[nabs-l] more transportation, and travel questions

[Anita Adkins]

Hi,

First, I mean once you are used to the bus route and going all over the 
place, you will then have the information of where you are waiting and can 
communicate this to the driver whereas you do not know now simply because 
you are not familiar with the routes.  Remember, you may not always be 
leaving from home, and so your waiting area could be downtown somewhere.  In 
a big city, you may even be able to wait at a bus stop and not need to worry 
with even calling, but in my area, there are not many bus stops; people just 
flag the bus down in most spots.  And, the nice thing about the mall in my 
area is that the bus arrives at a certain time, and it is easy to get to, 
and so I know at 30 after the hour I need to be there waiting.  Just FYI, 
you always want to be there about ten minutes before the scheduled arrival 
time of the bus so you do not miss it by accident.  Here's a question for 
you: is your goal to ride the bus, or is your goal specificly to travel on 
the bus from your home?  Another option might be for you to cab (if 
available) to the mall and then take the bus home or, if possible, to 
another location that is easy to arrive to.  I don't mean to do this on a 
regular basis; I just mean for a first try.  Maybe, someone sighted could 
meet you, such as your mother, when you get off the bus, but you could 
insist that you walk home without holding her arm so you can learn the 
route, or you could just have someone walk with you to and from the bus 
pickup/drop off spot near your home to familiarize you with it before you 
take the bus at all.  Again, I would explore on my own, but if you are not 
an experienced traveler, it is okay to bring along company.  Just make sure 
the company is someone who will let you walk on your own and that the person 
is not too overhelpful or too afraid you will hurt yourself.  Just another 
thought.  I agree with Ashley that is none of their business where you live; 
perhaps, it would be a better idea for you to ask someone or for you to use 
Google maps to learn the names of the street in your area.  For example, 
google directions from your house to a place you know is close by.  You will 
hear google say something like head west toward Bell Street or whatever, and 
then you would know the name of the cross street.  Or, if you already know 
the name of the highway with the red light, you could reference that with 
the bus.  The bus people speak over radios that can be heard by many people, 
and it is probably not a good idea to have your address broadcast over the 
system just for safety reasons even though you do live in a gated apartment. 
I am not trying to scare you; I am just pointing out that you might want to 
avoid using your address.  In fact, my bus system does not want your 
address, and I think there is a law or maybe company policy that you cannot 
give them specific directions like that.  Also, do you use the bus for 
people with disabilities in your area?  You do have to schedule this, but if 
you are not used to taking buses, this might be a first good step as it will 
take you from door to door and you can familiarize yourself with the 
environments, such as the layout of the mall, before you figure out how to 
city bus to it.  Just an idea.  I am certainly not trying to tell you not to 
take the bus.  But again, asking a buddy to come along for your first time 
is okay to do.  BTW, transfering is not a big deal.  You just ask for a 
transfer slip when you get on the bus and give it to the next bus driver. 
If you transfer at a central location where all buses come together, you can 
ask the driver if the bus you are looking for, such as the green line, is in 
front of you or even if it has arrived yet.  Also, you can ask the driver to 
radio the driver for the bus to which you are transfering to tell them you 
are there, but still be certain to ask nearby people which color line of the 
bus is coming up as I do this all of the time, and it is beneficial.  I 
would call the bus company instead of facebooking them alone.  It is okay to 
facebook or send them a message, but you will still probably need to call to 
clarify information with them.  Of course, you will know this for certain 
when you do the calling.  I am thinking if you call, that this is really 
your first big step because you have made human contact with them.  You may 
have done this in the past, but now you are nervous, and calling them now 
will mean you can succeed at one step--finding out the bus route.  If you 
have a scanner, you can probably scan this bus route in, and if you are a 
student at the college you mention, it probably has a scanner in its 
disability office that you may be able to use.  To hire a reader, put up an 
ad at the college.  This is if you need a reader for a steady amount of time 
each month, such as ten hours.  You wouldn't want to do that for just a 
one-time occurrence.  Just some tips.  Sorry if I am so talkative.  I'm in 
school, and I'm too tired to do much editing and deleting extra information 
at this point.  Smile.  Again, good luck and have fun.  Anita
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
To: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>; "National Association of 
Blind Students mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 8:26 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] more transportation, and travel questions


> Hi Ashley, Anita, and All:
>
> First, Anita, I can't just call them and say "I'm waiting at this
> stop" as I don't know where the stop is from my apartment complex. I
> want to say it's at the light but not for certain. The website is
> inaccessible so I can't check there. So, I kind of have to call them
> and explain the situation and where I live.
>
> Also Anita, Morgantown is a college town and since the majority of the
> students can drive the bus caters to the freshman students. I do not
> live in the student area so I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to
> transfer or take two buses to get anywhere. I don't think  I can just
> take just one bus to one location as it's weird here and you have to
> connect.
>
> I think I'd like to go to the Morgantown Mall in Westover for my first
> trip. I am on the same side of town as the mall so maybe just maybe I
> may be able to go on one bus but I'll have to check.
>
> Ashley, I live in a gated apartment complex...Don't I need to let them
> know what complex it is and where it is so they can tell me where the
> stop is?
