Visual Detection of Detectable Warning Materials by Pedestrians with Visual Impairments - Final Report

Appendix G: Comments from Participants

White Detectable Warning

... on Brick Sidewalk

• would get dirty quick
• "one of my favorites"
• looks larger than other detectable warning
• doesn't look like a warning

... on Asphalt Sidewalk

• better than white with black border
• "definitely would see"
• doesn't look like a warning

... on White Concrete Sidewalk

• wouldn't notice it if distracted
• "that's stupid"

... on Brown Concrete Sidewalk

• can see domes on this detectable warning
• larger than other detectable warnings
• looks larger than previous (off-white)
• doesn't look like a warning

Light Gray Detectable Warning

... on Brick Sidewalk

• might not see on a sidewalk
• can't see domes
• looks like cement or metal

... on Asphalt sidewalk

• looks like metal; would avoid it
• looks like cement patch

... on White Concrete Sidewalk

• looks like hole or difference pavement
• doesn't look like a warning

... on Brown Concrete Sidewalk

• looks like a cement patch

White Concrete Detectable Warning

... on Brick Sidewalk

• "not as bright as other (white)"
• doesn't look like a warning

... on Asphalt Sidewalk

• looks like a manhole cover
• looks larger than other detectable warning

... on White Concrete Sidewalk

• looks slightly lighter than background
• maybe something there, but not sure
• saw raised pattern, but not sure it's detectable warning

... on Brown Concrete Sidewalk

• unsure of colors

Brown Concrete Detectable Warning

... on Brick Sidewalk

• really poor detectable warning
• could be black
• looks like doormat; won't get attention
• looks like cardboard

... on Asphalt Sidewalk

• would only get attention at short distance
• would be bad at night
• doesn't look like a warning

... on White Concrete Sidewalk

• not confident about color
• looked gray from further away
• think there might be stripes
• would prefer darker color
• looks like cardboard

... on Brown Concrete Sidewalk

• "I think I might see stripes"
• thinks somethings there, but not sure

Dark Gray Detectable Warning

... on Brick Sidewalk

• looks like a shadow on the ground
• probably something there, but not sure
• looks like a patch

... on Asphalt Sidewalk

• domes look like pink indentations/holes
• blends with sidewalk
• looks large
• blends in, looks like cement patch

... on White Concrete Sidewalk

• looks like steel grate; would avoid it
• doesn't look like a warning

... on Brown Concrete Sidewalk

• looks like a shadow
• domes look like small holes
• could be doormat or something else
• "wouldn't stop me" from crossing

Federal Yellow Detectable Warning

... on Brick Sidewalk

• probably best color here
• looked white from 7.92m (26ft)
• color sometimes means danger-would hesitate to step on it
• very attention-getting
• same as previous (dull) yellow
• can't see any bumps
• "perfect"
• good color, looks smaller than others
• "barely does anything for me"
• very good color
• "good one"

... on Asphalt Sidewalk

• looked white from 7.92m (26ft)
• "definitely use this one!"
• "one of my favorites"
• looks like curb paint
• "perfect"
• excellent
• looked pure white from far away
• "very good"

... on White Concrete Sidewalk

• color blends into sidewalk
• poor contrast
• "better"
• looks like it has a design on it
• looks all white

... on Brown Concrete Sidewalk

• color is good, but contrast is not great
• domes look like small holes
• "good"
• contrast isn't very good
• "my favorite", better than white
• this color "raises a flag"
• familiar color on curb ramps

Pale Yellow Detectable Warning

... on Brick Sidewalk

• looked white from 7.92m (26ft)
• lovely
• "ugly"

... on Asphalt Sidewalk 

• good contrast, but not bright enough
• better than last one (Fed yellow)
• looks big

... on White Concrete Sidewalk

• might be a yellow detectable warning - not sure
• white sidewalk is visually overwhelming
• color is too dull

... on Brown Concrete Sidewalk

• looked white from 7.92m (26ft)
• not great contrast
• pretty color
• can't tell what pattern is
• "oddball color" gets attention
• not as good as other yellow

Bright Red Detectable Warning

... on Brick Sidewalk

• looks almost like detectable warning is clear
• blends too much with sidewalk
• needs bright light to see this one

... on Asphalt Sidewalk

• "not a good color for me"
• very nice
• terrible
• not sharp
• better than other red
• very intense color
• probably hard to see at night

... on White Concrete Sidewalk

• can see detectable warning bumps
• looks larger than last one (black)
• would be good a night

... on Brown Concrete Sidewalk

• hard to see from far away
• red and brown are too similar in color
• can't tell color
• looks big
• not as good as white
• probably hard to see at night

Orange-Red Detectable Warning

... on Brick Sidewalk

• don't like this color
• darker than bricks, but blends too much
• blends in with sidewalk too much

