​If you've come across a crosswalk signal at a Charlotte intersection, you might have noticed some
ticking, audible directions and raised arrows that point the way forward. Ever wondered what those
features are and what they do? One way that the City of Charlotte is working to help everyone cross the
street safely is they're using assessable pedestrian signals. These signals help pedestrians who are
visually impaired, become more aware of their surroundings and successfully navigate crosswalks and
intersections. As you first approach a crosswalk with one of these signals, you'll hear a locator sound. A
once-per-second tick like a clock, this sound helps people find the push button. It's loud enough to be
heard nearby. These push buttons adjust their tones and sounds to ambient noise, lowering their
volume if the surrounding area is quiet. At the push button, a raised tactile arrow on the push button
aligns with the direction of the crosswalk, letting pedestrians know which street they can cross using
that signal. The button will pulse when pushed and will also vibrate when the walk signal is on. In
addition to the walk signal, assessable pedestrian signals will either use a ticking sound or a spoken
message that says the name of the street to indicate the walk sign is on and it is safe to cross. The
assessable pedestrian signal at the opposite end of the crosswalk will also sound the tone to help guide
the pedestrian to the end of the crosswalk. There are often two assessable pedestrian signals at the
corner of an intersection. So make sure you're pressing the correct button, then watching and or
listening for the directions for the street you want to cross. Even with these features, it's still important
to be mindful of your surroundings. Before crossing the street, listen and or watch to make sure any
cars on the street you are crossing are stopped. And be aware of any cars crossing the same street as
you. Be aware of any turning cars. At some intersections, cars can turn right or left across crosswalks,
while pedestrians also have a walk signal. It takes all of us doing our part to make sure our streets are
safe for all users. You can learn more about assessable pedestrian signals and other safety measures
at Charlottenc.gov/transportation.