Benidorm expands the traffic light devices for people who are deafblind

Benidorm City Council has expanded the number of traffic light devices adapted for deafblind people, improving mobility and accessibility for citizens with some type of disability. The mayor, Toni Pérez, reported that "in the last phase of implementation, 36 push-buttons have been installed at points of great pedestrian traffic such as the intersection of Tomás Ortuño, Ondulada and Urano streets; the intersection of the European Community, Europe and Valencian Community avenues; and the crossing of the avenue of Europe with Gerona street ".

Pérez pointed out that "with these new devices, 108 pushbuttons have already been installed in the last two budget years in a clear commitment to move towards universal accessibility and always with the aim of making Benidorm a much more comfortable city for all. citizenship".

The mayor has verified the operation of the new devices together with the director of the ONCE in Benidorm, Carlos Carrazoni; and the councilors of Mobility and Social Welfare, José Ramón González de Zárate and Ángela Llorca, after having a working meeting with the heads of the entity.

In this regard, Pérez stressed that when implementing new devices for people with visual and / or auditory disabilities or to carry out works to eliminate architectural barriers "ONCE collaborates with the City Council". Thus, "it guides us and shows us where to intervene" because there is a need to improve universal mobility; suggestions that are also made by other collectives such as the Neighborhood Council, which at the time requested the implementation of these devices at the junction of Alfonso Puchades and Andalucía avenues.

The director of the ONCE, meanwhile, has indicated that the City Council "have taken our suggestions", acting in areas where there were "more accessibility difficulties or points with more risks to circulate". Carrazoni has stated that "for us it is an achievement the continuous improvement of accessibility" because it is "in our quality of life" and "it allows us to be a citizen and to be able to move like another person without having to overcome obstacles".

The mayor underlined that in 2018 he will continue to bet on "universal accessibility" because "it is a fundamental axis of our political project", and because in addition that axis "is part of the Intelligent Tourism Destination", based on the principles of accessibility, sustainability, innovation and technology marked by the World Tourism Organization ". "Our vocation -he added- is to guarantee the greater and better mobility of our neighbors", and "to make an active listening" of the suggestions and contributions made by "the people or groups that want to improve Benidorm".