... on Asphalt Sidewalk

• "I don't see that color well"
• looks like dirt

... on White Concrete Sidewalk

• "seems like orange is best color"

... on Brown Concrete Sidewalk

• looks like an obstacle
• looks like rust or corrosion
• looks same as previous (bright) red
• blends into sidewalk
• probably hard to see at night

Black Detectable Warning

... on Brick Sidewalk

• wouldn't recognize detectable warning as warning
• bad aesthetics - won't be accepted
• terrible contrast
• "barely detectable"
• not as good as stripes
• looks like a patch
• doesn't look like a warning

... on Asphalt Sidewalk

• domes look like small holes
• looks like steel grate; would avoid it
• looks like asphalt patch

... on White Concrete Sidewalk

• this is great
• bumps are very visible
• looks a little like green
• looks like steel grate; would avoid it
• looks small
• opposite colors work best
• doesn't look like a warning

... on Brown Concrete Warning

• that's great
• looks like a hole in sidewalk
• detectable warning lacks meaning
• looks like a hole
• looks like pothole
• unpleasant to look at
• looks like a patch
• doesn't look like a warning

Black with White Border Detectable Warning

... on Brick Sidewalk

• looks like border surrounds a hole
• unsure of colors
• might see faint red color on black
• gets attention, but looks like obstacle
• can't tell what pattern is
• good and sharp
• would be good anywhere
• looks like a hole

... on Asphalt Sidewalk

• center looks like sidewalk itself
• the white part is all that gives warning
• thought saw something, but lost it
• unsure of colors
• can't tell what pattern is
• might not see the white part when walking
• white will get dirty
• looks like black hole in center
• looks like other pavement markings

... on White Concrete Sidewalk

• detectable warning looks smaller than others
• border doesn't help
• didn't see white from 26 ft
• less intrusive (smaller) than other detectable warning
• looks like steel grate; would avoid it
• looks small
• reversed color pattern would be better
• would be better without white border
• looks like a hole
• border is hard to see

... on Brown Concrete Sidewalk

• border provides good contrast
• black doesn't help
• unsure of colors
• domes look like small holes
• can't tell what pattern is
• reversed color pattern would be better
• very detectable
• looks like hole in middle

Black with White Stripes Detectable Warning

... on Brick Sidewalk

• god one - def. good from long distance
• seems to have depth; looks like a metal grate - might walk around it
• black detracts from the effectiveness
• would be better with white stripes on outside
• bad aesthetics - won't be accepted
• narrow stripes give poor contrast
• unsure of colors; detectable warning lacks meaning
• looks like a steel grate; walk around it
• "my favorite"
• very alerting
• stripes are familiar-looking
• stripes are good
• "very good one"

... on Asphalt Sidewalk

• can't actually see black stripes (looks like sidewalk itself)
• don't like this as much on asphalt
• very distinct
• consistency of contrast is good
• can't really see black stripes
• takes a long time to figure out pattern
• unsure of colors
• white stands out
• only white stripes help
• very nice
• looks like a speed bump
• black stripes not very visible
• obviously not the norm
• "that's great"

... on White Concrete Sidewalk

• really stands out
• like this the best - it jumps out
• "best of the detectable warnings"
• white stripes don't show up well
• looks bigger than previous detectable warning
• only sees black but knows white is there
• unsure of colors
• looks like steel grate; would avoid it
• stripes really stand out
• very good
• good that black is on outsides of detectable warning
• would be good in any lighting
• "favorite on any surface"

... on Brown Concrete Sidewalk

• "stands out like a pretty girl"
• likes this detectable warning most of all
• very distinct - especially white stripes
• bad aesthetics - won't be accepted
• dark stripes are only in the way
• unsure of colors; detectable warning lacks meaning
• "good one"
• probably not good in dark
• very sharp
• "my favorite"

White with Black Border Detectable Warning

... on Brick Sidewalk

• can't really see border
• not as good a warning as stripes
• black border doesn't help
• might get dirty
• didn't see black from 26 ft
• unsure of colors
• can see bumps on lack but not white
• "very detectable"
• can't tell what pattern is
• not as good as reverse color pattern
• better than reversed color pattern

... on Asphalt Sidewalk

• can't see border, but knows it's there b/c of size
• white is a "definite" border
• didn't see black from further away
• can't tell what pattern is
• looks small
• black doesn't help
• looks small
• black border "is a waste"
• can't see border until very close
• black border is hard to see

... on White Concrete Sidewalk

• border is good, but center doesn't help
• solids are better than patterns
• can't tell what pattern is
• not sure if there is a border
• black border is very good

... on Brown Concrete Sidewalk

• didn't see black from 26 ft
• unsure of colors
• domes look like small holes
• can't tell what pattern is
• looks small
• "oddball color"
• smaller than other detectable warnings
• black border doesn't get attention