A minority of crosswalks require audible beaconing, in which the sound source provides directional orientation. Where audible beaconing is activated, the volume of the WALK indication and the subsequent locator tone, or just the locator tone during the called pedestrian phase is increased and may be operated in one of the following ways:
<span>Increased sound comes from the far end of the crosswalk, as pedestrians cross the streetThe louder locator tone comes from both ends of the crosswalk, orthe louder locator tone is broadcast from an additional pedhead mounted speaker aimed at the center of the crosswalk</span>
Audible beaconing speakers must be oriented in line with the relevant crosswalk.
<span>If the speaker is not carefully oriented, the signal may give ambiguous information about which street has the WALK interval, and ambiguous information for traveling straight across the street.Beaconing is enhanced by the presence of a locator tone that users can home in on as they approach the destination corner, island or median having an accessible pushbutton.</span>
See Chapter 6, Designing Installations, for additional recommendations regarding audible beaconing.
