[Blindtlk] National Federation of the Blind Secures CourtRulingAgainst Cardtronics

[Ray Foret Jr]

I should like to add that, as a matter of fact, our cities are becoming far less pedestrian friendly.  There has been a substantial increase in pedestrian accidents of late.  the NFB has had to recognize, as a physical reality, that the environment changes and indeed has changed and that what we'd like to consider ideal has long vanished.


Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!

Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!

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On Dec 19, 2011, at 8:42 PM, Gary Wunder wrote:

> Hi Kelby. Perhaps your mind is already made up about the NFB's position on
> audible traffic signals, and perhaps you understand the position very well.
> My experience, however, is that most people simply believe that we are
> opposed to them, without considering where we think they are appropriate and
> what must be incorporated into their design so that they are not a hazard
> for blind pedestrians.  There was certainly a time when I was uncomfortable
> with our position about audible signals because I considered it so
> inflexible that anyone with the least interest in installing them probably
> would not talk with us.  I believe this changed in the 1990s, with our
> acceptance of the vibro-tactile signals, and a changing environment which
> made many streets less pedestrian friendly than they were previously.
> 
> When I was growing up, there were two audible traffic signals where I
> traveled.  One Was a Block from the Kansas City Association for the Blind
> and the second was two blocks from the Missouri school for the blind.  Both
> of those audible signals used a shrill buzzer which sounded for
> approximately 5 seconds.  Both were so loud that they totally obscured the
> sound of traffic.  Even a person who has never studied physics knows that
> the most important thing to know before crossing the street is not the color
> of the light but the presence or absence of a moving vehicle in one's path.
> 
> Perhaps such signals would never have been developed or would quickly have
> been replaced by more suitable instruments had we taken a less firm stance,
> but I have to tell you that listening to the politicians talk about how
> those signals made their cities more blind friendly did not set well with
> me, especially when they were more of an impediment than they were a help.
> I don't know that such signals still exist, and I've personally been on
> committees where we've recommended the installation of a signaling device
> that the blind can use.  In those cases where our recommendation has been
> accepted, I think the signals are both useful and non-obtrusive.
> 
> My apology if you knew most of this already.
> 
> Gary
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Kelby Carlson
> Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 6:27 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] National Federation of the Blind Secures
> CourtRulingAgainst Cardtronics
> 
> Not to be terribly pedantic--because this is good news--but it 
> seems to me that the NFB can be a little selective in its 
> campaign for access to mainstream technolog.  I'm thinking here 
> of the NFB's well-known and longstanding opposition to audible 
> walking signals--signals which the sighted have access to.  I 
> could likely as not come up with other examples.
> 
> 
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