October 15 is White Cane Safety Day in Madison

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Common Council has proclaimed October 15, as “White Cane Safety Day” in the City of Madison. White Cane Safety Day is a day the Council takes to advocate for and educate about the White Cane Law. Since 1964, the day has promoted safe, welcoming communities for people with vision loss or blindness. It promotes awareness of people walking who use white canes or guide dogs to assist them and to increase awareness of Wisconsin’s White Cane Law, which requires that motorists come to a full stop before approaching closer than 10 feet to a pedestrian who is using a white cane or service animal.

While it’s important to recognize the cane’s symbolic significance to many users’ identities, the cane also serves a more literal purpose. A white cane legally identifies someone as blind or visually impaired. This is most important as an indicator to motorists that a pedestrian may not be able to see them.

“The White Cane Law is important to me because the majority of drivers are well-intentioned, but reminders about pedestrian safety, especially for people who are blind and visually impaired, can help drivers stay more alert, said Denise Jess, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired. “There is so much distracted driving going on, and if you know there’s a legal expectation for your driving it can help keep roads safer for everyone. No driver wants to hit somebody.”

The City of Madison has prioritized incorporating accessible features in its transportation infrastructure to enhance the safety and convenience of pedestrians who are blind or have visual impairments. For example, Metro Transit’s new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system includes several such features, such as tactile directional tiles (raised bars) to help white cane users align with bus doors, and audible announcements for real-time bus arrival information and at the new Fast Fare kiosks. Additionally, nearby crosswalks have been upgraded with detectable warning fields on sidewalk ramps and audible pedestrian signals to further improve accessibility.

“White Cane Safety Day really highlights the importance of safety for those vulnerable roadway users in our city, especially highlighting those who are visually impaired,” said Yang Tao, City of Madison Director of Traffic Engineering. “This is a big part of what Madison’s Vision Zero initiative strives to accomplish, and this day truly reminds us how important it is to focus on safety for all and design roadways to ensure everyone walking, rolling, biking, and those with a white cane are safe.”

The City encourages its residents and visitors to learn about the White Cane Project and actively participate in creating a safe and inclusive community for all who identify as having accessibility needs.

More information about the White Cane Project can be found at the White Cane Safety Day website. 

The images below highlight some key transportation accessibility features and improvements that enhance accessibility for those who are blind or visually impaired.