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

[Randy Carmack]

Plenty of marathon runners run down the middle of quiet neighborhood
streets.  It is the way that marathon runners run.  I agree, nobody
should run down the middle of a street but that is not the issue.  I
think that this community would not have a problem with him running
down the middle of the street if he was not blind.  I think they are
too focused on his blindness and not the fact that nobody should run
down the middle of the street.  They should not just stop this guy
simply because he is blind.  I know a normal sighted jogger that runs
down the middle of quiet neighborhood streets in St. Charles and
nobody has said anything to him.  The issue is, they have targeted
this guy simply because he is blind.

Thanks,
Randy Carmack

On Mon, Oct 8, 2012 at 2:51 PM,  <DanFlasar at aol.com> wrote:
> 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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