RTRI REPORT January 2002
PAPERS

A Research on the Behavior of the Visually Impaired on the Train Platforms

Naoki MIZUKAMI, Kohei FUJINAMI,
Hisato OHNO, Hiroaki SUZUKI


  In order to improve guiding systems like tactile tiles for the visually on the train platform, we need to know how tactile tiles are used and how these people behave on train platforms at present. But there are few reports on this theme. In this study, 67 visually impaired persons who use railways alone were interviewed. This research revealed that (1) dot type tactile tiles are used by 84% as a guide to follow when they walk parallel to the rail, although they are to warn of the platform edge originally. (2) 76% utilize bar type tactile tiles crossing dot type tactile tiles at a right angle at the platform edge as a cue to detect stairs. (3) On island platforms, 70% walk along dot type tactile tiles. On opposite platforms, the percentage of the people who walk along dot type tactile tiles is equal to that those who walk along the wall side of the platforms, 33% each.


* Full papers of RTRI Report are written in Japanese.

Copyright (c) 2002 Railway Technical Research Institute