[Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

Sat Oct 9 02:20:09 UTC 2010

In some situations having to spend a little extra is just the inconvenience 
of blindness so I wouldn't put to much stock in what others expect. If it 
takes a bit longer, costs a bit more, you have to work twice as harder than 
a sighted counterpart all that matters to me is getting the job done. As 
they say: "there are a thousand ways to skin a cat." :)
Good luck Kerri

Anjelina
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 10:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

> Hi Ron and Anjie!
>
> Thanks so much for your posts/answers. I will take these suggestions
> and try to learn the bus and not worry so much about cabs/the costs of
> transportation.
>
> I think I may buy as many non-parishable groceries online as I can
> then use a reusable bag or two for frozen things...if I can buy enough
> online that should lighten my load some and if you can truly pack many
> more groceries in one of those reusable bags that may work out really
> well.
>
> To ron, I don't own my own vehicle and I'm not considering doing
> so...I just want to make sure I'm not just being expected to spend
> more money than others for transportation...that's all.
>
> Kerri
>
> On 10/8/10, Anjelina <anjelinac26 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I wouldn't compare your situation to other blind people; you have to do
>> what's best for *you*. Try the bus system, try the cabs to get to the 
>> store
>> but $5 is not at all unreasonable for a cab. Most cabs charge you a $2 
>> fee
>> just to sit in the cab and than the additional fees for mileage are added
>> on. This is just my opinion, but whatever gets you out of the house and
>> running your own errands is a step in the right direction whether if it's 
>> a
>> cab the first few times while you traverse the bus/paratransit system.
>> Wal-Mart, and Amazon can deliver nonperishable groceries and you can buy 
>> an
>> insolated reusable bag for colds and frozen items when traveling to the
>> store. These bags are environmentally friendly, more sturdy and you can 
>> pack
>> a lot more in them than in the flimsy plastic bags
>> Just my thoughts
>>
>> Anjelina
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 8:33 PM
>> 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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