[Blindtlk] Travel, Drivers, and canes

Tue Jun 8 01:53:20 UTC 2010

Although you are right, I view the extra risk as just part of doing business 
as a blind person. And I am not convinced that the risk is all that much 
greater than would be faced by a sighted pedestrian.

And I think we must be very careful not to engage in "driver envy" wherein 
we automatically think that all sighted persons can or will avail themselves 
of a car.

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Westbrook" <westbchris at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 9:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Travel, Drivers, and canes

>I think some of you are missing the point that most sighted people
> will not take the risks we sometimes do to cross streets etc., so to
> say that it affects everyone is a bit misleading because most sighted
> people will just drive a car.  Perhaps other avenues need to be
> investigated like hiring a driver if you feel it is too unsafe.
>
> On 6/7/10, Dewey Bradley <dewey.bradley at att.net> wrote:
>> Because no one cares about what's around them, and we can't hear when
>> someone runns the light, witch they do all the time.
>> We just whent around with someone on this list a week ago, you can hear 
>> the
>> cars, and can tell when it is clear to cross then.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Mari Hunziker" <marihunziker at gmail.com>
>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 8:36 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
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>>>> >>>> for
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>>>> >>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/marihunzi
>>>> >>>> ker%40gmail.com
>>>> >>>>
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>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
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>>>> >>
>>>> >>
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>>>> >
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>>
>>
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>
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