[Greater-baltimore] FW: city holding "workshop" on building a roundabout at Key and Light Streets

Wed Oct 13 19:55:44 UTC 2010

I take my hat off to both of you for changing the tone of this discussion.  We need more of that everywhere.

Joel

On Oct 13, 2010, at 3:45 PM, Danielsen, Chris wrote:

> Maurice,
> 
> I appreciate your perspective on this. I plan to attend the meeting and
> have commented on the proposal on the invitation page, not in absolute
> opposition but with some healthy skepticism that it can be
> pedestrian-friendly. My main reason for doing this is to get the city to
> engage with us on the issue. I certainly do not want to defer to the
> judgment of the kind of professional that underestimates the
> capabilities of blind people by engaging in knee-jerk opposition to the
> proposal. On the other hand, other blind people that I respect and know
> or believe to be reasonably good travelers have expressed that they have
> difficulty with roundabouts. (For myself I have not knowingly
> encountered one.) I would appreciate a discussion with you about how you
> have managed and taught students to manage them before we formulate an
> official position on this issue, if indeed we decide to do so.
> 
> Chris
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Maurice Peret
> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 3:15 PM
> To: NFB of Maryland Baltimore Chapter Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [Greater-baltimore] FW: city holding "workshop" on building
> a roundabout at Key and Light Streets
> 
> Greetings Fellow Federationists & Friends,
> 
> I am pleased at the invitation to attend an informative discussion
> about the proposed city roundabout. Professionally, I would only
> caution that we participate as informed citizens rather than
> immediately jumping to the murky conclusion that roundabouts are by
> definition unsafe or unnavigable by blind or other pedestrians. While
> I have my own personal curiosity about the efficiency of these
> architectural traffic designs, I have successfully learned to manage
> them and teach them to my students. That there need necessarily be a
> bridge or other pedestrian path constructed over or around this
> proposed design might be premature until the proposal has been fairly
> and thoroughly heard and understood. Other than the inevitable
> headaches associated with the traffic and pedestrian interruption
> caused by construction of the proposed roundabout, it may not
> necessarily prove impossible for us to deal with. I would first want
> to hear how the thing will be designed as being "pedestrian friendly"
> before forming my own opinion. We don't want to assume the posture of
> too many of our professional friends out there who jump to the knee
> jerk conclusion that a thing is impossible or unsafe for blind
> travelers without giving it a scout's try.
> 
> Just food for thought,
> 
> Maurice Peret, NOMCT
> 
> On 10/13/10, Rovig, Lorraine <LRovig at nfb.org> wrote:
>> By the way, you can go to the 6 PM meeting even if you just show
> up--You
>> do not need to use the computer-invitation. The meeting is at Christ
>> Lutheran Church across Light Street from the Science Center, or enter
> at
>> 701 South Charles Street.
>> 
>> PARKING
>> Parking is available for in an underground garage (enter on Lee
> Street)
>> and in the parking lot on Charles Street.  I do not know if parking in
>> the church garage or lot will be free; check signs.  Some parking is
>> available on Key Hwy and on Light Street.  Check the city signs but I
>> think street parking is free on Light and Key after 6 PM.
>> 
>> Hope to see you there!
>> 
>> Lorraine Rovig
>> Help?: Text the word BLIND to 85944 to donate $10 to the NFB
> Imagination
>> Fund via your phone bill.
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Danielsen,
>> Chris
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:55 AM
>> To: NFB of Maryland Baltimore Chapter Discussion List
>> Subject: [Greater-baltimore] {Disarmed} FW: city holding "workshop"
>> onbuilding a roundabout at Key and Light Streets
>> 
>> Dear Fellow Federationists:
>> 
>> Some of you may wish to attend this event. I plan to do so myself.
>> 
>> Chris
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ________________________________
>> 
>> From: Rovig, Lorraine
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:32 AM
