BUFFALO City Municipality is taking steps towards making the city friendlier for the visually impaired.

Audible street signals in Amalinda Drive, outside Frere Hospital in East London, have been installed to help visually impaired people cross the street safely.

The area outside the hospital is a pilot project to test the audible street signals, which beep to indicate when a pedestrian can safely walk across the street. More areas around the city will soon be identified for the system.

According to Leigh Stolworthy, the general manager for transport planning and operations, the pilot project is complete and operational.

"It should be noted that the pedestrian crossing can accommodate people with other types of disabilities as well as the visually impaired. There are dropped kerbs to allow for wheelchairs, audible signals and tactile paving for the visually impaired as well as vibrating push buttons for the audio impaired," he said.

Buffalo City engaged with the Association for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities – Eastern Cape (Rehab) to determine priority sites for these types of crossing facilities. The Frere Hospital site was chosen as a pilot site for implementation in the 2009/2010 financial year.

The system was successfully installed at the site and is operational. The ultimate intention is to provide facilities for the disabled at all pedestrian crossings and signalised intersections in Buffalo City.

This will take some time roll out. Further discussions will be held with Rehab to identify other priority sites as well as to get feedback on the effectiveness of the Frere Hospital site.

An information package is being prepared on how to use the signals and will be given to Rehab for educational purposes.