Charlottetown needs more audio crosswalks says visually-impaired pedestrian

Maria Power's guide dog, Marty, helps her navigate the streets of Charlottetown but intersections can be dangerous, and she'd like the city to install more accessible crosswalks with audible commands.

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Power has about seven per cent vision and will eventually go blind because of a degenerative eye disease, retinitis pigmentosa.

"Every time I go to cross that sidewalk with me and Marty, I'm taking a chance that we get hit by a car. There is no noise so it's up to me say, up, up Marty, and then he crosses," said Power.

Her black lab Marty was trained elsewhere to use crosswalks that make sounds, like beeps or voice commands, for the visually impaired.

Only a couple of Charlottetown's intersections have such audio cues, and there are none on the streets Power usually takes.

'Budgetary considerations'

The intersection at Prince and Euston streets did have accessible pedestrian signals, but the city removed them because they were too loud.

"They were maintaining a higher volume even into the midnight hours and we were hearing from some of the nearby residents, especially in summer with windows open, trying to get some air through their homes," said Paul Johnston, Charlottetown's public works manager.

The city plans to replace the audio signals at that busy intersection, but has no firm plans for more.

"There is ultimately budgetary considerations we're not able to do everything at once, so we would be looking at where we can best spend the money we have to meet the needs that might be out there," Johnston said.

Power has complained to the city but sayschanges can't come soon enough.

"You know the small people have to have a voice and this is not right."