[Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

Sat Oct 9 02:37:38 UTC 2010

Kerri,

If it's possible to learn the bus system and use it, safely, I might try it. 
It would certainly save you some money.  Cabs are definitely more 
convenient, but you're paying for that convenience, and it can get 
expensive.

Cindy

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 8:33 PM
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

> Hi All!
>
> I wanted to reply to answer a few questions.
>
> Thanks for the suggestions...I'll have to look into either one of
> those carts or a reusable bag.
>
> But, I just checked on both Peapod.com and Safeway.com and neither
> delivers to my area. I will call Kroger and ask them but I kind of
> doubt it as I didn't see anything on their website about it. We also
> have Walmart and Giant Eagle but I don't think either of those
> delivers either.
>
> I keep meaning to call the bus about paratransit or dial a ride
> service but something tells me that if they had it I would've known
> about it already as I've made contact with the bus before about other
> matters and they never mentioned it.
>
> I understand cabs go by mile and time you are in the cab...I just
> don't know whether I should just not be concerned and take cabs all
> the time to get around or whether I need to be really concerned and
> make an effort to take the bus. The cabs here don't have an exact
> flat-rate but the town is small enough that $5-6 each way is what it
> usually comes to. Of course if I make an extra stop or something it
> goes up but that is usually for the most part what it is. I just don't
> know whether I should be concerned or not that's all.
>
> I use an NFB fiberglass cane and was taught how t use it at
> convention. I have also read tons of articles about structured
> discovery so know how to ask assistance/directions when need be. I
> also try not to use human/sighted guide much and it has improved my
> walking speed and cane travel skills significantly. I just want to go
> and do more but don't know whether I need to make a real effort to
> learn the bus or whether to just take cabs all the time and not worry
> about it. The sighted people tell me not to worry about it but I
> notice many blind people don't like to take cabs.
>
> I've been told before that we don't have paratransit but I don't want
> to say anything until I call. I wish Safeway or Peapod delivered here
> but they don't...at least that's what the website said when I entered
> my zipcode. There is a Kroger right across that 6 lane highway with no
> pedestrian light so I could easily cab there but my problem is how
> much to get in one trip and how to carry it all.
>
> Kerri
>
> On 10/8/10, Cindy Handel <cindy425 at verizon.net> wrote:
>> 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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>>
>>
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>
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