Extended
button press Description Extended button press is an option on many APS that actuates additional
accessibility features. Most require the pushbutton to be pressed for
between one second and three seconds to activate the features. (The length
of time will be standardized as soon as on-going research indicates the
optimal length.)
Other names for this feature in manufacturers' literature include:
BAT - Button actuated timer
Extended push
Extended button press
Features called
Possible features called by the extended button press include:
The accessible WALK indication;
Providing a pushbutton message identifying the intersection and
the crosswalk, at the pushbutton, during the DON'T WALK or flashing
DON'T WALK;
Providing a pushbutton message with intersection signalization and
geometry information, at the pushbutton, during the DON'T WALK or
flashing DON'T WALK;
Audible beaconing by increasing the volume of the WALK tone and
the associated locator tone for one signal cycle, so a blind pedestrian
can use the sound from the opposite side of the street to provide
directional guidance;
Audible beaconing by alternating the audible WALK signal back and
forth from one end of the crosswalk to the other;
Audible beaconing by providing the WALK indication from the far
side of the street only, at an elevated volume for one signal cycle;
and
Providing extended crossing time.
Any or all of these features would be called by pressing and holding the
same button that is used by all pedestrians.
Education needed
Individuals who are blind have a limited familiarity with these recommendations.
Locations that use such a system should provide educational materials
and information to individuals who are blind or visually impaired in the
community to assure that they can take advantage of the features.
How used
Use will depend on the feature(s) called by the extended button press. See the section on audible beaconing (in Chapter 7, Walk indications), and pushbutton information message (in this chapter) for further discussion of the use of those features. The intent is to allow individuals who are blind to have some choice in the use of the accessible features.
As the extended button press feature is more commonly installed, it would be expected that pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired might hold the button longer at unfamiliar intersections in order to determine what features are installed and decide how they want to cross the street.
The extended button press allows pedestrians to decide if they want all the possible accessible features at an intersection.
Pedestrians may decide if they want audible beaconing at a location, which many may find necessary only at certain times and with certain traffic patterns.
Individuals who are unfamiliar with an intersection can get intersection information but the message is not played every time the button is pressed, which some believe would be annoying.
