[Nfbmo] Nearly blind St. Charles runner changes route due to neighbor con...

[DanFlasar at aol.com]

I'm with the neighbors here.  No one, blind, visually impaired or not,  has 
the right to walk, run, jog or bike down the middle of the street!   It's 
against the law, simple as that.  I applaud this persons ambition to  run 
marathons and to maintain fitness but his perceptual deficits do not give  him 
the right to violate traffic laws.
    In effect, he is outsourcing his safety to drivers who  now must watch 
out for someone who may or may not be able to see their car as  they drive 
along.   Pedestrians may have the right of way but they,  too, have laws 
regarding their use of the public roadways.
    Further, anyone, whatever their ability to see, knows  it's really 
smart to wear bright-colored,clothing with reflective strips - and  lights, if 
out and about after dark.  There are way too many deaths to  runners and 
bikers who, even when following all safety and visibility rules, are  hit by 
distracted, drunk or just plain negligent drivers. To give him  possible 
credit, perhaps Mr. Atkins tried to find some way to coordinate  his running with 
the subdivision or police and got nowhere.  As they say,  it's always easier 
to apologize than to get permission.  I hope he has now  achieved a fuller 
understanding of the rules of the road and gets in plenty of  miles so that, 
one day, he becomes the first blind winner of the Boston  Marathon.
Dan
      
 
 
In a message dated 10/8/2012 2:20:20 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
randycarmack at gmail.com writes:

Group,

I heard this story on the radio and am shocked of the  ignorance of
people in this day and age.  Although a story like this  coming out of
St. Charles does not really surprise me.  I believe that  the NFB
should do some things in St. Charles towards community  education.
Maybe a big group of us could walk down the middle of some of  their
busiest streets.  I know, not very feasible, just  venting.

I provide the story and link below.

Thanks,
Randy  Carmack

http://www.kmov.com/home/Nearly-blind-Missouri-man-compromises-on-route-1731
10531.html

Nearly  blind St. Charles runner changes route due to neighbor concerns

by  Associated Press
KMOV.com
Posted on October 8, 2012 at 8:26  AM
Updated today at 12:27 PM

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) -- A nearly blind  suburban St. Louis marathon
runner has agreed to tweak his route because  neighbors feared
colliding with him.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch  says that Dennis Atkins, 57, can only see
shadows of objects and  differentiate between light and dark.

He used to run down the middle of  streets in a St. Charles
subdivision, guiding himself by focusing on  black-line expansion
joints.

Now he's agreed to instead stay close  to street sides where parking
already was prohibited. He'll focus on where  the grass meets the curb.

Atkins also promised to wear bright-colored  clothing and to stick to
less traveled streets.

Meanwhile, the city  will post a sign or signs alerting drivers to
watch out for a visually  impaired person. There's also talk of
reducing the speed  limit.

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