>
> Also, our buses do not have directions like westbound...they are
> colored lines...the orange line, the blue and gold connector, the
> purple line, the brown line...they have no directional names what so
> ever.
>
> Since they are on Facebook...would it be okay if I messaged them since
> I'm better at writing than talking and can think out my questions
> better when writing? Or do I have to call? If I message them then I
> can copy/make notes on the time, any transfers, and location of stops
> as needed.
>
> Also, I'll ask if my friend could come down but you have to
> understand...it's my state president and her significant other and
> they are middle-aged so...I'll ask them but I don't know?
>
> I tried to talk to my mother to see if she could help me look at the
> schedule and map but she said I could just call...I don't know where
> else to get help from. Many of the sighted people I know have the
> typical feel sorry for the blind girl attitude so I don't know if
> asking a sighted friend to help me would be effective but I will try.
>
> Also since I shouldn't need to use the deviated route service to go to
> the mall I guess to keep things simple I'll leave the deviated route
> out for now.
>
> I don't currently have a reader nor know how to hire one though I've
> read about it.
>
> Thanks.
> Kerri
>
> On 10/12/10, Ashley  Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Kerri,
>> Sometimes I believe as blind people we need to do what is realistic and
>> safe.  If this venue is not pedestrian friendly with few or no sidewalks 
>> and
>> built for cars, then I'd really advise not going there especially since 
>> you
>> say you're a beginning traveler.  My views of independence may be a 
>> little
>> different here.  But I say independence means going where you want to go 
>> and
>> when but not inconveiencing yourself too much and it means asking for
>> assistant when needed.
>> Why not make some friends and go with them who have cars if you really 
>> want
>> to go to this town center?
>>
>> I can't answer your depot question as I have not done that.  Generally
>> though with buses, yes ask the driver to announce your stop.  Sit near 
>> the
>> driver and you might have to remind him/her.  If you need to transfer 
>> most
>> bus companies have a bus
>> transfer pass.  So get one before leaving your first bus.  Be sure to ask
>> what bus it is and where its going
>> when you board your second bus.  You don't want to board the wrong bus!
>>
>> As to the bus company and questions, its up to you.  But no I would not
>> recommend stating where you live.  Just explain you want to get from 
>> point A
>> to B and give the addresses.  Then yes you could explain you're blind and
>> ask about the deviated route if you wanted.
>> Its not necessary for the representative to know where you live although 
>> if
>> they see the address is an apartment complex they'll probably
>> figure its your home.  But its not the company's business to know where 
>> you
>> live.
>> I have hardly traveled either because my mother is protective like yours 
>> is.
>> But when I ask about public transit, I take down the information and 
>> repeat
>> it back to the customer service representative to ensure I understood it.
>> Another option is to record the information while on the phone.  I get 
>> this
>> info:
>> 1. the time the bus leaves my stop and the full name of it like the 38B
>> westbound.
>> Each bus has two directions so the direction is important.
>> 2. The arrival time of the bus to the next destination.
>> 3. At my destination any landmarks or where the stop is if they'll tell 
>> me.
>> Does it let me off mid block? Near a 711? Is there a bus shelter at my 
>> end
>> stop?
>> 4. If I need a transfer ticket how long is the transfer pass valid for?
>>
>> Finally, if you use readers I'd say they could look at the map for you 
>> and
>> describe major landmarks.
>> Sometimes you need sighted assistance and independence is knowing when to
>> get it.  Independence is being in control of your choices.
>> So print out the map and go over it with someone.
>>
>> Ashley
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 4:54 PM
>> Subject: [nabs-l] more transportation, and travel questions
>>
>>
>>> Hi All:
>>>
>>> I have a few more travel and transportation questions. Again, I hope
>>> these don't jump around too much but I figured I'd make them all one
>>> post.
>>>
>>> First, I think I would like to try sometime in the future taking the
>>> bus to somewhere simple such as maybe the mall. The problem Iam having
>>> is that this being a college town the bus caters to the nondriving
>>> students, who are the freshman. The freshman for the most part live
>>> downtown on the downtown campus (the college has two campuses.) I do
>>> not live in the downtown area so to go anywhere from my house on the
>>> bus I'd have to make a transfer at most likely one of the two bus
>>> depots.
>>>
>>> When I've tried to contact the bus in the past, they tell me that the
>>> bus comes to the light at the six-lane highway that is the first
>>> street you come to after you exit the gate of my apartment complex. My
>>> apartment complex isn't very accessible...when I moved here I didn't
>>> know about the NFB so accessability wasnt one of the priorities. On
>>> top of that my mother who is very overprotective really liked this
>>> complex because it is gated and has security after 6 o'clock.
>>>
>>> Anyway, from what a friend in the NFB who doesn't live here but lives
>>> in another town about half an hour away who has taken our bus before
>>> tells me, the bus supposedly has a deviated route system where they
>>> will go out of the way of the route one-fourth of a mile and pick you
>>> up, almost like paratransit. I'd like to try to take the bus somewhere
>>> simple.
