Are there podotactile floors in Guayaquil? What are they and how do they work

The floor with raised lines and yellow buttons that exists in the streets and in public transport areas of Guayaquil is not simple decoration. Is named ‘podotactile floor’ and serves so that people with disabilities can move safely on sidewalks and other public spaces.

These floors are designed to warn people with visual and psychomotor disabilities of a possible danger, which is why they are located on the edge of the sidewalks, on the edge of the doors of the bus and train stations, at the beginning of stairs or in the intersection corners. Have you seen them?

The signaling works based on textures, which change depending on what you want to notice. According to the Accessibility Institute, the texture of the tactile floor can indicate STOP (stop)for hazardous areas, or GO (forward)to indicate the accessible path.

ID will replace disability card. This is the schedule for the change of the document

Tactile floor classification

• Guidance or Directional Pattern: It is made up of bars parallel to the direction of travel and indicates that you can continue without danger.
• Pattern of attention or warning: It is made up of patterns with buttons or truncated cones and indicates approaching a change of direction, obstacle, change of level or end of the route.

In addition, it encourages use of yellow on a universal level, since it is a color that the brain associates with danger and it is the last color that the eye stops identifying, so people with residual vision can still differentiate it.

“For people with visual disabilities, a tactile floor is an enormous help to orient themselves within a station or in any space, it provides them with accessibility and security,” says the Accessibility Institute.

In Ecuador, the Standard NTE INEN 2854 deals with the “accessibility of people to the physical environment – signaling for people with visual disabilities in urban spaces and in buildings with public access – signaling on floors and haptic plans” and contains the requirements for the planning and execution of tactile and tactile signaling that allow the orientation and displacement of visually impaired people autonomously.

Tactile floors in Guayaquil

In accordance with Roberto Zambranoa user with psychomotor disabilities that generates proposals focused on universal accessibility and sustainable mobility, tactile floors should be located in places used by pedestrians.

“Here in Guayaquil there are at the bus stops metrovia, inside, outside and in parts of the street. I believe that they are strategic and adopted places to put this type of floors that help people with visual and psychomotor disabilities, who are in wheelchairs”, says Zambrano.

Mural to raise awareness about the importance of the inclusion of people with disabilities is reflected in the bus terminal

The Metrovía, one of the main public transport systems in Guayaquil, has 70% of its stations suitable with podotactile floors to facilitate access for citizens with disabilities.

According to Zambrano, although tactile flooring is implemented in various areas of the city, technical assistance on urban buses has yet to be provided. He also stresses the importance of evaluating and renewing from time to time, the operation of these systems in Guayaquil.

“You cannot put it on and leave it forgotten”says the user, who stresses that it is critical to work together with civil society and the public sector so that the works carried out are optimal, long-lasting, and meet the needs of users.

Tactile floors are one of the architectural mechanisms that work to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. However, Zambrano affirms that “talking about accessibility is an infinite field” and that it is necessary to include “other technical aids focused on people with visual, hearing, psychomotor disabilities, etc.”. (YO)