ActiveTravel+
Discreet bicycle notification system for visually impaired pedestrians
Designed by Angus Mackeddie
Every six minutes, someone in the UK starts to lose their sight permanently. The built environment is often not designed with these users in mind, or their concerns are usually pushed aside. This can create artificial barriers, making their world feel much smaller.
ActiveTravel+ is a discreet notification system that warns pedestrians of approaching bikes at a bike lane crossing. The system uses parametric speaker technology to send a thin sound beam to the crossing point without disturbing the surrounding environment. This is necessary as people with visual impairments often use subtle environmental noises to navigate. It detects bikes using piezoelectric sensors, notifying the pedestrian of the bike and its speed. This system gives the reassurance that it is safe to cross to those who need, without disrupting others. This breaks down the barriers we have created, making their world just that little bit bigger.