Pedestrian indicators in London, England have a brand new look, after the long-lasting inexperienced strolling man was changed with wheelchair consumer symbols at 5 intersections in a nod to the Worldwide Day of Individuals with Disabilities, celebrated annually on December 3. Transport for London (TfL), which rolled out the challenge, wrote that “It’s necessary to us to extend the visibility of disabled Londoners throughout our metropolis.”

Londoners and guests to the capital metropolis will see the specifically designed inexperienced wheelchair consumer symbols on the following areas, that are near a number of the busiest Tube stations that supply step-free entry for wheelchair customers and other people with disabilities.

• Bishopsgate by New Road (Metropolis of London)
• Warwick Highway by Earl’s Court docket Station (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea)
• Grays Inn Highway with Kings Cross Bridge (Camden)
• Tower Hill by Tower Hill Station (Tower Hamlets)
• Whitechapel Highway by Whitechapel Station (Tower Hamlets) 

Two designs have been chosen, one exhibiting an individual utilizing a handbook wheelchair and one other depicting an individual utilizing an electrical wheelchair. TfL labored carefully with its Impartial Incapacity Advisory Group (IDAG) and different key incapacity stakeholders to develop the imagery. 

The thought originated with Three-time Olympian and gold medal successful rower Captain Pete Reed OBE, who turned paralyzed from the chest down after a 2019 spinal stroke. In response to TfL, Reed “wished to boost consciousness of all of the disabled Londoners and guests to town in order that the disabled group can journey extra simply and add worth to town as residents, staff or vacationers.”

In talking of the significance of elevated visibility for the incapacity group, Reed mentioned, “I hope this visibility in mainstream life makes extra folks really feel snug about getting out within the metropolis and elevating their voices the place they see alternative for constructive change and collaboration.”

Whereas extra work should nonetheless be accomplished to make public transportation in London totally accessible to folks with disabilities, small gestures like these remind us all to not divert consideration from the necessary work of accessibility.

As for me, I look ahead to in search of out the inexperienced wheelchair icons throughout my subsequent journey to London — the visible will function a constructive affirmation, an acknowledgement of my existence, with the facility to heat the guts. This challenge, although small in scale, jogs my memory of the crosswalks in Indiana, the place a handful have been painted to function a wheelchair icon. It’s good to be seen!

Has your hometown or one other metropolis included incapacity imagery into public infrastructure? Let me know within the feedback under!