[Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

[Cindy Handel]

Kerri,

As far as the cost of cabs, in most places, cab companies charge a fare 
based on the distance they take you, as well as the time.  So, if you're 
going five miles and it takes 20 minutes, you might pay, let's say $10. 
But, another day, if you go five miles and run into traffic and it takes 30 
minutes, they might charge $15.  These are just examples.  So, if the cabs 
have a flat rate, it sounds pretty good.

You could learn to take the busses.  But, it would probably be wise to get 
some instruction before you venture out there on your own.  Do you use a 
cane, and have you had cane travel instruction?

Some towns/cities have paratransit.  Often the bus company is somehow 
involved in operating it.  You could ask about that.  It is more 
inconvenient, because you have to schedule rides ahead of time.  But, it 
might work to go shopping.

When I go grocery shopping I buy what I'll need for the week.  If I need 
something else during the week, I have to walk to a shopping center, about 
15 or 20 minutes away.  As far as carrying bags in, if there's a secure 
place to put your bags, so no one takes them while you're going upstairs, 
that would be fine.  I wouldn't get any kind of a bag, though, that would be 
strong enough to load down with more than you can safely carry without 
hurting yourself.

Cindy

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 6:43 PM
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

> Hi All:
>
> I have some more questions about grocery shopping and transportation.
> Instead of making two separate posts, I figured I'd just put all my
> questions in one post...they are somewhat related to each other.
>
> I'll start with the grocery shopping questions.
>
> In the apartment building I live in, there is no elevator.
> Unfortunately I live on the third floor, which is up four flights of
> steps. What is the best way to carry lots of groceries up the steps?
> Would it be okay, when having lots of groceries to set some of the
> bags on the floor in the hallway by the door, go up with as much as I
> can carry, then come back for the rest? Is there any better way to
> carry groceries than in the plastic bags the grocery bagger puts them
> in? I've been told about burlap sacks that you can carry on your
> shoulder...does this reduce the load much? I want to make this as easy
> as possible.
>
> How often do you usually go grocery shopping? When you go, do you just
> get the things you absolutely need, and keep the load as little as
> possible or do you usually take advantage of the fact you are at the
> store and get lots of stuff?
>
> My next questions are about transportation. I live in a college town.
> I guess it's your typical college town. It's big enough to be
> considered a small city or large town...we have five Krogers, four or
> more Walmarts...tons of restaurants and bars, two malls...two movie
> theaters. It isn't a major city though.
>
> We do have a bus system but I've never been encouraged to use it. I've
> just been expected to take cabs everywhere.
>
> One of the problems though is that the town is not really a walking
> town...there are parts of it you can walk in but not very many. When
> things/places are built, often pedestrian accessibility is left out.
>
> There doesn't seem to be any blind people; there is no NFB chapter.
> So, naturally the majority of the people, including most of the
> students drive. From what I've read on their website, the bus covers
> many areas, but usually until only 6 o'clock, unless it's downtown
> where the students are. I don't live downtown though. Because of this,
> I find myself having to take cabs almost everywhere. Cabs here are
> about $5-6 each way. Is this normal for a college town? Is this
> expensive for a cab?
>
> Are my only options to either take the bus when it is available or take 
> cabs?
>
> Should I just not worry about the expense and take cabs when and wherever?
>
> Is learning to use the bus hard or is it as simple as calling and
> asking the right questions?
>
>>From what I can tell, from where I live, in order to take the bus
> again since I'm not in the downtown student area I will have to take
> two buses to get anywhere and it usually takes about two hours. Is
> this normal for a large town/small city?
>
> The closest major city to me is Pittsburgh. There is a bus that goes
> there twice. In order to take a grayhound bus, or AM track train you
> have to somehow get to Pittsburgh. Is the bus going twice daily
> reasonable?
>
> For those of you who live in college towns similar to this how do you
> find a balance between taking cabs, using family and friends, and
> taking the bus?
>
> What is the cost monthly of owning a vehicle compared to taking cabs
> all the time? I'm sorry to ask this...I've never been told.
>
> I guess I am just asking these questions because I want to make sure
> I'm not getting screwed so to speak. I don't mind taking cabs, but
> sometimes I feel like I'm just automatically expected to spend the
> money just because...if you know what I mean by that! I've been told
> owning a vehicle is several hundreds of dollars a month when the cost
> of maintaenance, car payments, insurance, and gas is added up but
> again these have just been from sighted people who don't take cabs. It
> seems like most other blind people I know don't take cabs unless they
> absolutely have to and I hate having to do it all the time. In one
> sense I feel like I'm being told to go ahead, don't worry about it,
> owning a vehicle is expensive too...but then on the other hand so many
> blind people don't seem to like doing it. I know each town is
> different...but if I want to go somewhere and it's after 6 and the bus
> doesn't go are cabs or family/friends my only options? I've never gone
> completely broke or run out of money by taking cabs but again...I feel
> as if I'm getting mixed messages and I want to make sure I'm doing the
> right/best thing. From where I live you can't walk anywhere as there
> are several things across the street but it's not actually a street
> but a major six-lane highway...so walking is out. I'm not married and
> live alone. Do those of you who live in towns like this find
> yourselves having to also take cabs more frequently than other blind
> people? I know my questions seem a little crazy but I thought I'd ask
> them all in one post.
>
> Thanks so much!
>
> Kerri
>
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