White Cane Day 2026
October 15 is White Cane Safety Day, a nationally recognized day that supports and highlights the rights of those with visual impairments. Approximately one million Americans have blindness while another six million Americans suffer from vision loss. Within Madison and Wisconsin, thousands of blind and visually impaired individuals use a white cane for mobility and safe travel.
The City of Madison is a dedicated supporter of pedestrian safety and reminds everyone that the Wisconsin White Cane Law requires that people operating a vehicle must stop at least ten feet from a pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog. Drivers should not honk their horn at a blind person as they may not know where the sound is coming from and may be startled by the noise.
“Madison streets, sidewalks, and paths should be safe for all users, no matter their ability," said Kevin Luecke, Pedestrian & Bicycle Administrator. “The City is dedicated to ensuring that our public spaces are accessible to all."
The City of Madison supports pedestrian mobility for people with vision impairments, through a variety of means:
- The recently adopted Pedestrian Plan calls for maintaining sidewalks and pedestrian areas that are free of tripping hazards and other obstacles;
- The bike and pedestrian paths under construction as part of the John Nolen Drive project will provide separation that is detectible by white cane users; and
- The City has been expanding the use of Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) to communicate information about the WALK and DON'T WALK intervals at signalized intersections in non-visual formats. Residents can request an accessible pedestrian signal by completing the form for an Audible Pedestrian Signal.
Person with white cane crossing Williamson Street using a flashing pedestrian beacon.
Accessible Pedestrian Signal button and sign with instructions located at street crossing.
This detectable warning field, located at a street crossing, has a standardized, textured ground surface with small, raised bumps that acts as a non-visual and visual "stop sign" underfoot.
Bus Rapid Transit bus platforms have a grooved, textured ground indicators, also known as tactile warning fields, installed along transit platform borders to assist visually impaired passengers safely access transit doors.