E-scooters left carelessly parked in big cities pose a problem in many ways. For people with visual impairments, they quickly become a tripping hazard. A new technology aims to remedy this.
Carelessly parked e-scooters are often a problem. (Source: netzwelt)
- The mobility provider Bolt and RTB Verkehrstechnik decided to work together in Amsterdam.
- The aim is to develop an acoustic warning system that will help blind people in their everyday lives.
- Anyone who installs a corresponding app and approaches an e-scooter should receive a warning.
E-scooters are always a topic of conversation. With all the discussions about advantages and disadvantages, for example compared to e-bikes, one group of people is often ignored: For blind people and people with visual impairments, e-scooters parked on the sidewalk can be a big problem, a dangerous one become a stumbling block.
The Estonian company Bolt and RTB from Bad Lippspringe agreed to work together at the Intertraffic 2022 trade fair in Amsterdam. Together, the companies want to develop an app-based system that protects the blind.
And this is how it should work: If a visually impaired person approaches a parked e-scooter, its built-in loudspeaker is activated. A warning tone is emitted. To do this, the person concerned must have installed an app. The advantage of this solution is that the e-scooters do not hum around the clock and only issue a warning when necessary.
It is not yet clear when the system will be used. According to Bolt, it has over 100 million customers in over 400 cities in Europe and Africa.
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