They come in two types: squares with long parallel strips tell pedestrians that they can move on safely and let them drive along the road, and squares with bumps indicate a change of direction or stop (such as an entrance) or possible Hazards (such as the edge of a platform), stairs or traffic lights.
The executive member of the Japan Federation of the Visually Impaired Toyharu Yoshizumi told AFP: “Walking along the tactile pavement reassured me that it is safe to walk there.”
Yoshiizumi was blind at the age of 12 and commuted for about 40 minutes a day, guided by a Tenji block-named after Japanese braille.
“The road is never straight. It is often curved or twisted. Thanks to the guide block, I feel safe because I know I am walking along the street.”
The ubiquitous neighborhood is the creation of local inventor Seiichi Miyake from Okayama in western Japan.
Issey Miyake witnessed a blind man on crutches almost being knocked down by a car at an intersection, decided to devote himself to inventing something to protect himself Visually impaired Pedestrian safety.
