[nfbmi-talk] Opinions on audible crosswalks?

[Jim in Detroit]

Boy, take me back 40 years; I'd love to learn to handle Waverley and 
Saginaw; I wonder if that has improved over the years?

-----Original Message----- 
From: Christine Boone
Sent: August 23, 2013 23:26
To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
Cc: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Opinions on audible crosswalks?

This message is from Doug Boone with some additions from me:

For starters we must ask ourselves: How do you define a complex 
intersection? Doug and I have both worked with folks who have received 
blindness skill training that they believe is excellent-- most people really 
love their travel teacher, because no matter how far he or she has taken 
them toward independent travel, they enjoy more freedom after training than 
they did before:

Some of these good folks have come to us requesting assistance with 
intersections that they define as extremely complex-- and we have discovered 
that in many cases the intersections are actually simple to moderate 
crossings.

That said however, both of us have encountered some truly odd intersections 
that would benefit from accessible pedestrian signals.  This is often the 
case when there is an excessive amount of ambient noise in the surrounding 
environment, or when the intersection has 3 or more streets converging- 
especially when 1 or more of the streets have only intermittent traffic. 
When traffic is heavy and consistent, even really complex, multi-street 
intersections can be successfully navegated without accessible pedestrian 
signals.

But no matter how we define a complex intersection, and no matter how well 
an individual has trained in blindness travel skills, the accessible 
pedestrian signal gives only one part of the equation: when the light 
changes from green to red, and whether the walk sign is lighted.  The signal 
does not give any indication of what traffic is doing, and whether or not 
drivers are obeying the law. Indeed audible pedestrian signals can create a 
sense of complacency that lowers the blind persons attention level so that 
they are less aware of traffic itself.

One positive thing that has happened in recent years is that the noise 
produced by the signals themselves has been considerably reduced. The older 
louder signals actually created a hazard because they were noisy enough to 
mask the sound of traffic almost entirely.

So those are our thoughts. It will be good for J.J. to meet with the MDOT 
people and to discuss these things...but the ultimate fix is a quality 
rehabilitation agency that offers consistent, superior training to its 
customers and can consult effectively with MDOT on when and where accessible 
signals should be installed.  An agency that is run and managed by 
individuals who are not acquainted with the practices and/or the profession 
of vocational rehabilitation will not have the ability to provide anything 
in the way of meaningful partnership or consultation on matters concerning 
individuals who are blind.



Boone Christine Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 23, 2013, at 11:33 AM, "J.J. Meddaugh" <jj at bestmidi.com> wrote:

> Through talking to some people on Twitter, I've got a meeting set up with 
> some MDOT people about accessible pedestrian signals. Their policy is that 
> they'll install one if blind pedestrians regularly use that intersection.
> I'm going to talk about the need for audible signals at complex 
> intersections where traffic patterns aren't easily discernable but was 
> curious as to your opinions on the matter. I know NFB has shifted opinion 
> over time on the issue.
> Just to clarify, I'm not claiming to represent NFB of Michigan for this 
> meeting,.
> Thanks much.
>
>
>
> -- 
> Best regards,
> J.J.
>
>
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Jim in Detroit
James A. Prather
Central Michigan University: 1980
Michigan School for the Blind: 1974
"Fire Up Chips"
"Ungh, ungowa, Raiders still Got the Power!"