[Blindtlk] international cane travel

[T. Joseph Carter]

That's not terribly unusual in cities like Portland, but Portland is 
nothing compared to, say, Tokyo!  In such cities, my only other 
advice is mind your wallet!  Pickpockets love crowds.

Joseph


On Wed, Oct 05, 2011 at 08:10:45PM -0400, Cindy Handel wrote:
>Yes, that could be, but she said there are a lot more pedestrians than
>vehicles.
>
>Cindy
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "T. Joseph Carter" <tjcarter at spiritsubstance.com>
>To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 6:35 PM
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] international cane travel
>
>
>Sounds like most cities to me, with the exception of the lack of
>sidewalks.
>
>Joseph
>
>
>On Wed, Oct 05, 2011 at 06:06:31PM -0400, Cindy Handel wrote:
>>My niece is in Malawi in southern Africa right now.  She says there are few
>>sidewalks and drivers are crazy.  Most people walk, but pedestrians do not
>>have the right of way.  When a car is coming, the driver does not slow
>>down;
>>it's just up to you to get out of the way.  Sounds crazy to me!
>>
>>Cindy
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "T. Joseph Carter" <tjcarter at spiritsubstance.com>
>>To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 4:52 PM
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] international cane travel
>>
>>
>>I've never been to a developing country, but urban areas in such
>>countries have got to be a combination of urban traffic as in the US,
>>with rural roads and pathways.  That is, expect a lot of broken
>>pavement, poor or non-existent sidewalks, and tons of people in and
>>out of cars.
>>
>>Proceed with caution, and don't get distracted.
>>
>>Come to think of it, I can name urban places here in the United
>>States that are fairly similar in description.
>>
>>Oh, you may want to ask about different traffic laws (and traffic
>>realities, legal or otherwise) wherever you are going.  Even in the
>>US, the traffic laws vary a bit.  Here in Oregon, right turns (and
>>even left turns on one-way streets) are legal on a red light.  Cars
>>may not cross a lane of traffic to do it, however.  The traffic
>>reality is that the part about not crossing a lane of traffic gets
>>ignored often enough to be a concern.  Good to know if you're coming
>>to Oregon!
>>
>>It'll be hard to give specifics without knowing where you're going.
>>But the general travel skills apply with very slight variations for
>>specific circumstances pretty much everywhere you go.
>>
>>Joseph
>>
>>
>>On Wed, Oct 05, 2011 at 12:34:42PM -0400, John Davis wrote:
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>I'm thinking of traveling abroad with some friends soon for a few
>>>weeks. I've never left the country before, but our plan is to see
>>>parts of Asia and Europe.
>>>
>>>First, I use an NFB cane with the standard metal tip for travel
>>>everywhere I go. I do use a combination of touch and slide technique
>>>depending on the situation. I had never thought to ask this question
>>>until a friend who went to Africa over the summer told me that, being
>>>in a developing country, the roads and sidewalks look completely
>>>different from the suburbs and cities of the US! With that, I'm
>>>wondering If I'll have any trouble using a cane in some foreign
>>>countries? From what I've heard a lot of sidewalks can have huge holes
>>>and cracks everywhere and the like which might make using a cane hard
>>>abroad. especially in more developing countries ... apparently it's
>>>quite chaotic and a total mess in some places even for people who can
>>>see! I ask because the NFB metal tip can succumb to rough spots and
>>>cracks and the like here on occasion, so I'm suddenly wondering If
>>>I'll have trouble abroad. I will be with a group of friends so maybe I
>>>won't need to use my cane too much on my own, but I thought I'd ask
>>>before I leave anyway. Apologies if these are silly or the wrong lists
>>>to ask these questions on.
>>>
>>>Thank you
>>>
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>>
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