White Cane Day 2026: Enabling Independent Mobility

On 15 October, this year’s International White Cane Day draws attention worldwide to the concerns of blind and visually impaired people. The white long cane is an important symbol of orientation and independence. The day focuses on independence, safety and equal participation.

For many blind and visually impaired people, the white cane is an indispensable aid – and an internationally recognised sign of protection and identification. It supports orientation and alerts other road users to a visual impairment. White Cane Day aims to raise public awareness of existing obstacles in everyday life. It calls for greater consideration – for example, by keeping tactile guidance lines, pavements and access points to public transport clear.

Actions planned worldwide

Around International White Cane Day, a wide range of activities take place in numerous countries. Associations, organisations and initiatives explain what the white cane means and highlight barriers in everyday life and in traffic. With campaigns, events and awareness activities, they promote greater consideration and equal participation.

One example is the campaign “Weisser Stock = Stopp!” (“White Cane = Stop!”) by the Schweizerischer Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband (sbv, the Swiss Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired). It reminds people that in Switzerland, anyone who raises a white cane at the side of the road is signalling that they want to cross. All vehicles must stop and wait until the person has crossed completely – even where there is no pedestrian crossing.

Independent travel: the ebblo solution

With ebblo Assist, ebblo makes a concrete contribution to more inclusive public transport. The mobility assistance solution helps blind, visually impaired and mobility-impaired passengers use buses and trains more independently. It combines a smartphone app, vehicle hardware and a back-end system into one integrated solution. Passengers receive support with orientation, with finding the right vehicle and the right door, and with boarding and alighting. The passenger app was developed together with experts from the sbv.

Live in Berlin: ebblo Assist in practice

Visitors could see how the solution works in practice during InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin. The solution ebblo Assist was presented at the stand and also shown live in regular service of Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) on bus route 186. As part of the project “Fahrgastinformation akustisch” (“acoustic passenger information”), it is the first bus route equipped with the solution. Up to 20 buses automatically announce their route number and destination through external loudspeakers. An acoustic door-finding signal also makes orientation easier when boarding. Together, BVG, the sbv and ebblo are sending a signal for public transport that gives everyone as independent, safe and comfortable a travel experience as possible.