[Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
Danielle Montour
hypoplexer at gmail.com
Mon Oct 18 03:13:08 UTC 2010
Hi,
I use the victor reader stream. It reads many different types of
books from different services. If you don't already, I'd look
into getting an RFB&D membership. Because of government funding,
it is free. There is an abundance of audio books in a
specialized format that you can play on the victor reader stream.
There are a whole bunch of other services that are supported on
the victor reader. I got mine from Humanware, and mine was $409,
however, there is one for $359. If you have any questions about
the victor reader, feel free to contact me.
Danni
----- Original Message -----
From: Mari Hunziker <marihunziker at gmail.com
To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Sun, 17 Oct 2010 21:56:26 -0500
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation
questions
Gary and Dave,
What type of portable reader do you all use. I have been wanting
one for
years. I don't know how to read braille, although, I really do
wish I did. I
want to read more but I only get to when my kids will allow me to
sit on my
front porch swing. I take out a small, easy to carry-up to my
nose-book that
I can use my magnifier with. But sadly it takes me so long to
read with the
magnifier that I only get about 2-3 pages read if even that much.
Do you all
use the Victor Reader Stream? I have been thinking about getting
me one.
What is your opinion on that.
Thanks,
Mari Hunziker
On Sun, Oct 17, 2010 at 9:39 PM, David Andrews
<dandrews at visi.com> wrote:
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
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920
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