Truncated domes do serve a purpose
QMy friend shared articles you’ve written about this issue after I had a serious accident Friday when I tripped on pedestrian bumper buttons at a crosswalk in front of the Chase Center in San Francisco. I was there for the James Taylor concert. When I tripped, I was propelled forward, hit my head on a utility pole in front of me and was bleeding. I was attended to by Chase medical staff before going to the ER for a CT scan.
There was another woman who fell and had head injuries and bleeding prior to my accident. While I was being cared for, another women fell and suffered trauma to her shoulder.
My friend said his client slipped on them and broke her nose. His chiropractor said he’s getting a lot of patients from people slipping on them. And the city continues to install those slippery buggers.
— Carol Carlson Vallejo
A
Carol plans to file a claim with the city as soon as she feels better, adding, “I’m still feeling a bit in a brain fog.”
Q
I was walking into a Rite Aid when I tripped on those bumpy buttons. I have never fallen this hard in my life. I ended up going to the ER with an AC joint sprain/separation. It is extremely painful and I am pretty stressed out trying to take care of myself.
What can be done about this? Anything?
— Laurie Huffman,
Los Angeles A These bumpy buttons are “tactile warning devices” and are often referred to as truncated domes.
They are a requirement of the Americans with Disabilities Act, designed to warn visually impaired persons that they are leaving a walkway, entering a parking lot or street or nearing a transit boarding location. And while helping the visually impaired, they certainly should not be causing injuries and health problems for others.
Q
When is Stevens Creek Boulevard between Winchester and Interstate 880 going to be repaved? The road is very rough and bumpy, especially on the Valley Fair side. — Kathy Miller
A
It has been delayed for a cascade of reasons, Colin-the-San JoseSpokesman said.
“A development along that stretch was responsible for two signal modifications at Santana Row and at Baywood as part of the mall expansion. The signal work was delayed because of challenges in the field during construction and a rise in construction costs. This, combined with a San Jose Water Co. project along the same stretch, is why the city held off. But our online pavement story map is still showing 2022 as the year it will finally get some love.”