[Blindtlk] Travel, Drivers, and canes

Mike Freeman k7uij at panix.com
Tue Jun 8 01:50:05 UTC 2010 

Mari:

AS David Hyde has said, we view any "protection" that might be afforded by 
audible pedestrian signals as illusory for the most part. Said signals tell 
you what the signal indicates (assuming the audio is properly synced with 
the signal which isn't always a valid assumption) rather than what the 
traffic is doing.

Let me tell you a story which I think took place in San Diego a few years 
ago. I believe it was Fred Chambers of the CA affiliate that knew of this. 
There were some bird audible traffic signals on certain SD intersections. A 
driver was going along, half fogged out as most drivers are and when he hit 
a particular intersection that had an audible signal, he just went. He ran 
into another car in the intersection. When asked why he had gone, he said 
that he had heard the audible signal and assumed it was safe to drive 
through, i.e., that he had the right-of-way. Turns out it was a *real* bird 
that had chirped and that he had heard thru his open window and he thought 
it was the signal! This was a *sighted* person. So audible pedestrian 
signals are no substitute for paying attention, be one blind or sighted.

I personally don't really trust audible signals although they are marginally 
useful to me if they indicate when the WALK cycle begins and then shut up. I 
think the practice of using audible pedestrian signals as directional guides 
for crossing streets is downright dangerous!

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mari Hunziker" <marihunziker at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 6:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Travel, Drivers, and canes


