[Oagdu] Walking in new territory

[Deanna Lewis]

Hi Lori,
I agree with Andy, this route sounds rather dangerous, and I personally would not feel comfortable walking that far without sidewalks. I cross a highway entrance and exit fairly often, but it is not too difficult since it’s light controlled. Actually, they recently put up an audible signal for those crossings too, which is nice.
If you are set on doing this, I would definitely call Leader and see if they can send someone out.
Deanna and Mambo

From: Oagdu [mailto:oagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Andy Leach via Oagdu
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2015 9:05 AM
To: 'Ohio Association of Guide Dog Users List'
Cc: Andy Leach
Subject: Re: [Oagdu] Walking in new territory

Good morning Lori:

That sounds like an extremely difficult route and I would want a sighted person to walk it with me multiple times before trying it just with me and my guide.  My concern is that it sounds dangerous on multiple fronts especially when you are dealing with angles and interstate entrance and exit ramps all in the same stretch.  Personally, I feel you should involve a local O and M specialist at the very least, and if possible, a trainer from your guide dog school…  That is just my two cents, please let us know how you come out..

Andy and Brie

From: Oagdu [mailto:oagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lori Dent via Oagdu
Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2015 10:19 PM
To: Ohio Guide Dogs
Cc: Lori Dent
Subject: [Oagdu] Walking in new territory

Hi all,

Rick and I were talking about Gipp and me  walking from my grandmother's house to Wal Mart. When I leave my grandmother's house in her allotment it's about a four block walk with no sidewalks to get to  the closest main street, route 43.  When I come out to route 43 there's no safe way to cross the street.  Traffic from my left is just coming over a hill. I would have to turn right and walk , with traffic, for about a half mile to get to the first major intersection  which is route 18.  In fact that's the first street.

Once  I come up to route 18 and  route 43 it's a light controlled intersection. I would need to turn left to cross over route 43. Once Gipp and I cross over route 43 we  will be walking down route 18 against traffic without any sidewalks for about a mile and a half, maybe 2 miles.

About a quarter mile  before I get to Wal Mart it starts to get interesting. I first have to cross an exit from interstate 76.  luckily it's light controlled. A little further on we have an entrance to interstate 76 . Again light controlled. The last little bit I have to cross  is a business area that has a bunch of small shops and three or four graveled entrances. Then I come up  to the entrance to the Wall Mart lot. Then I turn left. Not one sidewalk the entire time.

Walking back to my grandmother's house from Wal Mart   I will have to walk with traffic on route 18. Rick explained to me why it would be extremely unsafe to cross  route 18  and walk against traffic. First it would be crossing route 18 in front of Wal Mart. Even though there's a light there are no markings  to cross. But that's not the hard part. About a quarter mile up I would have to cross an exit from interstate 76 and Mogadore Road. Traffic coming off of Mogadore Road and I-76 will enter route 18 at about a 45 degree angle.  Traffic moves very fast there, there's no markings to cross and no light. It's extremely unsafe and Rick said he wouldn't try to cross it and he's sighted.

Rick says there might be a way to cross. This is going to be hard to explain so bare with me. I could stay on the exit from I-76 facing traffic, for about 200 feet. There is a traffic light at that point. It would be very difficult to work with traffic .  Whether or not traffic from I-76 has a red light traffic from Mogadore Road is making continuous right hand turns.  The drivers are watching the I-76 traffic to see if they can beat somebody out. They never look to the right.

Providing   I can cross  at this light I would walk about 50 feet, with traffic, so that I can cross at the next light. Traffic coming through this light is either coming straight from Mogadore Road or making a left turn from I-76. Turning traffic could be coming down the ramp at least 40 miles per hour and would not be able to see me until they made the turn  with no time to stop.

Because of this one area Rick thinks it would be safer to walk home with traffic.

I've talked to Rick about maybe having a trainer come out and look at this area  to see what he or she thinks. do you think I should ask for a trainer to come out or go by what Rick suggested?

Lori and the Gipper



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