[nagdu] Why good O&M training is so important

Wed Nov 2 19:31:35 UTC 2011

Hi Gary.
In the US, we also have guidelines for audible signals, and, as I recall,
they are good guidelines.  Lukas Franck of The Seeing Eye had a big hand
in writing them.  However, when I was working my butt off to get an
audible signal in my town, I found the traffic engineers and their bosses
who purchase and install audible signals had absolutely no clue, and, even
when Lukas and I showed them the guidelines and recommended good options,
they ignored us and got what they got.  Luckily, they did then work with
Lukas to make the signal a good neighbor, while still doing the job.  I'm
really happy to have it.  It's made a big difference to me.  I no longer
feel like I'm taking my life in my hands when I cross that intersection,
as I must do several times a week.
Tracy

> Hi
>
> I would have to second that thought. I have argued in favour of audible
> signals on this list before but have never heard a signal like this one.
> As I have said in my emails on this topic, I feel the audible signal is
> another aid to assist in my safe crossing of the road. However, it is not
> the only thing that tells me it is okay to go so I certainly wouldn't want
> it drowning out the car turning right towards me.
>
> In Canada we have a set of national transportation guidelines with the
> goal of ensuring that the types of signals being used are consistent
> around the country. The universality of the tones for north south and east
> west crossings hasn't been finalized but I believe it is very close to
> achieving this goal. This means in the future in Canada where ever you go,
> if there are audible signals, the tones for each directional crossing will
> be the same.
>
> It was also nice to hear from a person who lives in New York to explain
> that there may be other reasons why it is difficlut to make certain
> crossings there. Personally, in downtown Vancouver, I find it much harder
> to assess whether it is safe to go. It is fine when there is heavy
> ttraffic flow but at many times, or in some parts of downtown, the traffic
> flow is fairly low. However, I figure there are enough street people
> making random crossings in downtown that motorists are on their guard so a
> person actually crossing at a cross walk and paying attention isn't likely
> to be run down. :)
>
> Gary
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jewel <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
> Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 11:53 am
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Why good O&M training is so important
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>
>> If all signals were like the one shown in this video, i would advocate
>> for NO audible signals. THat tone would definitely get in the
>> way of
>> my listening to traffic and I'd be afraid to cross that street because
>> I can't hear traffic.
>>
>> Luckily, not all audible signal are like that, and i can listen
>> to the
>> chirp tha tindicates it's my turn
>>
>> On 11/2/11, Julie Phillipson <jbrew48 at verizon.net> wrote:
>> > Aaron there is a huge problem in New York City where they are
>> changing how
>> > the lights at intersections work and it is causing lots of
>> problems for
>> > blind people because, as I understand it,  it changes one
>> or two lanes of
>> > traffic that stops traffic, giving pedestrians 30 seconds more
>> time to cross
>> > before stopping the other lanes of traffic and there is no way
>> for the blind
>> > person to know when they can start crossing.  They are
>> changing something
>> > like 15,000  intersections to work like this.
>> > Therefore it is a case where NFb of New York is supporting the
>> need for
>> > APS's.  There is a coalition of several disability groups
>> that have been
>> > working on this.  This trend is spreading to other area's
>> too.  although it
>> > may look like this guy doesn't have good mobility skills it isn't
>> > necessarily the case.  May be Cheryl E. can describe this
>> better since she
>> > lives in the area.
>> > Julie Phillipson
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Aaron Cannon" <cannona at fireantproductions.com>
>> > To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
>> Users"> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2011 10:17 AM
>> > Subject: [nagdu] Why good O&M training is so important
>> >
>> >
>> >> This video posted on the Yahoo Accessibility blog seeks to
>> demonstrate>> the need for accessible crossing signals.
>> However, in my opinion it
>> >> manages to do just the opposite quite nicely.
>> >>
>> >> http://yaccessibilityblog.com/wp/blind-people-cross-street.html
>> >>
>> >> I find it troubling that he talks about needing the signal "to
>> >> indicate that it's safe for me to cross the street."
>> Even worse is
>> >> his comment "I don't have to listen for the traffic coming
>> the other
>> >> way, I can just listen to the tone."
>> >>
>> >> He also calls crossing without a signal "daunting" and "scary".
>> >>
>> >> I can understand that such crossings can be quite daunting
>> and scary
>> >> if you don't have good training or practice making such
>> crossings, so
>> >> I don't really fault him for that.  However, I fear that
>> people,>> especially other blind people, watching this video
>> will assume that
>> >> that's how it is for everyone.
>> >>
>> >> Finally, I do think that accessible signals can have their
>> place, but
>> >> certainly not the type shown in this video, which seem like
>> they could
>> >> actually interfere with listening to the traffic.
>> >>
>> >> Anyway, I just thought I'd share.
>> >>
>> >> Aaron Cannon
>> >>
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