[nfb-talk] Why I Can't ignore the NFB

[Mike Freeman]

Brian:

Although I have encountered few intersections wherein an audible signal 
provided enough helpful extra information to make their installation 
cost-effective or worthwhile (at least in my estimation), I agree with you 
that there are some signals that are marginally useful in that they do tell 
you when a particular walking path is available. In fact, I'll go further: 
although there is always the problem of the image of the blind such signals 
impart and there is always the danger that the sighted will deem such 
signals a necessity and steer blind persons seeking jobs or residences in 
areas without such signals away, if audible signals would either just sound 
when their light turned green or give a short countdown followed by the WALK 
signal, I wouldn't mind them everywhere in that they would be silent except 
for a brief period.

Put another way, what distracts me so much with most audible signals is that 
both blind and sighted seem to think them useful to indicate directionality, 
i.e., to be homed in on when crossing intersections. This is, to my way of 
thinking, downright dangerous in that the homing signals are distracting and 
are often distorted by buildings or other obstacles which make their 
direction of sound emission problematic to determine. So if signals just 
bleeped once and then got out of the way, I wouldn't be so irritated by 
them.

Mike Freeman

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Miller" <brian-r-miller at uiowa.edu>
To: "'Tanna G. Shoyo'" <tshoyo at neb.rr.com>; "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" 
<nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 7:25 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Why I Can't ignore the NFB


> Some are a pain, some are helpful -- they are not all created alike, and 
> not
> all intersections are equal either, as we all know.  I've definitely
> encountered some audible signals that were a clear hazard to the blind, 
> and
> I've used others that were very helpful in letting me know when I had a
> green arrow at a very busy crossing.  Obviously, knowing there is a green
> arrow or walk sign doesn't mean one should dart into the street, but it 
> can
> be useful information to know that at least in theory you have the right
> away.
>
> Brian
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Tanna G. Shoyo
> Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:39 PM
> To: qubit; NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Why I Can't ignore the NFB
>
> I find those traffic signals to be more of a pain in the neck then 
> helpful.
> That would be one extra thing that our tax dollars would be paying for.
>
> Tanna Shoyo
> Lincoln, NE
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "qubit" <lauraeaves at yahoo.com>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 5:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Why I Can't ignore the NFB
>
>
>> and that is why drivers must always yield to a person with a guide dog or
>> white cane -- but of course drivers make mistakes too...and sometimes 
>> they
>> don't study the driver's manual...but those same drivers also don't pay
>> attention to traffic signals, right?
>> Go flame on another list. You've already filled enough mailboxes on this
>> topic several rounds over.
>> --le
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "John G. Heim" <jheim at math.wisc.edu>
>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 12:49 PM
>> Subject: [nfb-talk] Why I Can't ignore the NFB
>>
>>
>> from
>>
>> http://nfb.org/legacy/bm/bm03/bm0301/bm030103.htm
>>
>>
>>
>> -- begin quote --
>>
>> Mike Freeman: "We didn't need audible pedestrian signals, nor did we need
>> detectable warnings to walk the streets with safety and grace."
>>
>>
>>
>> -- end quote --
>>
>>
>> Man, this really steams my wheaties. I was recently in San Rafael,
>> California getting a new guide dog from GDB. After one night training
>> session, the instructor told us that about half of the students crossed
>> against the light at a particular intercection. These are people with
>> proven
>> mobility skills as GDB checks that out before the admit students.
>>
>> The point is that anyone can make a mistake.  You might think that as new
>> guide dog trainees, the students were distracted or not at their best. 
>> But
>> that's not unusual. People are sometimes distracted or distressed and 
>> they
>> cross streets anyway. That's life.
>>
>> People aren't perfect. They make mistakes. Most likely, everyone reading
>> this message has crossed against the lights at one time or another. And
>> even
>> if you haven't, others have. You may be perfect but that doesn't mean you
>> should dismiss the needs of those who aren't.
>>
>> The truth is that audible walk signals make us safer. The NFB, with its
>> bizarre, capricious policies has helped make this world less safe for the
>> very people it is supposed to protect.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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