Another White Cane Safety Day has come and gone, with over three dozen municipalities across the entire state (along with the State of Wisconsin and Milwaukee County) issuing proclamations celebrating the day on October 15.
2024 marked the 60th anniversary of White Cane Safety Day, which was first proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and Congress in 1964. White Cane Safety Day brings attention to the statewide White Cane Laws across the country. Here in Wisconsin, that law states that a vehicle must stop 10 feet from a pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog.
As in past years, Governor Tony Evers proclaimed October 15 as White Cane Safety Day, saying “The state of Wisconsin reaffirms its commitment to upholding the White Cane Law and expanding services that promote the safety, dignity, and independence of Wisconsinites of all abilities.” Here’s the full list of towns that made White Cane Safety Day proclamations is:
- Appleton
- Beaver Dam
- Chippewa Falls
- Cottage Grove
- County of Milwaukee
- Delavan
- Fitchburg
- Green Bay
- Greenfield
- Janesville
- Kaukauna
- Kenosha
- La Crosse
- Madison
- Manitowoc
- Marshfield
- Menomonee Falls
- Middleton
- Milwaukee
- Monona
- Monroe
- Neenah
- New Richmond
- Oak Creek
- Oshkosh
- Plover
- Portage
- Rothschild
- Shawano
- Shorewood
- Stevens Point
- Sun Prairie
- Watertown
- Waukesha
- Wausau
- West Allis
- West Bend
- Whitewater
- Wisconsin Rapids
“White Cane Safety Day gives us an excellent opportunity to highlight the needs of blind and low vision pedestrians during Pedestrian Safety Month,” says Council Executive Director Denise Jess. “We want all communities to be safe places for everyone to walk, roll and bike. White Cane Safety Day also serves a broader mission to bring awareness of our state’s blind and low vision population, as we strive to become more inclusive and promote the dignity of all Wisconsinites.”
The Council also helped spread the word about white cane and pedestrian safety by placing bus ads in four cities across the state. This year’s ads ran on buses in Janesville, Beloit, Waukesha and La Crosse.
We’re grateful to all the local leaders who recognized White Cane Day this year, and to all the folks who advocated for their town to issue a proclamation. While White Cane Safety Day has come and gone again, remember that effective advocacy for pedestrian safety is a year-round activity. Whether you call for connected sidewalks and curb cuts in your neighborhood, expanded transportation options, or even future White Cane Safety Day proclamations, the most impactful changes in your community will come from you. You can learn more about White Cane Safety Day and pedestrian safety at WCBlind.org/Events/Pedestrian-Safety-Month-And-White-Cane-Safety-Day.
