[Quietcars] Fwd: Crossing light rail tracks

[David Evans]

dEAR aLL,

i HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS KIND OF SITUATION WHERE i COULD NOT 
HEAR AN APPROACHING TRAIN, EVEN A LIGHT RAIL ONE.
i SERVE ON SEVERAL TRANSPORTATION bOARDS AND cOMMITTEES THAT 
OVERSEE THE OPERATIONS OF FIXED ROUTE BUS, pARA-TRANSIT, AND BOTH 
LIGHT AND HEAVY RAIL SYSTEMS IN THE sOUTH fLORIDA AREA.
mOST ANYWHERE THERE IS A CROSSING, THERE IS PROTECTION WITH 
LIGHTS, BELLS, HORNS AND EVEN THE PHYSICAL LOCATION.
it IS ALSO AGAINST THE LAW TO EVEN WALK ALONG THE TRACKS OR even 
THE RIGHT OF WAY OF THE RAIL LINES where the heavy rail trackes 
are at grade level.  Most all trains sound a warning, such as a 
bell or horn when nearing a station or grade crossing which is in 
addition to the claddering they make from their wheels on the 
tracks and the sounds the air brakes make.  .
the LIGHT RAIL IS ELEVATED AND THERE ARE NO PLACES TO EVEN 
physically CROSS THE RAILS accept AT THE TUNNELS AND BRIDGES WE 
PROVIDE AT THE STATIONS.  This is done to keep people from 
possibley coming in contact with the third rail.
If you have a light rail system that is that silent, I would be 
surprized.
I think that we need to stay focused on the "Quiet Cars" and not 
get sidetracked here.

David Evans, NFBF
> ----- Original Message -----
>From: "Deborah Kent Stein" <dkent5817 at worldnet.att.net
>To: "Discussion of new quiet cars and pedestrian safety" 
<quietcars at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:21:29 -0600
>Subject: Re: [Quietcars] Fwd: Crossing light rail tracks



>In our discussions about quiet cars, we've often been careful to 
refer to
>"quiet vehicles," to encompass trucks and buses as well.  If 
light rail
>trains are truly silent, as silent as the cars we're concerned 
about, then
>they *should* make a noise!  For generations bells have sounded 
at railroad
>crossings to warn drivers and pedestrians that a train is 
approaching.
>Pedestrians and drivers will need such warnings about light rail 
trains too.

>In the meantime, blind travelers better study up on the train 
schedules and
>hope the trains stick with them!

>Debbie

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Corbb O'Connor" <corbbo at gmail.com
>To: "Discussion of new quiet cars and pedestrian safety"
><quietcars at nfbnet.org
>Cc: <ben.j.bloomgren at gmail.com
>Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 7:12 PM
>Subject: [Quietcars] Fwd: Crossing light rail tracks


>> Good day my quiet car friends.

>> I send this query from Ben on the NABS list with the hope that 
some of
>> you hear might be able to help. As Michael Townsend has said in 
the  past
>> on this list, guide dogs may help reduce (though not eliminate)  
the
>> dangers posed by light rail trains at intersections, I'm curious  
as to
>> how a cane user would make this crossing safely. I haven't been  
to an NFB
>> training center, but would be curious as to the considered  
opinion of
>> those centers on the best way to do this -- other than, of  
course, for
>> the train to sound like a train and make some noise!

>> Many thanks in advance,
>> Corbb

>> -----
>> Corbb O'Connor
>> studying at the National University of Ireland, Galway

>> Begin forwarded message:

>> From: "Ben J. Bloomgren" <ben.j.bloomgren at gmail.com
>> Date: November 19, 2008 9:17:57 PM GMT
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org

>> Subject: [nabs-l] Crossing light rail tracks
>> Reply-To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org


>> Hello all,

>> On December 27, the Phoenix area gets its first taste 
(hopefully) of
>> light rail transit. The ads are already warning about the 
quietness of
>> the trains and advising pedestrians to look both ways before 
crossing.  My
>> question is this:  How do blind people cross the street when 
there  are
>> tracks?

>> Ben

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