>>>
>>> However, I feel a little overwhelmed. Do I call and begin by telling
>>> them I am blind, and would like to try taking their bus for the first
>>> time and ask them what accomodations they have for people with
>>> disabilities and ask them about the deviated route system?
>>>
>>> Then from there, do I explain where I live which is at the Suncrest
>>> Village
>>> Apartment Complex on Maple Drive and that I would like to go to the
>>> Morgantown Mall in Westover and ask them which lines I would need to
>>> take, and what times the lines run?
>>>
>>> I understand that in order to use the deviated route service I need to
>>> apply and fill out paperwork...but I figured I'd start by just asking
>>> general questions and see where I get from there.
>>>
>>> Since I'll most likely have a transfer at one of the depots, is there
>>> anything I should know about bus depots? From what my friend who has
>>> taken the bus before says all the buses line up along the curb...but
>>> I've also been told bus depots are where a lot of homeless hang out so
>>> is there anything I should know about them? Should I not carry certain
>>> items? From what my friend said, he and his wife took three buses here
>>> and everyone was very friendly and nice and the bus drivers even get
>>> out of the bus and announce what line the bus is when they approach.
>>> HHowever, he says they do not announce stops as they come to them or
>>> announce intersections as they come to them which they are supposed to
>>> do. I figure when I get on the bus I will ask the driver to please let
>>> me know when we get to the line I need to get off at.
>>>
>>> Yes, the bus company does have a website but their routes are laid out
>>> in a map which is inaccessible to screenreaders...you can get a
>>> description of which line goes where but you can't access the times or
>>> location of each stop.
>>>
>>> Our bus which is called Mountain Line is also on both Twitter and
>>> Facebook and they update frequently with updates if a route has to
>>> deviate for construction or something like that.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> My next questions bring up an issue that I just found out about, that
>>> I wanted to get your opinions on.
>>>
>>> We have an area with
>>> sevral stores, restaurants, and a movie theater called University Town
>>> Center. I initially was under
>>> the assumption it was a strip mall and everything could be walked to.
>>> So, I thought I could just simply take the bus there and make that my
>>> first bus trip.
>>>
>>> However, it turns out it is very inaccessible and not pedestrian
>>> friendly at all. The buildings are very spread out along a mile-long
>>> hill
>>> and to get from one to the other you have to go across a four-lane
>>> highway-like street and through the store's parking lots. I did some
>>> research and apparently these are popping up in several areas and they
>>> are called "metroplex shopping centers." I asked whether maybe I could
>>> have someone from Customer Service walk me from one place to another
>>> such as from one of the restaurants to the movie theater but I've been
>>> told it's not possible as the area wasn't built for pedestrians. This
>>> shopping center contains stores such as Starbucks, Target, Sams Club,
>>> Macys, Walmart, T.J. Macs, Barnes and Noble, Giant Eagle, a shoe
>>> store, a dress store, and Bestbuy. Some of the restaurants are Cicis
>>> Pizza, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Cheddars, Cracker Barrel, Golden
>>> Karrowe, Longhorn Steakhouse, and Chillis just to name a few.
>>>
>>> Obviously, it would be very very convient to be able to be dropped off
>>> at this University Town Center, and get everything done in one
>>> place...maybe get a coffee from Starbucks, go to Walmart to get
>>> groceries, then maybe go to one of the restaurants or to catch a movie
>>> at the movie theater.
>>>
>>> There are other places I could go in town and get the same things done
>>> but they wouldn't be as efficient.
>>>
>>> Obviously, the people who built this town center did not consider
>>> pedestrians at all and just assumed everyone would be able to drive.
>>>
>>> Does anyone else have these types of shopping centers in their area
>>> and can anything be done to make it more pedestrian friendly or maybe
>>> have a shuttle that would go from store to store? Considering this
>>> area has already been completed and built, I've been told there is no
>>> point in battling it because it would cost too much to fix it and it'd
>>> be too much work/reconstruction.
>>>
>>> Do I just find other ways to get the same things done and quit my
>>> griping or does action need to be taken?
>>>
>>> Like I said, I could go to the mall to get something to eat and see a
>>> movie, then maybe drive through Starbucks afterwords on my way home. I
>>> could do my grocery shopping at Kroger which is right near me...but
>>> for a beginning traveler I thought it'd be neat to go to this one area
>>> and get evrything done in one convient location and not only that but
>>> get to practice cane travel as well.
>>>
>>> And, yes from what I've read on their website, the bus does go to this
>>> University Towncenter several times a day. But, since it isn't
>>> pedestrian friendly, I don't know if it would drop me off at one
>>> store, then pick me up and take me to another store, one of the
>>> restaurants, or the movie theater? As I said, I am very upset about
>>> this because that'd be a simple place to start out with and practice
>>> travel/get some things done all at the same time in one location.
>>>
>>> Thoughts? Are these "metroplex shopping centers" common where you live
>>> and if so can most of you who are better travelers than I navigate
>>> them with ease?
>>>
>>> Thanks so much and I know my posts jump around a lot but I really want
>>> to try taking the bus somewhere simple, and I thought this University
>>> town center would be simple...but I guess I could just take the bus to
>>> the mall instead.
>>>
>>> Kerri
>>>
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>>
>>
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