[il-talk] FW: [icb-l] Audio Testing at Bus Shelters on October 12 and 13

[Eric Calhoun]

Original Message: 
From: Kelly Pierce <kellytalk at gmail.com>
To: icb-l <icb-l at icbonline.org>
Subject: [icb-l] Audio Testing at Bus Shelters on October 12 and 13
Date: 
Sat, 8 Oct 2011 20:35:08 -0500

Next week the Chicago Transit Authority invites members of the blind
community to provide feedback on new accessible technology being
rolled out at bus shelters. The

CTA is installing electronic signs at bus shelters showing on L.E.D.
screens arrival times of buses. In the future, the signs could include
transit information, such

as bus reroutes, schedule changes, and alternate transportation
options. The electronic signs include a button that when pressed
speaks the information displayed on

the signs.  Below are details of two testing events where people can
listen to the audio and provide feedback to CTA officials.

I visited the Belmont and Lake Shore Drive location on Saturday.  The
speaker is small, about the size of the palm of a hand and it seems to
be over modulating, making

the voice slightly distorted. The speaker is about eight feet off the
ground and is not angled toward those in the shelter.  I wonder how
effective this solution is

for those who are blind and have some hearing loss or use a hearing
aid.  The box with the button does not have a headphone jack.

I'm interested in learning about people's experiences and opinions
about the audio access, particularly those with hearing loss. My
initial impression is that this

audio solution could be better and much more effective.  What changes
would folks like to see in this?

As I mentioned earlier, details of the testing are below from CTA ADA
Compliance Officer Cara Levinson. This is followed by a newspaper
story about the overall

program.

Kelly

Thank you for volunteering to help test the audio part of the Bus
Tracker signage at two bus shelters.  Following is the information
you'll need to get to the testing

sites.  The testing will take place whether there is sun, rain, snow,
hail or whatever else gets thrown down on us.  You are welcome to
participate in both testings.

Wednesday, October 12 at 5:30 p.m. - CANAL & ADAMS (Northbound)
On Canal Street, on the east side of the street, on the near side of
the intersection with Adams.
The routes served by this bus stop are Northbound 60, 124, 125, 128,
157 and 192.  It has an average of 555 daily boardings.


Thursday, October 13 at 5:30 p.m. - INNER LAKE SHORE DRIVE & BELMONT
(Southbound)
On Inner Lake Shore Drive, on the west side of the street, on the near
side of the intersection with Belmont.
The routes served by this bus stop are Southbound 135, 145, 146.  It
has an average of 1,316 daily boardings.

Cara B. Levinson
ADA Compliance Officer
Chicago Transit Authority
TEL 312-681-2836
clevinson at transitchicago.com






Chicago sun times
October 1, 2011


Some CTA stops getting Bus Tracker to show arrivals, other info
BY FRAN SPIELMAN
City Hall Reporter




The words "Bus Tracker" were the second most searched term on Google
by Chicagoans in 2009.

But, you need a computer or a smart phone to access the information
about bus arrival times.

That's not always easy or safe to do while standing at a crowded bus
stop. Soon, it won't be necessary.

The CTA is installing the first of 400 LED signs at 20 percent of all
bus shelters serving 80 percent of all riders who use them to bring
Bus Tracker information to

commuters when and where they need it most.

The signs will carry four lines of text with information about the
next four buses due to arrive at that location and, ultimately, other
important transit alerts.

Visually-impaired riders will hear an audio alert after pressing a
button.

The signs face outward so approaching bus passengers can see the
information and hustle over to catch an arriving bus. Motorists with
decent eyesight will also know

when to change lanes.

The electronic signs will be purchased and maintained with a $3.8
million mix of CTA, RTA and federal congestion funds.

On Friday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CTA President Forrest Claypool held
a news conference across the street from the first sign installation
at a bus shelter at Lake

Park Avenue and East Hyde Park Boulevard that serves four, 24-hour bus
routes, a Metra station and Kenwood Academy.

Emanuel declared an end to the days of commuters "standing in the
middle of the street craning their neck to look down and try to figure
out, `Are those lights a

bus?'"

He added, "We finally have the technology to do what's right to serve
the commuter."

Claypool billed it as a "major expansion of Bus Tracker technology"
that would make the information "more convenient and accessible to all
of our customers."

"These bus shelter LED signs are the fastest, most convenient,
clearest and easiest way to convey real-time bus arrival information
to our customers when they need it

most: when they're at or approaching their local bus shelter," he said.

Local Ald. Will Burns (4th) said Bus Tracker needs to be made
available to the huddled masses of commuters.

"What if you don't have a smart phone? What if you don't have access
to your lap-top or you don't want to necessarily pull it out?" Burns
said.

"It's not a safety issue so much as, maybe you've got your gloves on.
Maybe you have a cup of coffee in your hand. Maybe you've got the
newspaper. Maybe you've got a

kid, a stroller or a walker. Maybe you're a senior citizen and you
just want to know what time it's coming."

Earlier this year, Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein talked about
installing "multi-modal" video screens at bus shelters with "robust,
real-time" information

about everything from car-sharing and bike-sharing to how long it'll
take to walk to a popular nearby destination.

That more elaborate project is still in the works.

"In certain places where you have six different rail lines converging
within a block or two [and] you've got car sharing and bike sharing,
then you might want to have

something more robust," Klein said.

"It's really about letting people know where all the different layers
of transportation are and seamlessly integrating for people."

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