What tools do visually impaired pedestrians commonly use to aid their mobility?

Visually impaired pedestrians often rely on guide dogs and white canes with or without red tips to assist in navigating their environment safely and efficiently. Guide dogs are specifically trained to help their handlers detect obstacles, navigate around them, and make safe decisions at intersections. Meanwhile, white canes serve as tactile indicators for the user to feel their surroundings. The red tip on a white cane signifies to others that the user is visually impaired, enhancing their safety as they move through public spaces. This combination of tools enables individuals to maintain a level of independence and mobility while reinforcing their awareness of their surroundings.

Though alternatives like echo-location devices and smartphone apps may exist, they are not as universally recognized or utilized as guide dogs and white canes in supporting visually impaired mobility.