[nfbwatlk] Fw: [Quietcars] urgent problem, distant research

Sat Oct 13 01:30:44 CDT 2007

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Janet Barlow
To: Discussion of new quiet cars and pedestrian safety
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 1:03 PM
Subject: Re: [Quietcars] urgent problem, distant research

At 03:07 PM 10/12/2007, Ken Stewart wrote:
>This post reads like insiders talking to insiders.

Well, Ken, it is a forwarded message, as I noted in my intro, from
the TRB Committee on Accessible Transportation and Mobility Committee
to its members and friends, so you're right.....it is 'insiders
talking to insiders'.  However, this committee actually managed to
get the problem statement into the hopper to be funded, while the TRB
Pedestrians Committee has talked about it, but as far as I know
didn't get a problem statement submitted for funding.  I'm not sure
what TOPS stands for, but it's a group that reviews the research
proposals submitted and selects the ones that will be funded.  TCRP
is Transit Cooperative Research Program and I find it interesting
that it's risen up toward the top of the list for funding under
transit funding, rather than under the National Highway Cooperative
Reseach Program (NCHRP).   TCRP will decide the top priorities this
month and those are the ones that will be funded.  This happens once
a year, so if it doesn't get funded this year, research is even further 
off.

Comments from "the industry" is fairly traditional TRB wording for
soliciting comments, but they are asking for and accepting comments
from anyone and everyone, so that's why I thought it would be
appropriate for this group to know about it and submit comments, to
support it being a priority for funding within this TRB research
program.  Comments should be provided to tcrp at nas.edu by October
17th; Quiet cars is problem statement number #5.

In my experience, research is sometimes necessary to get the
responsible parties to recognize there's a problem and to require
something, particularly when you're talking about the government 
agencies.
I personally have some concern about the direction of this proposal,
in its focus on developing "vehicle detection technologies..... and
evaluating their usefulness by persons who are blind"  However, there
are panels that oversee TCRP and NCHRP projects and anyone who's
interested can submit their name as a potential panel member and help
write the funded problem statement and oversee the research from
start to finish.  Direction of reseach can be changed somewhat by that 
process.

First step, in my opinion, is to tell them that quiet cars are really
a problem and that they should fund the proposal.   Whether you do
that, or not, is up to you; I just wanted to let folks on this list
know about the opportunity.

Janet Barlow

>What is TOPS?  What is TCRP, and what is meant by it
>wanting to get comments from "the industry"?  And, is
>this TRB committee in touch with the TRBPedestrian
>Committee, which committee has been responsive to my
>input and concluded, I understand, quiet cars are an
>immediate danger to a wider array of pedestrian
>groups?  I am impatient about academic efforts focused
>on seeking 2008 federal funding for 2009 research to
>conclude in 2010 what we already know!  How about
>someone go out tomorrow and put a loose wing nut in
>each hubcap, and drive around the block.  The noise
>while cruising will not be negative noise pollution,
>and when it slows down near pedestrians, the sound
>will be like roulette wheels coming to a stop.
>I agree with David and others.. we should ask local
>and state legislators to make operating a motor
>vehicle silently just as illegal as driving at night
>without headlights.  And, we must insist on better
>accident reporting to capture what is already
>happening on our streets.  And, encourage insurance
>companies to raise premiums on vehicles more likely to
>be involved in pedestrian conflicts, and, pressure all
>governmental entities to refuse to place purchase
>orders for any vehicle (transit bus, Commissioner's
>sedan, or squad car)  that lacks an audible aspect,
>and, prohibit hybrid taxis on the streets without an
>audible aspect,  etc..
>--- Janet Barlow <jmbarlow at accessforblind.org> wrote:
>
> > The forwarded message copied below my signature
> > might be of interest
> > to individuals on this list.  The problem statement
> > on Quiet Cars is #5.
> > Janet Barlow
> >
> > Dear TRB Committee Members and Friends,
> >
> > Two of the full research statements that were
> > developed by TRB
> > Accessible Transportation and Mobility Committee
> > members and friends
> > have made it through the TOPS review process and are
> > being considered
> > for funding in 2008.  They are:
> >
> > "Quiet Cars: Threats to Safe Travel for Blind
> > Pedestrians"
> > "A Handbook for Lighting in Transit and Pedestrian
> > Environments"
> >
> > TCRP is requesting comments from the industry on
> > these and other
> > possible research topics.  Comments need to be
> > submitted to tcrp at nas.edu
> > by next Wednesday, October 17.  The call for
> > comments as well as the
> > full list of research topics being considered (and
> > the full text of
> > these and other topics) can be found at
> > www.trb.org/NotesDocs/2008TCRPProblems.pdf.
> >
> > I would encourage each of you to indicate your
> > support for these
> > research topics.  It is important that we continue
> > to keep accessibility
> > and mobility issues on the TRB agenda.  I would also
> > encourage you to
> > send this e-mail to any other organizations or
> > individuals who you think
> > may have an interest in seeing research on these
> > issues conducted.
> >
> > Thanks for your help,
> > Russell Thatcher
> > Research Subcommittee Co-Chair
> > rhthatcher at transystems.com

------
Janet M. Barlow, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist
Accessible Design for the Blind
3 Manila Street
Asheville, NC 28806
770-317-0611
jmbarlow at accessforblind.org
-----------------
The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity
to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged
material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of,
or taking of any action in reliance upon this information by persons or
entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you
received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the
material from any computer.

