Innovation in urban mobility
In an effort to make Madrid a more inclusive city, the City Council has implemented an innovative system that allows blind people to cross streets independently at night. Since July 2024, 3,524 traffic lights in the Spanish capital are equipped with devices that emit sounds on demand, thus facilitating nighttime transit.
Until now, the traffic lights were turned off between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM to avoid disturbing residents, which forced many visually impaired individuals to rely on others to get home. With this new measure, driven by Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida from the ONCE Technology Centre, the aim is to provide greater autonomy and safety to this group.
The mayor has announced that 450 new acoustic signals will be installed, adding to those already in place. Currently, around 650 users benefit from this technology. In addition, an application called ZebraCross has been developed that allows users to activate these signals from a mobile device, providing a more convenient option for those who prefer not to use a physical remote.
Not only blind individuals are on the City Council's radar; a pilot project is also underway to include a wireless system that sends vibrating signals specifically designed for deaf-blind individuals. This advancement could make Madrid the first city in Spain to implement such technology.
The selection of traffic lights where these devices will be installed is not random. According to Almeida, a thorough mapping of the city is carried out in conjunction with ONCE to identify areas with the highest pedestrian traffic from blind individuals. Luis Palomares, head of the accessibility area at ONCE, emphasizes that the sound emitted by the traffic lights has been carefully designed to be perceptible but not intrusive.
The creation and testing of these acoustic signals was a long-standing request from ONCE. The SA-V1 Zebra Tiny Bluetooth-Demand device was developed by Ilunion and underwent three months of testing before receiving final approval on April 29, 2024. Since then, they are already operational in several iconic streets such as Prim and Alcalá.
As Madrid moves towards greater social inclusion and urban accessibility, such initiatives are essential to ensure that all individuals can fully enjoy public spaces without restrictions or external dependencies. The successful implementation of the vibrating system could mark a significant milestone in the history of inclusive urban transport.
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