[Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

Mon Oct 18 02:39:49 UTC 2010

Gary you are right!  I have a long commute, an hour 45 minutes each 
way.  I skim half a dozen newspapers a day, on my stream, and read an 
average of a book every day and a half.  I love to read, and wouldn't 
want to give it up -- the commute is the perfect opportunity.

Dave

At 10:14 AM 10/12/2010, you wrote:
>I read a most interesting article several years ago and the thesis was that
>many of us would have an easier time with public transportation, where
>available, if we would see the time we spend in transit as a plus rather
>than a minus. The article noted that many people who drive long distances to
>and from work complain about their inability to read, and yet writing while
>somebody else does the driving is a perfect way to have that time. I don't
>think anything we can say will do away with the frustration that occurs when
>we realize some people can easily run to the store, but for most of us it
>takes more planning. Still, I have to tell you that I have been much more
>peaceful about late cabs, buses, and airplanes just by having a portable
>reader in my pocket.
>
>Gary
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Cindy Handel
>Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 6:44 PM
>To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>
>Yes, it could be said that time is money. But, I don't think they would
>accept "time" to pay for groceries!
>
>--------------------------------------------------
>From: "Steve P. Deeley" <stevep.deeley at insightbb.com>
>Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 6:54 PM
>To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>
> > Because you spend a great deal more time on parra-transit.  Time is money!
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Bryan Schulz" <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
> > To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 6:37 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
> >
> >
> >> if a place is at least a 20 minute drive and by cab would cost about
> >> $25 each way and the dor-door or para trans bus is $4, why throw away
> >> the extra money?
> >>
> >> Bryan Schulz
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Steve P. Deeley" <stevep.deeley at insightbb.com>
> >> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> >> Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 5:02 PM
> >> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation
> >> questions
> >>
> >>
> >>> Get a cab!
> >>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>> From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
> >>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> >>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> >>> Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 6:43 PM
> >>> 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

                         David Andrews:  dandrews at visi.com
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