Accessible streets and footpaths

Brisbane City Council is committed to creating lifestyle and leisure opportunities for Brisbane residents of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

Since the implementation of Brisbane Access and Inclusion Plan 2012-2017, Council has been working to ensure that all pedestrians with a mobility or vision impairment can walk or wheel safely around the city’s streets and footpaths. 

The braille trail, running from Reddacliff Place, down Queen Street Mall and on to Anzac Square, is a major aid for people with visual impairment navigating the CBD and, in an ongoing program, Council has also installed tactile street signs across Brisbane. 

Tactile street signs

Since 2009, Council has installed more than 600 signs at locations requested by residents. These locations include major CBD locations and intersections at South Brisbane, Spring Hill, Stones Corner, Fortitude Valley, Coorparoo and Sandgate. People with a disability tell Council they now feel much safer when crossing busy intersections.

Tactile street signs are brightly-coloured rectangular metal alloy panels (60cm x 10cm), attached to pedestrian crossing signal poles.

They have yellow raised letters on a blue background, spelling out the name and building numbers of the relevant street, with the same information also inscribed in braille.

The signs are placed vertically on the pole just above the signalised button that you press to cross the road. They can be found by listening for the ‘beep’ of the audio crossing signal. By reading both signs, people can tell which corner they are on and decide which direction of travel to take.

Audio-tactile pedestrian facilities

Council works with Brisbane residents and groups who represent the interests of vision or hearing impaired people, including Guide Dogs Queensland, Vision Australia and Deaf Services Queensland, to install and monitor audio-tactile pedestrian facilities. Find out more about audio-tactile standards and guidelines.

Braille trail

A braille trail is a pathway of paving with dot and dash patterns that can be followed by a person with impaired vision, using a cane. Tiles with ridges indicate the direction of travel along the trail. Tiles with raised dots warn of changes in direction or upcoming hazards.

Council's braille trail runs down both sides of the Queen Street Mall. There are six cross-over trails between the two main trails. The trail also runs through:

• Reddacliff Place between the Treasury Casino and Brisbane Square building
• King George Square between Adelaide and Ann Streets, connecting to the main entrance of City Hall and both entrances of the King George Square Bus station.

More information

For more information, contact Council.