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

[Rovig, Lorraine]

I will listen very carefully to the city spokesman's explanation of how
this roundabout will be pedestrian-friendly and car-wonderful to figure
out whether I believe him or not.  

The basic selling-point for any roundabout is that cars don't have to
stop and therefore more cars will pass through the intersetion faster
than previously. The traffic engineers also claim other plusses. Traffic
law says the rule for drivers concerning other drivers in it or wishing
to enter the roundabout is "cars in the roundabout have right of way"
and the rule in roundabouts concerning pedestrians is "pedestrians have
right of way over cars."  May all of us pedestrians have good luck with
that.

I have driven that York Road roundabout in Towson many times and, as
with Ken Ringlein, do not find that roundabout easy to drive. I did not
find it easy to walk halfway around it the one time I was there on foot
exploring the shops around and near it.  I beliewe there have been
several complaints in the newspaper from pedestrians and from drivers
who disagree that the Towson roundabout makes travel easier. 

I believe a dose of skepticism concerning the wonders of roundabouts can
be beneficial to my health.

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 Ringlein,
Ellen
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 4:33 PM
To: NFB of Maryland Baltimore Chapter Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Greater-baltimore] FW: city holding "workshop" on
buildingaroundabout at Key and Light Streets

The only round-about that I have delt with as a pedestrian is the one up
in Towson and I find it difficult to navigate.  The traffic never stops
and you have to step into the street and hope that the cars will stop so
you can cross the street.   

My husband who drives tells me that he does not find the round about all
that easy to navigate with a car.  

Ellen
-----Original Message-----
From: greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Morman, Ed
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 4:06 PM
To: NFB of Maryland Baltimore Chapter Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Greater-baltimore] FW: city holding "workshop" on building
aroundabout at Key and Light Streets

Hear, hear! Bravo, Maurice!  

As a sighted person who frequently walks to work at the national center,
I can say that the existing situation at that corner is NOT pedestrian
friendly.  And as a person who sometimes drives to work, I can add that
neither is it a wonderful place to drive, especially going south and
continuing on Light Street.  I suspect that opposition to the project by
Federal Hill merchants has more to do with the disruptions during
construction than to the final result.  Their opposition is
understandable, but shouldn't determine what happens.

There is another recent roundabout in the city, in the Harbor East
neighborhood, and it seems to work well and to be visually attractive.
Admittedly traffic is much lighter there and it was created as the
neighborhood was being built, but it does serve as an good example.

Cordially,
Ed Morman
Edward T. Morman, MSLS, PhD
Director, Jacobus tenBroek Library
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND JERNIGAN INSTITUTE 200 East Wells
Street
   at Jernigan Place
Baltimore MD 21230
410.659.9314 x2225
410.685.2340 (fax)
 
 
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 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>
>
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--
Maurice Peret, NOMCT
National Orientation & Mobility Certifier Trainer
****************************************
CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BLIND
****************************************

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