THE FUTURE IS ACCESSIBLE
ADA-COMPLIANT, PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY CROSSWALK DEVICES
Improve walkability, accessibility, and safety with Polara’s industry-leading accessible pedestrian signals (APS) and push buttons for crosswalks
1,000+
Cities
450,000+
Units Installed
people served
Industry-leading tech
From piezo to PedApp, Polara has been setting the pace of innovation in the industry for more than 25 years.
Proven performance & durability
Long-term exposure to the elements is the ultimate test and Polara’s systems have consistently proven they are built to last.
Nation-wide compliance
All Polara products have been designed to comply with relevant federal regulations, including the ADA, MUTCD, and PROWAG.
Our Products
Accessible Crosswalk Solutions
iDS
Enhance crosswalk accessibility and achieve full PROWAG compliance with the most reliable and versatile Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) on the market.
iNX
Increase safety at unsignalized crossings with an MUTCD-compliant, energy-efficient Audible Information Device (AID).
Bulldog
Made from die-cast aluminum and marine-grade stainless steel, our best-selling Bulldog push button is reliable, versatile, and virtually indestructible.
PedApp®
Access audible crossing information and remotely activate pedestrian signals from your smartphone. Compatible with our iDS/iNS APS.
“APS are an acknowledged solution to [the] problem of inaccessibility… They are essential safety features.”
– Hon. Paul A. Engelmayer
United States District Judge
“The audiotactile information that APS provide is something I have spoken about a great deal. I truly feel that APS are an important part of the civic infostructure.”
– Jessie Lorenz
Disability Rights Advocate
“More cities need this technology to help all of us as citizens stay safe.”
– Katie Fredrick
Community Manager and Accessibility Lead
Accessibility Requirements
Transportation networks should be accessible to and usable by people of all ages and abilities, including those with vision and hearing loss, mobility, and cognitive disabilities. In the US–and around the world–numerous statutes and regulations exist to ensure transportation infrastructure is designed to serve the needs of all pedestrians. Here’s what you need to know.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA is a broad civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including the pedestrian environment.It requires all government units with 50+ employees to develop an ADA transition plan to remove physical barriers and improve access. Cities continue to be sued in federal court for failing to provide access features like curb ramps and APS.
Public Rights of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG)
Drafted by the US Access Board, PROWAG is the best and most recent source for guidance on creating accessible pedestrian facilities in the US. Though it has not yet been formally adopted by the USDOT/DOJ, many states and cities have already begun to incorporate its guidance on crosswalks, pedestrian signals, and more into their own accessibility standards. PROWAG is widely expected to be adopted at the federal level in 2023.
Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
The MUTCD is published by the FHWA to set the standards used by transportation professionals across the country to install and maintain traffic control devices on public roadways.Section 4E.09-13 contains technical provisions for APS, including standards for placement, tactile arrows, locator tones, and information messages.
What are accessible pedestrian signals?
APS provide essential information and safety to pedestrians with disabilities by alerting them to the status of the walk cycle via auditory, visual, and tactile cues.
the impact of accessibility
“The meaning of APS crystallized for me eight months ago when I got off the streetcar at the wrong stop. I was in an unfamiliar place, completely blind and in the middle of a busy street trying to orient myself. I could hear the locator tone of the Polara Navigator. I found the unit, read the braille, and was immediately able to determine what streets I was at. I decided to walk the rest the route to my destination.
The APS units along the way enabled me to check the names of streets and cross with the Walk cycle on streets that were unfamiliar to me. I got a little more exercise that morning and wasn’t even late for my appointment! It was the first time I have ever felt like I live in a fully accessible community.”
-Jessie Lorenz, Disability Rights Advocate [source]
What are accessible pedestrian signals?
APS provide essential information and safety to pedestrians with disabilities by alerting them to the status of the walk cycle via auditory, visual, and tactile cues.
the impact of accessibility
“The meaning of APS crystallized for me eight months ago when I got off the streetcar at the wrong stop. I was in an unfamiliar place, completely blind and in the middle of a busy street trying to orient myself. I could hear the locator tone of the Polara Navigator. I found the unit, read the braille, and was immediately able to determine what streets I was at. I decided to walk the rest the route to my destination. The APS units along the way enabled me to check the names of streets and cross with the Walk cycle on streets that were unfamiliar to me. I got a little more exercise that morning and wasn’t even late for my appointment! It was the first time I have ever felt like I live in a fully accessible community.”
LEARN
Pedestrian Safety and Universal Access
Featured ArticleAmerican Council of the Blind versus the City of New York
New York City has more than 13,000 intersections. The problem is, the vast majority are not accessible to people who are blind or have vision impairments. But that's about to change, after a federal judge ruled that the city must upgrade its signals to audible pedestrian signals (APS) by 2031–a move that will set a new standard for pedestrian accessibility in cities and beyond.
PROWAG Crosswalk Requirements
prowagPROWAG is a set of technical specifications developed by the U.S. Access Board to help transportation professionals create accessible routes along public streets. It mandates APS anywhere a pedestrian signal is provided, and is widely expected to become an enforceable standard in 2023.
February 28, 2023 Link
Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) Features
APS technology is constantly improving and new features are being added to help pedestrians with vision and hearing loss get around safely and confidently. Here are some of the main features you should be aware of. Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) have come a long way since the first cuckoo-chirp, pedhead-mounted systems appeared in U.S. […]
February 25, 2023 Link
Polara Partners with Vance Street Capital
Polara has just partnered with an outstanding and very successful private equity firm called Vance Street Capital. Polara has tremendous growth opportunities ahead of us. This partnership with Vance Street Capital will provide us with their expert advice and capital to allow us to invest in and improve existing processes and accelerate new product development. […]
December 6, 2021 Link
