researching and developing new blind road systems, and creating a fully accessible city. Due to various reasons, the improvement and research and development of blind roads have not yet received enough attention, but it should be noted that the improvement of blind roads is imperative, and hope to attract more people's attention.