>> To: Cheadle, John; Danielsen, Chris; Hartle, Mary Jo; Amy Phelps;
> Booth,
>> Steve; Aloma Bouma; Hartle, Jesse; Kuhnke, Kristian; Pare, John
>> Subject: city holding "workshop" on building a roundabout at Key and
>> Light Streets
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Dear Pedestrians and Friends,
>> 
>> I suggest you forward this to anyone you know who would be affected by
> a
>> roundabout established at the intersection of Key and Light Streets.
> The
>> workshop is Hosted by Mark R. Brown of Baltimore City to explain this
>> dumb idea, and "guests" include folks like Anna Epsilantis  who runs
> Big
>> Jim's Deli in Cross Street Market. She and other merchants are against
>> the plan because it is not pedestrian-friendly.  Me too, same reason,
>> and because they are not very driver-friendly either.  There is no
> idea
>> of a pedestrian bridge over the roundabout and I think in this economy
>> none would be built until after a few pedestrians are killed. She is
>> going to protest it along with other merchants.  (I ran into Anna
> while
>> having dinner last night and she informed me of this workshop which is
>> designed as a way to get the neighborhoods and the city to buy the
>> idea.)  Anyone can attend the workshop by marking the online
>> "invitation" linked to the announcement below.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Lorraine Rovig
>> 
>> Office: 410-659-9314, x2415
>> 
>> Help?: Text the word BLIND to 85944 to donate $10 to the NFB
> Imagination
>> Fund via your phone bill.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ________________________________
>> 
>> From: annabigjims at aol.com [mailto:annabigjims at aol.com]
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:08 AM
>> To: Rovig, Lorraine
>> Subject: Fwd: Sonny Morstein has invited you to Key and Light Street
>> Roundabout Workshop
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Good Morning
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> This is the planned roundabout we spoke of.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Anna
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Sonny Morstein <mail at mail.socializr.com>
>> To: annabigjims at aol.com
>> Sent: Wed, Oct 13, 2010 9:33 am
>> Subject: Sonny Morstein has invited you to Key and Light Street
>> Roundabout Workshop
>> 
>> To ensure you receive invitations, add mail at mail.socializr.com to your
>> address book.
>> 
>> To view the images in this email, please click on Show or Display
>> Images.<http://static.socializr.com/images/logo_small.gif>
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Invite More People
>> <http://www.socializr.com/invite/260538188/1505721562>
>> 
>> Sonny Morstein has invited you to:
>> 
>> Key and Light Street Roundabout Workshop
>> <http://www.socializr.com/event/260538188/1505721562>
>> 
>> Thursday, October 14, 2010, 6:00 PM
>> 
>> Hosted by Mark R. Brown
>> 
>> Christ Church
>> 
>> 701 S. Charles street, Baltimore, MD
>> 
>> I am inviting you to a special workshop to discuss the Key & Light
>> Street roundabout project. This is a Baltimore City Department of
>> Transportation effort that will make this important intersection safer
>> for pedestrians and vehicle traffic and create an attractive gateway
>> linking the Inner Harbor with South Baltimore.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> View Guest List and RSVP
>> <http://www.socializr.com/event/260538188/1505721562>
>> 
>> <http://www.socializr.com/event/260538188/1505721562>
>> 
>> View Guest List and RSVP
>> <http://www.socializr.com/event/260538188/1505721562>
>> 
>> Sent on behalf of Sonny Morstein <jmorstein at aol.com> at 10/13/10 6:33
> AM
>> 
>> 
>> Block emails from Sonny Morstein or Socializr
>> 
> <http://www.socializr.com/block?recipientemail=3032920&blockemail=405972
>> 4&verifycode=140214&eventId=260538188&code=1505721562>
>> 
>> (c)2009 Socializr, Inc. All Rights Reserved.   "Don't be boring."
>> 660 4th Street, Suite 240, San Francisco, California 94107
>> 
>> <http://www.socializr.com/invitation/260538188/3032920/socializr.gif>
>> 
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Maurice Peret, NOMCT
> National Orientation & Mobility Certifier Trainer
> ****************************************
> CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BLIND
> ****************************************
> 
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