[nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets

Mon Apr 15 00:33:00 UTC 2013

My buses to school are about as convenient as is gets. The first one runs
every 30 min. The second bus runs every 20 min. I walk 1/3 mile to the
first bus, take it two miles, cross the street wait at most 20 mins, then I
am on the second bus for an hour and it drops me at my campus. I leave my
house at 6:45 and I get to school at 8:30. But I could drive there in 25
min. How much more convenient can the bus be made? The only way it could be
more convenient is if once I got on it made no stops til my campus. My
return trip is longer because by the time I get to the bus stop after class
I end up with a 20 minute wait before I even get on the bus and it just
misses the second bus so I have a 30 minute wait. Plus I just don't like
walking 1/3 mike in the 115 degree heat

More convenient buses doesn't help how many groceries you can carry.

On Sun, Apr 14, 2013 at 3:34 PM, Ashley Bramlett
<bookwormahb at earthlink.net>wrote:

> Justin,
> I'll not agree with you all here. I see the barriers in lack of
> transportation.
> I doubt anyone disputes that. I just wish your energy would go into
> advocating for better transit that is accessible. Advocate for more bus
> shelters so you don't have to stand outside a stop waiting a long time.
> Advocate for maintaining  sidewalks so all pedestrians have a safe place to
> walk without the tripping hazzards. Finally, advocate  for accessible
> websites to plan your trip and for automated call announcements if you
> don't already have them.
>
> We could come further in the transit battle if more would advocate on a
> local level. This would be eco friendly and available to all. But a fancy
> google car will only be available to a few who can buy it.
> Ashley
>
> -----Original Message----- From: justin williams
> Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2013 4:09 PM
> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
>
> Because one of our major barriers is transportation rright?  It's one of my
> big deals.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.**org<nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org>]
> On Behalf Of Patrick Molloy
> Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2013 3:27 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
>
> I'm sorry Ashley, but I completely and wholeheartedly disagree with you.
> When NTSB executives are saying that autonomous cars are the way to go,
> don't you think they deserve some credence? I honestly lost faith in the
> NFB
> car. Sure it was "made for blind people," but you barely ever saw the
> thing!
> If you're going to make a car for the blind, don't hide it away from the
> public and then give no explanation when it essentially disappears. I'm not
> saying that the Google car would be perfect. I'm not fooling myself with
> that idea. But, I think that the technology is really impressive and, with
> some modifications, it will be great for blind people. But hey! If you want
> to always wait around for a driver, or a bus, or paratransit, more power to
> you. It just seems like this all runs counter to the philosophy that many
> people within the NFB preach daily. As for your arguments as to why blind
> people shouldn't drive, I think if you read the articles about the
> potential
> of autonomous cars, you'll find most if not all of your fears more or less
> assuaged. Just because something SEEMS difficult is no reason for us blind
> people to avoid it like the plague. That would be ridiculous! If I decide
> not to get this car, it would only be after I'd tried it out and found it
> not to my liking. Since the NFB car is more or less dead, I feel that we as
> blind people have a responsibility to get behind the Google car in one way
> or another.
> Isn't that what the NFB always says? That they're there for blind people
> when we need something? Well, we need to get around and we're tired of
> waiting like kids for our parents to pick us up from soccer practice! If
> we're going to be independent, successful individuals, then we should have
> the right to get around just like our sighted colleagues. Separate is not
> equal in this case. You may never drive this thing, and you may think it
> ridiculous, but I highly encourage people like yourself and Carly to at
> least consider the point of view of those of us who want to drive like our
> brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. You may think us self-serving,
> but doesn't that make sighted people self-serving? I mean, they can take a
> bus too! The issue here is choice. We shouldn't HAVE to take a bus if we
> don't want to wait 2 hours. Now, if it's a nice day and you've got time to
> kill, hey! Spend 5 hours going to the doctor! But we should have the same
> freedom that all sighted people have. With that freedom will come the
> realization that blind people can do the same things as sighted people.
> Patrick
>
> On 4/14/13, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>> I haven't read all this thread much. But from what I read, it seems
>> like you
>>
>> all believe the car would provide more transit options and you'd buy
