As many of Buena’s students have come to realize, the City of Ventura is slowly adding High Intensity Activated Crosswalks (HAWKs) to all of their pedestrian crossing zones. Most of Ventura already has this system but is instead modifying the existing HAWKs to verbally clarify when pushing the button and instruct you to “wait” or “walk.”
This allows for greater accessibility, especially for disabled users, for those who are not able to safely identify when it is safe to walk. An additional feature is that the new HAWKs are lower, allowing more people to easily push the button on their own. The displays on the screen are also bigger and brighter, making for higher visibility.
“[The goal is to] always prioritize safety for everyone on [and near] the road,” Derek Towers, the Active Transportation Specialist for Ventura City, said in a video published by Ventura City…