[nfbwatlk] Talking Signs

[Bob Sellers]

The quiet cars and the short walk cycles is something we should be
discussing and proposing corrective actions, but I also think it is
importent that we don't make it a blindness only issue. Otherwise it makes
the blind look as though we are looking for special treatment.

Bob

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 10:35 AM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Talking Signs


> With respect, although the issue of quiet cars should be addressed, I do
> not think it rises to the level of endangering our independence. Some of
> us are going to travel, quiet cars or not. And I think it quite likely
> that the issue of increasingly short WALK cycles poses an equal or
> greater danger to the blind (as to all other pedestrians) as do quiet
> cars. Neither danger will be easily or quickly resolved.
>
> Mike
>
> On Fri, 8 Sep 2006, Noel Nightingale wrote:
>
> >
> > In addition, the issue of talking signs is a distraction from the real
> > problem we are facing.  That is, the real danger to us losing our
> > independence.  The issue of quiet cars.  Particularly, when hybrid cars
> > are in their electric mode, they cannot be heard until they are going
> > quite fast.  That is the issue that government ought to be fixing.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> > On Behalf Of Mackenstadt, Gary
> > Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 9:28 AM
> > To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> > Subject: [nfbwatlk] Talking Signs
> >
> >
> > I have read with interest all of the comments about talking signs.
> > Quite frankly, they do not impress me.  Recognizing that I am being
> > extremely conservative on blindness issues once again, I still cannot
> > help but thinking that we spend a lot of time trying to address the loss
> > of sight.  Until blind persons are independent travelers in the world,
> > using either long white canes or dogs, it seems to me that a lot of this
> > stuff concerning travel and technology is nonsense.  Blind persons have
> > travelled very compidently for a long time, provided that they had had
> > the necessary training, experience and confidence.  In my judgement,
> > technology like audible street signals have been more of a hindrance
> > than a help.  Of course, technology has provided blind persons with a
> > lot of opportunity, particularly in school and on the job.  Also
> > technology available to the general public has created barriers to the
> > blind--the list is endless.  Of course, I carry a cell phone all the
> > time and have used it a couple of time when lost; so who knows what
> > might be next.  Talking signs do nothing for me.  Maybe, I'm just
> > narrow-minded.
> >
> >
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> >
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