[nagdu] Audible Traffic lights

[Tracy Carcione]

Aha!  So the trick is to move to Vancouver, into a neighborhood you have
recently left!
Tracy

> Hi Tracy:
>
> In order to stem the onslaught of americans who are blind moving to
> Vancouver (although you are all welcome:), the time between making the
> request for the  audible signal and it's being put into place can often be
> several years. The pattern I have found is I move to a new neighbourhood,
> notice a crosswalk or intersection that I use a lot that doesn't have
> audible signals, put in the request to city hall and usually several years
> later, often shortly after I've moved to another neighbourhood, the signal
> is installed. :) But at least there is a process in place and people open
> to listening at city hall.
>
> Gary
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
> Date: Thursday, November 17, 2011 6:26 am
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Audible Traffic lights
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>
>> Gosh, imagine that, just being able to make a request for an audible
>> signal and having it happen.  I had to badger the county
>> for 2 years,
>> threaten them with the DOJ, and enlist the help of a sympathetic town
>> manager, my state Assemblywoman, and The Seeing Eye.  Maybe
>> I should move
>> to Canada.  Much more civilized.
>> Tracy
>>
>> > Hi Marian:
>> >
>> > I agree with your comments. In Vancouver I do the same thing.
>> If I move to
>> > a new area of the city and find an intersection that is more
>> challenging,> or honestly just a very busy one, I will put in
>> the request for audible
>> > signals. I'd have to say that Vancouver is one of the most
>> accessible> cities in North America so I think every new light
>> that goes in or is
>> > replaced always includes an audible signal. I have also worked
>> with the
>> > city to deal with our audible crosswalks to make them so they
>> don't annoy
>> > everyone else, especially later in the evening. Some of them
>> actually have
>> > lower volumes based on the noise levels around them.
>> >
>> > Obviously, as you stated, every intersection with lights
>> doesn't need
>> > audible signals which is why I encourage others to help the
>> city make it's
>> > priorities by requesting intersections receve that treatmtnet and
>> > explaining why, from a blind perspective, one feels this would help
>> > increase safety.
>> >
>> > Gary
>> >
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: Marion Gwizdala <blind411 at verizon.net>
>> > Date: Monday, November 14, 2011 6:35 pm
>> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] Audible Traffic lights
>> > To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
>> Users"> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> >
>> >> Larry,
>> >>    There is an intersection in our
>> neighborhood where
>> >> it is sometimes difficult to tell when the parallel trafic light
>> >> has changed and it is safe to cross due to the light flow of
>> >> traffic in the direction of travel. It happens to be so in both
>> >> the east=-west and north-south directions. Merry and I can stand
>> >> at the corner through several cycles before getting enough
>> >> traffic to help us in our crossing. We have discussed
>> >> petitioning for an audible pedestrian signal at this intersection.
>> >>    Unfortunately, many blind people believe
>> that there
>> >> should be a signal at each and every intersection. After all,
>> >> they argue, sighted people have the signals to tell them when it
>> >> is safe, why not have the same advantage for the blind. The
>> >> reason I oppose the wholesale installation of such signals is
>> >> because of their cost. It would cost about $73 million to
>> >> install such signals at only the state highway intersection in
>> >> Hillsborough County (Tampa) Florida. This does not include the
>> >> county and city roads. Nor does it include the installation and
>> >> maintenance of these signals. I think a better approach is how
>> >> it is done in our county. If a person requests an audible
>> >> signal, that request is evaluated by a team of people that
>> >> includes other blind consumers, an O&M professional and traffic
>> >> engineers. If the decision is made to not install the system,
>> >> the individual has the right to appeal the decision and present
>> >> an argument for it. This allows for installations only where
>> >> they are needed for use by blind consumers and only in places
>> >> where the ability to cross is hindered by the inability to use
>> >> naturalistic cues.
>> >>
>> >> Fraternally yours,
>> >> Marion
>> >>
>> >> the city
>> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry D. Keeler"
>> >> <lkeeler at comcast.net>To: "doggie" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> >> Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2011 10:12 AM
>> >> Subject: [nagdu] Audible Traffic lights
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> >As I see it, audible traffic lights can deffinetly be a
>> >> bennefit depending on how and if they work!  I also know
>> >> that if you are not listening to the traffic as well you can run
>> >> into serious trouble!  We have 3 that I know about in our
>> >> city.  one, I have already talked about.  The second
>> >> is on a trafic corner in which the streets run crooked.
>> >> That one is easier only if you remember that you can't go
>> >> straight accross.  Holly is good at helping with
>> >> that!  The third one is on a good corner downtown and I
>> >> could probably trust it but still, I always listen and then
>> >> go.  I have come to realize why some folks really don't
>> >> like them.  As landmarks however they're pretty good!
>> >> >Intelligence is always claimed but rarely proven!
>> >> >_______________________________________________
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>> >>
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