_______________________________________________
Quietcars mailing list
Quietcars at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/quietcars
-------------- next part --------------
----- Original Message -----
From:
mailto:jmbarlow at accessforblind.org Janet Barlow
To:
mailto:quietcars at nfbnet.org Discussion of new quiet cars and pedestrian safety
Sent:
Friday, October 12, 2007 1:03 PM
Subject:
Re: [Quietcars] urgent problem, distant research
At 03:07 PM 10/12/2007, Ken Stewart wrote:
>This post reads like insiders talking to insiders.
Well, Ken, it is a forwarded message, as I noted in my intro, from
the TRB Committee on Accessible Transportation and Mobility Committee
to its members and friends, so you're right.....it is 'insiders
talking to insiders'.  However, this committee actually managed to
get the problem statement into the hopper to be funded, while the TRB
Pedestrians Committee has talked about it, but as far as I know
didn't get a problem statement submitted for funding.  I'm not sure
what TOPS stands for, but it's a group that reviews the research
proposals submitted and selects the ones that will be funded.  TCRP
is Transit Cooperative Research Program and I find it interesting
that it's risen up toward the top of the list for funding under
transit funding, rather than under the National Highway Cooperative
Reseach Program (NCHRP).   TCRP will decide the top priorities this
month and those are the ones that will be funded.  This happens once
a year, so if it doesn't get funded this year, research is even further off.
Comments from "the industry" is fairly traditional TRB wording for
soliciting comments, but they are asking for and accepting comments
from anyone and everyone, so that's why I thought it would be
appropriate for this group to know about it and submit comments, to
support it being a priority for funding within this TRB research
program.  Comments should be provided to mailto:tcrp at nas.edu tcrp at nas.edu
by October
17th; Quiet cars is problem statement number #5.
In my experience, research is sometimes necessary to get the
responsible parties to recognize there's a problem and to require
something, particularly when you're talking about the government agencies.
I personally have some concern about the direction of this proposal,
in its focus on developing "vehicle detection technologies..... and
evaluating their usefulness by persons who are blind"  However, there
are panels that oversee TCRP and NCHRP projects and anyone who's
interested can submit their name as a potential panel member and help
write the funded problem statement and oversee the research from
start to finish.  Direction of reseach can be changed somewhat by that process.
First step, in my opinion, is to tell them that quiet cars are really
a problem and that they should fund the proposal.   Whether you do
that, or not, is up to you; I just wanted to let folks on this list
know about the opportunity.
Janet Barlow
>What is TOPS?  What is TCRP, and what is meant by it
>wanting to get comments from "the industry"?  And, is
>this TRB committee in touch with the TRBPedestrian
>Committee, which committee has been responsive to my
>input and concluded, I understand, quiet cars are an
>immediate danger to a wider array of pedestrian
>groups?  I am impatient about academic efforts focused
>on seeking 2008 federal funding for 2009 research to
>conclude in 2010 what we already know!  How about
>someone go out tomorrow and put a loose wing nut in
>each hubcap, and drive around the block.  The noise
>while cruising will not be negative noise pollution,
>and when it slows down near pedestrians, the sound
>will be like roulette wheels coming to a stop.
>I agree with David and others.. we should ask local
>and state legislators to make operating a motor
>vehicle silently just as illegal as driving at night
>without headlights.  And, we must insist on better
>accident reporting to capture what is already
>happening on our streets.  And, encourage insurance
>companies to raise premiums on vehicles more likely to
>be involved in pedestrian conflicts, and, pressure all
>governmental entities to refuse to place purchase
>orders for any vehicle (transit bus, Commissioner's
>sedan, or squad car)  that lacks an audible aspect,
>and, prohibit hybrid taxis on the streets without an
>audible aspect,  etc..
>--- Janet Barlow < mailto:jmbarlow at accessforblind.org jmbarlow at accessforblind.org
> wrote:
>
> > The forwarded message copied below my signature
> > might be of interest
> > to individuals on this list.  The problem statement
> > on Quiet Cars is #5.
> > Janet Barlow
> >
> > Dear TRB Committee Members and Friends,
> >
> > Two of the full research statements that were
> > developed by TRB
> > Accessible Transportation and Mobility Committee
> > members and friends
> > have made it through the TOPS review process and are
> > being considered
> > for funding in 2008.  They are:
> >
> > "Quiet Cars: Threats to Safe Travel for Blind
> > Pedestrians"
> > "A Handbook for Lighting in Transit and Pedestrian
> > Environments"
> >
> > TCRP is requesting comments from the industry on
> > these and other
> > possible research topics.  Comments need to be
> > submitted to mailto:tcrp at nas.edu tcrp at nas.edu
> > by next Wednesday, October 17.  The call for
> > comments as well as the
> > full list of research topics being considered (and
> > the full text of
> > these and other topics) can be found at
> > http://www.trb.org/NotesDocs/2008TCRPProblems.pdf www.trb.org/NotesDocs/2008TCRPProblems.pdf
.
> >
> > I would encourage each of you to indicate your
> > support for these
> > research topics.  It is important that we continue
> > to keep accessibility
> > and mobility issues on the TRB agenda.  I would also
> > encourage you to
> > send this e-mail to any other organizations or
> > individuals who you think
> > may have an interest in seeing research on these
> > issues conducted.
> >
> > Thanks for your help,
> > Russell Thatcher
> > Research Subcommittee Co-Chair
> > mailto:rhthatcher at transystems.com rhthatcher at transystems.com
------
Janet M. Barlow, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist
Accessible Design for the Blind
3 Manila Street
Asheville, NC 28806
770-317-0611
mailto:jmbarlow at accessforblind.org jmbarlow at accessforblind.org
-----------------
The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity
to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged
material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of,
or taking of any action in reliance upon this information by persons or
entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you
received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the
material from any computer.
_______________________________________________
Quietcars mailing list
mailto:Quietcars at nfbnet.org Quietcars at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/quietcars http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/quietcars