With New York City's embrace, the dream of revamping the iconic blue-and-white handicapped symbol is becoming a reality. As NYC adopts "a more active representation of people with physical limitations," activists hope the change has a broader effect.
The iconic handicapped logo that adorns parking lots, public bathrooms, and entry ramps across America "looks passive, even helpless," says Paul Basken. After years of trying to replace it, "a motley collection of determined activists at Gordon College, a small Christian institution in eastern Massachusetts," may have finally succeeded where others have failed.
"Their breakthrough is that the City of New York, in a move that could spark similar updates worldwide, has now agreed to use a Gordon-inspired logo that shows the stick figure with active arms, leaning forward, a participant rather than a dependent," reports Basken.
"Now that Gordon's logo has found a home in New York City, [Wayne Sailor, a co-founder of TASH, an advocacy group for the disabled] thinks it may spur a societal reappraisal of what really would be the most helpful solutions," notes Basken.
"You wind up talking about much more than a logo," Mr. Sailor said. "You wind up talking about the broader, bigger issues of who are these people, what do they need, and where are we in the present."
FULL STORY: A Team of Academics Redesigns an Icon
SEPTA To Install Arrival Clocks
The digital displays will finally let riders know when the next train is coming.
Should Murals Fall Under Sign Ordinances?
A local controversy in New Jersey has residents debating whether a city should interfere with artistic expression on private property.
Parking on Sidewalks Could Be Prohibited Throughout the U.K.
The United Kingdom could preempt local laws that allow drivers to park cars on sidewalks. The policy would provide clearer paths for people with disabilities and people choosing active transportation modes.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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