Civil Rights Groups File Lawsuit Against DC for Blind Pedestrian Safety
WASHINGTON – Three prominent civil rights organizations have initiated a class action lawsuit against the District of Columbia, citing unsafe conditions for blind pedestrians at signalized intersections. The groups involved—Disability Rights Advocates, Relman Colfax PLLC, and The Washington Lawyers’ Committee—have teamed up with the DC Council of the Blind (DCCB) and five individual plaintiffs to bring attention to the lack of Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) in the city.
Despite more than 1,600 intersections receiving visual pedestrian signals, the lawsuit alleges that most still lack the essential technology designed to assist blind pedestrians. “There are many blind individuals who want to explore our beautiful city and use public transportation, but they need safe access to cross streets to reach bus and subway stations,” said Rev. Raymond Raysor, President of DCCB and a lifelong DC resident who relies on a guide dog for safety.
The plaintiffs highlight the shortcomings of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Vision Zero initiative, which aimed to eliminate pedestrian traffic deaths by 2020. While the city has introduced enhancements like high-visibility crosswalks, they argue that these measures do not ensure safety for blind residents. The suit points out that only a small fraction of intersections have working APS, and even those are frequently malfunctioning or misconfigured.
The lawsuit claims that the city is in violation of federal disability law, making it increasingly difficult and dangerous for blind pedestrians to navigate urban spaces. Advocates describe this situation as imposing a “blindness tax,” where blind residents incur additional time and financial burdens when navigating non-APS intersections. The plaintiffs seek an injunction to mandate the installation of more APS and to ensure the existing ones are operational.
For further details, visit the Washington Lawyers’ Committee’s site.
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