>> one if
>>
>> given a choice.
>>
>> I know the problems in the bus system; I've seen them and ridden
>> paratransit
>>
>> and felt its impact of unreliability and lateness.
>> That said, I think other methods of travel are more efficient and safe.
>> Things like cabs, car pools, getting rides with friends when you want
>> to hang out, and hiring a driver would be better.
>>
>> I do not support blind people driving because we cannot see to
>> override the
>>
>> car.
>> I have to agree with the individual that said that having a car is
>> self serving. We are putting other lives at risk.
>> We face many obstacles on the rode like other cars wipping in front of
>> us when its not their turn; cars inching along not going the speed
>> limit and you got to move around them, waiting for pedestrians to
>> walk, rode rage, and
>>
>> drunk drivers.
>> Without vision, we cannot! intervene the computerized car to override
>> it when obstacles arise.
>> I cannot tell you how many times my parents slammed on the brakes due
>> to some driver wipping out in front of them, drivers who unexpectedly
>> turn without turning on their turn signal like their supposed to,
>> pedestrians who
>>
>> are still walking across the street when the orange don't walk signal
>> is on
>>
>> thus making cars wait, having to swerve around bicyclists, and
>> distracted drivers on cell phones.
>> All these obstacles create hazards which a human driver with eyes
>> needs to see and make a quick judgement and use reflexes to act upon
>> unexpected hazards.
>>
>> So, yeah, when you all can afford a new google car, go right ahead and
>> you never know who might be hurt if you even get a license. I just
>> don't want to
>>
>> be on the road with you.
>>
>> I think the nfb car sounded safer and it was built for blind people,
>> but we
>>
>> abandoned that project, probably cause of money.
>> Ashley
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Kaiti Shelton
>> Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2013 12:08 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Google car takes to the streets
>>
>> I don't see it as self-serving either... in my experience with buses I
>> have to agree with Sophie here.  Plus, some parts of town that I need
>> to go either aren't served by buses, or take a really long time to get
>> to which sometimes involves going in the opposite way of the
>> destination for a while and then circling back because of Dayton's bus
>> system.  (It's organized by buses going north-south and east-west, but
>> sometimes when you're at a stop the time of the bus won't tell you if
>> the bus is going north or south, or east or west so you have to roll
>> with it.  I'd much rather just get into a car and drive than boomerang
>> around the city just to get to one place, and then do it again
>> returning to school.  And because of this, and the fact that it the
>> bus system isn't exactly equivalent to a car, I don't consider it
>> self-serving either.  I have no problem in supporting it and other
>> programs of public transit for people who can't drive a car, which
>> more often are people who are low income, have a suspended license, or
>> who are inner-city, or elderly than blind, but if I and other blind
>> people can afford a car and want one I don't see anything self-serving
>> in that, it's just doing what is most efficient.  I actually think not
>> taking advantage of this opportunity on the basis that the less than
>> efficient public transit systems work fine and that other people can
>> use the money or whatever that would go into buying this car would be
>> like saying you'd pass up going to college even though you could
>> because other people can be served by your tuition money, and the high
>> school diploma would serve you just fine.  It's more efficient, so why
>> not do it?
>>
>> Sophie, I too see it more as an investment in independence.  :)
>>
>> On 4/14/13, Robert William Kingett <kingettr at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Im buying this damn car the first chance I get. I'd rather be self
>>> serving and frivolous and drive to some place within 20 minutes
>>> instead of sitting on the bus for three hours, or more, depending on
>>> if the driver didn't call my stop and I'd be riding extra long. Here
>>> in chicagothat isn't a problem but I used to live in Tallahassee FL
>>> where there was no automated system to tell you where you were. So
>>> yes, I'd much rather be self serving and save up. Besides, as I have
>>> said before in a previous message, this technology is driving along
>>> the streets of Nevada. I'm so excited that I'm even grinning and
>>> daydreaming about driving along side of a bus, and happy that I'm
>>> frivolous enough to pay for a self serving device that will allowfor
>>> me to get to the office quicker, or to an interview on time, thus
>>> allowing me to have greater chances to pay my taxes so you other non
>>> self serving blind people can take the bus. I think it's a neat
>>> little circle of irony, don't you think? LOL!
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
>> --
>> Kaiti
>>
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