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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><h1 style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>On December 12<sup>th</sup>, 2019, The National Federation of the Blind of Cleveland and Greater Cuyahoga; along with the Ohio Affiliate Board of Directors attended a joint meeting to discuss Shared Riding of E-Bikes and Dockless Electric Scooters with the Cleveland, City Planning Commission. Also, five representatives from the vendors of these vehicles were in attendance as well. More information on the meeting will be forth coming. Below is a brief summary of a report that was highlighted about the event.<o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='color:#333333'>--<o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></h1><h1 style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='color:#333333'>Here is one of the announcements<o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='color:#333333'>///<o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></h1><h1 style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='color:#333333'>Cleveland Planning Commission Holding Forum On Scooter Safety<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'><img width=624 height=351 style='width:6.5in;height:3.6562in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D5B405.7051C1A0" alt="A bird dockless electric scooter parked on Playhouse Square in Cleveland. "></span><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>The forum will focus on the unique safety risks that scooters pose for people with visual impairments. [Adrian Ma / ideastream] <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>Featured Audio<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:black'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.0pt;vertical-align:baseline'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>Rewind 10 Seconds<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.0pt;vertical-align:baseline'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>Next Up<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;vertical-align:baseline'>Live<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;vertical-align:baseline'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>00:00<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;vertical-align:baseline'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>00:00<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;vertical-align:baseline'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>00:56<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.0pt;vertical-align:baseline'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>Closed Captions<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.0pt;vertical-align:baseline'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>Settings<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.0pt;vertical-align:baseline'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>Fullscreen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'><a href="https://www.ideastream.org/topics/news">News</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>Author <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'><a href="https://www.ideastream.org/authors/taylor-haggerty">Taylor Haggerty</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>Published December 11, 2019 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>Topics <span class=field-topic><a href="https://www.ideastream.org/topics/community-issues">Community Issues</a></span> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>Ideastream E-News <a href="https://www.ideastream.org/email">Sign up today!</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'><a href="https://www.ideastream.org/topics/news">News</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>Author <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'><a href="https://www.ideastream.org/authors/taylor-haggerty">Taylor Haggerty</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>Published December 11, 2019 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>Topics <span class=field-topic><a href="https://www.ideastream.org/topics/community-issues">Community Issues</a></span> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>Ideastream E-News <a href="https://www.ideastream.org/email">Sign up today!</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>Cleveland’s planning commission will hold a forum Thursday with advocates for the blind as the group considers changes to electric scooter regulations to address safety concerns from disabled residents.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>The forum will focus on the unique safety risks scooters pose for people with visual impairments. Suzanne Turner, president of the Cleveland chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, said her organization has already met with city officials to discuss some concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>“The scooters right now are being left just about everywhere, from in doorways, crosswalks, at the bottom of ramps," she said. "They don’t have a loud mechanism where you would know if they are approaching close to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>Turner’s organization is asking the city to impose penalties on people who don’t park scooters in proper locations and to require scooter riders be at least 21 years old and have a driver’s license. City officials agreed to arrange the forum to discuss ways to make changes, she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>“They were very receptive to it," Turner said. "I understand that they also have concerns.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>Earlier this year, Cuyahoga County officials reached out to several communities to gage interest in a scooter or bikeshare program. After a request for information (RFI) issued over the summer, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17873505445502088/?hl=en">five scooter vendors came to Cleveland for a trial run</a>. Five East Side suburbs — Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Euclid, South Euclid and University Heights — are <a href="https://www.ideastream.org/news/survey-shows-scooter-support-in-east-side-suburbs">surveying residents to see if they want scooters in their neighborhoods and how they should regulate them</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Roboto;color:#333333'>The forum will take place at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12 at Cleveland City Hall. Scooter company representatives are expected to attend.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Ohio (NFBO)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Suzanne Turner, Ohio Affiliate Vice President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Cleveland Chapter, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> (216) 990-6199<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Please click on the links below to learn more about the organization<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The Ohio Affiliate<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_Hlk18941617"></a><a name="_Hlk14090147"></a><a name="_Hlk14085768"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'></span></span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGe_1qGbkX8"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGe_1qGbkX8</span></span></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'></span></span></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“Live the life you want” featuring, National President, Mark Riccobono<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><a name="_Hlk18067489"></a></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DesLNDBpYVE&feature=share"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DesLNDBpYVE&feature=share</span></span></span></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'></span></span></span></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'>Visit and take a moment to like our Facebook Page!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'></span></span></span></span><a href="https://m.facebook.com/NationalFederationOfTheBlindOfOhioClevelandChapter/"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'>https://m.facebook.com/NationalFederationOfTheBlindOfOhioClevelandChapter/</span></span></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'></span></span></span></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'></span><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>