> Wouldn't it be better if there were Audible Traffic Signals at most
> intersections? It seems that the chirpy sound would both keep the drivers
> and the pedestrians alert. I believe that if a driver were at an
> intersection with an Audible Traffic Pedestrian Signal it (the driver) 
> would
> hear the chirpy sound of the signal and help him/her to be more aware of
> his/her surroundings. Surroundings being other cars, traffic signal, flow 
> of
> traffic, and pedestrians. Why is it that the NFB does not endorse this 
> sort
> of protection for its people? I think it would be more effective to have
> these signals installed at all major intersections.
>
> Thanks,
> Mari Hunziker
> On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 8:15 AM, Hyde, David W. (ESC) <
> david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us> wrote:
>
>> You are correct. A cane, a dog, nor anything else protects pedestrians 
>> from
>> inattentive drivers. Nor, by the way, does vision, or a suit of armor. 
>> The
>> only thing that does is being an attentive pedestrian. Those who put 
>> faith
>> in the willingness of drivers to obey laws are right, most of the time. 
>> My
>> personal rule is that the driver always has right of way, even when they
>> don't. In this case, they are bigger than me.
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Steve P. Deeley
>> Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 7:59 AM
>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Inferiority complex
>> withdisabilityvsnondisabledsociety
>>
>> Well, a cane does not protect you from bad, distracted drivers.  The 
>> blind
>> want equality, they have it with the drivers on the road today as far as
>> being run over.  I have found that most drivers today do not pay 
>> attention
>> to a white cane.  I've been bumped more than once.  You really need to 
>> pay
>> attention when you are crossing any intersection these days.
>>
>> Steve
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Dewey Bradley" <dewey.bradley at att.net>
>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 11:41 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Inferiority complex
>> withdisabilityvsnondisabledsociety
>>
>>
>> > Some intersections really are hard to cross, I am a very good
>> > traveler, and some times I have trouble with some of them, some times
>> > there are just hard to do, they may or may not be true in her case.
>> > And drivers are getting very bad anymore, they are always texting and
>> > crap like that, and when you have kids, you have to really watch it.
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
>> > To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 7:45 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Inferiority complex
>> > withdisabilityvsnondisabledsociety
>> >
>> >
>> >>
>> >> Dear Mary,
>> >>
>> >> I must say that you need some basic O and M instruction in street
>> >> crossing.
>> >> As for get a light installed, you need to keep after the traffic
>> >> department and also your city or County Commissioner as this is a
>> >> safety issue.
>> >> Do you use a Long White Cane?  If so where did you go for training.
>> >> You should contact your State's Division of Blind Services and they
>> >> will pay for it and other rehab training you need.
>> >> Don't let the world pass you by.  Time is wasting.
>> >> Your State's DBS can send you to a training center or even send
>> >> someone to your home to help train you to get across that street and
>> >> allot more.
>> >> Good luck sweetie!
>> >>
>> >> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>> >>
>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> From: "Mari Hunziker" <marihunziker at gmail.com>
>> >> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> >> Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 12:43 AM
>> >> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Inferiority complex with
>> >> disabilityvsnondisabledsociety
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>> Gary, I haven't had the STRENGTH to respond to Peter's message. I
>> >>> too, have suffered greatly. I used to receive transportation
>> >>> services here in my city but a few years ago they built a Park &
>> >>> Ride several miles away. And because of it I am no longer in the ADA
>> >>> service area. I have become a burden to friends, family, and my
>> >>> husband. My kids and I are trapped in our home, until some generous
>> >>> sameritan drives us to the store, the park, etc. I'm not even able
>> >>> to cross the street across from my subdivision. I have contacted,
>> >>> TXDOT, Travis County, and the city to have them install safe
>> >>> pedestrian crossings. They have not taken any action yet. I also was
>> >>> on a committee to purchase new park playground equipment for the
>> >>> park near my home. The board of my HOA said it would be in by April.
>> >>> It is now June and they still haven't put any playground equipment
>> >>> in at the park. It makes me sad, because I do not drive, obviously
>> >>> since I am legally blind. I want to make a difference in the world
>> >>> but sometimes feel like Peter, inferior to my circumstances and
>> >>> environment. It is very frustrating. I want so hard to be
>> >>> independent but where I live it is impossible to get anywhere
>> >>> independently.
>> >>> I however, am proud of the fact that I can walk to my son's school,
>> >>> to the DQ and Taco Bell and Walgreens near the school as well as a
>> >>> few other places like the Post Office that are on the same side of
>> >>> the street that my home is on. How do I get the local governments
>> >>> and other organizations willing to make accommodations so that I may
>> >>> become an independent patron of the establishments across the street
>> >>> from my subdivision? Oh and by the way, cabs/taxi's are extremely
>> >>> expensive to call on just to get across the street. Please help!
>> >>> Please give me some advise.
>> >>> Thank you,
>> >>> Mari
>> >>>
>> >>> On Fri, Jun 4, 2010 at 8:21 AM, Gary Wunder <gwunder at earthlink.net>
>> >>> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>> Peter, I disagree with your characterization of the notes written
>> >>>> to you as arrogant or conservative.  No one has told you to just go
>> >>>> do it yourself.
>> >>>>  People have put their hearts into words for you and in thanks for
>> >>>> that you have told us what a small list we make up and how small
>> >>>> minded we are.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Julie wrote to you a wonderfully constructive message.  The same is
>> >>>> true of Steve and Dave and others.  You have to decide whether you
>> >>>> are content being angry and figure out how to channel your anger
>> >>>> into something positive.
>> >>>> If
>> >>>> you need help convincing Alabama rehab to send you to a Center, we
>> >>>> can try to help.  We can't promise results, but we can promise our
>> >>>> best efforts.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> If your area has no chapter, then we need you more than ever
>> >>>> because there is hope the NFB isn't offering which you can bring if
>> >>>> you will.  If you have suffered more than most of us, then perhaps
>> >>>> you will have more compassion than we for people who really need
>> >>>> you.  Your inspiration may inspire them, your perseverance may give
>> >>>> them strength, and your willingness to give some of yourself to
>> >>>> them will make all of us better.  Are you interested in talking
>> >>>> about problems and solutions or in just putting us down for
>> >>>> extending ourselves to you?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Gary
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> _______________________________________________
>> >>>> blindtlk mailing list
>> >>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> >>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>> >>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> >>>> for
>> >>>> blindtlk:
>> >>>>
>> >>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/marihunzi
>> >>>> ker%40gmail.com
>> >>>>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>> blindtlk:
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>> >>> bellsouth.net
>> >>
>> >>
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