[nfbmi-talk] Opinions on audible crosswalks?

[J.J. Meddaugh]

Do these corners have a button for pedestrian crossings? Some crossings 
which are unsafe for us are just bad for any pedestrian in general.
Luckily there's a movement toward improving these.

Best regards,
J.J.

On 8/24/2013 7:51 PM, Fred Wurtzel wrote:
> Hi Jim,
>
> No, it is worse.  Elmwood and Saginaw is likewise pretty treacherous.  These
> have those continuous right and left turn lanes.
>
> Warm Regards,
>
> Fred
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jim in
> Detroit
> Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2013 4:53 AM
> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
> Cc: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
> 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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>
> 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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