[nfbmi-talk] Opinions on audible crosswalks?

[J.J. Meddaugh]

Marcus,
You bring up another good point. In Kalamazoo, many of the crosswalks 
will both speak and vibrate when the light has changed. Often it's easy 
for us to assume that everyone has the physical capabilities to have 
exemplary travel skills but often there's mitigating factors that stand 
in the way. Perhaps the challenge is creating audible pedestrian signals 
which are both effective and not very obtrusive. The ones here and in 
some other cities are an improvement over the loud chirping but I'm not 
convinced there isn't a better way.

Best regards,
J.J.

On 8/24/2013 8:13 AM, Marcus Simmons wrote:
> This thread has been very educational. My challenge is that I am 
> deaf/blind, is there any recourses for me?
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christine Boone" 
> <christineboone2 at gmail.com>
> 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: Friday, August 23, 2013 11:26 PM
> 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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