Traffic signals assume everyone walks at 1.2 m/s. Many don't.
WalkPhase measures the gap — and shows how to fix it.
Every signalised pedestrian crossing in Ireland — around 5,000 of them — is now measurable from a smartphone.
Cork City Council — written response · Ref CSR/2026/08609/RDS
"I got confirmation that two push buttons were repaired at that junction… Another visit is planned to confirm crossing distances and associated times as the parameters for that junction likely haven't been revised since its original installation 13 odd years ago."
— ITS Section, Cork City Council, 22 April 2026
The first WalkPhase-generated safety report was submitted on 17 April 2026 for the Killumney Road crossing in Ballincollig, Cork. Within five days, Cork City Council confirmed repairs and the written acknowledgement above — the first known case of a road authority responding directly to citizen-measured pedestrian safety evidence.
Signal timing standards assume a uniform walking speed of 1.2 m/s. But older adults, people with disabilities, parents with children, and many others walk slower. The result: they're still in the road when the signal changes. WalkPhase quantifies this gap at every intersection.
WalkPhase turns a smartphone into a pedestrian signal intelligence device.
Using on-device intelligence, it detects crossings, learns signal timing patterns, and identifies where real-world conditions don't match design assumptions.
A safety tool that asks you to look at a screen while you cross the road is not a safety tool. WalkPhase is built so you never have to.
This is WalkPhase measuring a crossing on Station Road in Ballincollig. The phone is locked. There is nothing to tap, nothing to dismiss, and nothing that needs looking at.
The wait, the walk phase, the crossing time and the walking speed are all being recorded. The screen is simply reporting what is already happening.
WalkPhase recognises the crossing as you approach it, and records the wait, the walk phase and your crossing from location and motion data on the device. Nothing to launch, nothing to tap.
A Live Activity puts the current state on your lock screen and Dynamic Island — visible without unlocking, and equally fine to ignore. The measurement happens either way.
The information you need arrives before you step off the kerb. Once you're crossing, WalkPhase has nothing to show you — because the only thing worth watching then is the traffic.
Pro Mode is off by default. Turn it on and WalkPhase shows the live signal phase as a countdown — built for engineers, surveyors and anyone auditing a crossing deliberately, rather than for someone simply crossing the road.
Measures actual pedestrian speed at each crossing — not assumptions from a manual.
Learns how each intersection's signals actually operate over time.
Learned timing modelDetects when a pedestrian arrives, starts crossing, and completes a crossing.
On-device intelligenceFlags intersections where available walk time is insufficient for real-world users.
Calculates exactly how many additional seconds each crossing needs.
No roadside hardware. No signal controller access. Just a smartphone.
WalkPhase provides the missing layer in pedestrian safety analysis.
Illustrative figures based on early pilot data and published research on pedestrian walking speeds.
Every crossing generates a rich dataset that goes far beyond crash counts — giving cities proactive, evidence-based insight into pedestrian safety.
How long pedestrians wait at each intersection before crossing. Long waits drive non-compliance and unsafe crossings.
Actual time taken to cross, measured per-crossing. Reveals whether the walk phase is sufficient for real pedestrians.
GPS-traced routes across the intersection. See where pedestrians actually walk — not where signals assume they do.
Walk phase durations recorded in the field. Compare observed timing against MUTCD standards and crossing distances.
Real walking speeds from real people. Identify intersections where the assumed 1.2 m/s design speed leaves pedestrians stranded mid-crossing.
Track whether pedestrians cross with or against the signal. Compliance data reveals where signal timing is failing the people it's meant to protect.
Pedestrian signal compliance decreases significantly when wait times exceed 30–40 seconds, with pedestrians often initiating crossings against the signal to reduce delay. Crossing time compliance is largely influenced by walking speed (designed around 1.15–1.2 m/s), road width, and the presence of countdown timers. WalkPhase measures all of these variables at every crossing.
Peer-reviewed simulation research (Aly & ElAarag, Stetson University, ACMSE 2026) shows that adaptively extending the walk phase for vulnerable pedestrians can reduce pedestrian stranding by 71.4% — while requiring adjustment in only 12.1% of crossing cycles. A small change in signal operation, for a substantial safety gain. WalkPhase measures the pedestrian input such systems require, on-device, at any signalised crossing — without cameras or roadside hardware.
WalkPhase uses on-device intelligence to understand how people move through intersections — and how signals actually behave.
Automatically detects when a pedestrian arrives, starts crossing, and completes a crossing — using motion and location data on-device.
Learns how each intersection operates over time — without infrastructure access or signal controller integration.
Identifies crossings where available walk time is insufficient for real-world users — especially older adults and people with mobility limitations.
Helps cities identify which intersections require intervention first — ranked by risk, equity impact, and feasibility.
A small team generates statistically meaningful data in 30 days — no infrastructure, no integration, no delays.
Choose 1–10 priority intersections based on crash data, equity concerns, or Action Plan priorities.
10–20 participants carry smartphones with WalkPhase during their normal daily routines — or as dedicated data collectors.
Over 30 days, each participant generates multiple crossings per intersection. With 15 participants across 5 intersections, a typical pilot produces 750+ recorded crossings.
WalkPhase delivers intersection-level safety analysis: real walking speeds, timing gap identification, risk scoring, and prioritised intervention recommendations.
Intersection-level safety insights
Equity metrics for vulnerable users
A clear, data-driven case for intervention
Pilot programmes with road authorities — run as funded grant deliverables or as direct engagements.
Typical pilot engagements range from $75k to $125k depending on scope.
Included as a line item in a federal, state, or local road safety grant application. Delivered upon award. See /grants for supported programmes.
Run independently of grant timelines. Ideal for faster deployment, early validation, or agencies with existing budgets.
Pilot scope and pricing are tailored to each partner.
WalkPhase is a small, focused team applying patented technology to make pedestrian crossings safer. We believe every person — regardless of age or ability — deserves enough time to cross the street safely.
Our founding team has spent over 20 years designing and deploying innovative technology with U.S. transportation agencies. Two U.S. patents granted. Pilot-stage. Agency partnerships forming.
Whether you're preparing a grant application or exploring a direct pilot, we'd love to hear from you.
Or email us directly at team@walkphase.com