[nfbmi-talk] Opinions on audible crosswalks?

Sat Aug 24 15:42:50 UTC 2013

I'm thinking about the intersection where all those streets cross Lovel in 
Kalamazoo. Oakland, West Michigan and Stadium. I'm a good traveller but that 
thing really needs your attention!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim in Detroit" <james.prather at comcast.net>
To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2013 4:53 AM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Opinions on audible crosswalks?


> 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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>
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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!"
>
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