New App Helps Blind and Low Vision Riders Find Bus Stops

WATERTOWN, MA – A new iPhone app was released Tuesday to assist blind and low vision MBTA customers in locating bus stops.

BlindWays was developed through a partnership between the MBTA, Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Perkins School for the Blind and funded in part by a $750,000 grant from the Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities.

"Public transportation provides a vital lifeline for people with disabilities to access employment, education, healthcare, other critical services and amenities," said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack in an announcement. "That is why I am proud that MassDOT and the MBTA are partners with the Perkins School for the Blind on this worthwhile effort to deploy technology to help meet the needs of all of the T’s customers."

BlindWays builds upon current GPS maps, which often direct an individual to within 30 to 50 feet of their destination. For the blind or visually impaired, this frequently leads to standing in the wrong place and hearing a bus drive past.

Perkins School for the Blind, which developed the app, aimed to erase those last 30 to 50 feet by crowdsourcing landmark clues and providing predictive bus arrival information.

"Being able to access public transportation reliably allows individuals with disabilities to live independently within their communities," said MBTA General Manager Brian Shortsleeve in the announcement. "The MBTA welcomes any opportunity to strengthen our ability to provide that service."

BlindWays relies heavily on crowdsourcing; anyone with an iPhone is invited to contribute information to help blind or visually impaired users pinpoint the exact location of a stop.

"BlindWays is just one example of how Perkins is focused on developing innovative solutions for more people," Dave Power, president and CEO of Perkins School for the Blind, said. "We are proud to have worked closely with the MBTA to help people who are blind or have low vision find their bus stops and travel more independently."

The app is free and available to download on the App Store. For more information, click here.

Check out how the app works below:

Image via Shutterstock