We tried Google in the past but they were and are in such high demand it is hard to get in the door. I will try again. Sent from my iPhone On Oct 17, 2013, at 6:26 PM, "Chip and Allie Orange" <acorange@xxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:acorange@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote: Thank you Brian; however, the rest of the country is using Google transit. While it would be nice to have something, it would be much better to have the system which all the others are using, and which all the available apps are supporting. I hope you’ll consider both if you are committed to MS. Thanks. Chip From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Waterman, Brian Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2013 6:20 PM To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Subject: [tabi] Re: Braille signage-- demand and offer This is Brian from StarMetro. We are working with Microsoft and Bing maps right now. Sent from my iPhone On Oct 17, 2013, at 6:17 PM, "Chip and Allie Orange" <acorange@xxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:acorange@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote: If I could offer suggestions on things that would help everyone as well as the disabled (speaking up here as instructed): Please ask StarMetro to consider placing their route data on the Google transit system. There are many free apps (I am writing one right now) which can then present the data from Google, as part of a complete set of instructions, as to how a person might need to walk and make use of the transit system to get from point A to point B. Their instructions tell you exactly which streets to walk to; where the bus stop is located; what time the bus stops there and which one you should take, and how many stops later you should disembark from the bus, along with the remainder of your walking (or transfer) instructions. They are amazingly clear and easy to use. Over 100 cities already participate on Google transit, and Google does this absolutely for free; and says they will help any city having a problem getting their data in the correct format. This makes use of the transit system by a blind person much easier, as users of my app in other cities are already telling me. It completely replaces the paper maps and the inaccessible route planner from StarMetro with something accessible and maintained by someone else! We all win. Thanks. Chip From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of blindwilly Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2013 4:21 PM To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; brian.waterman@xxxxxxxxxx<mailto:brian.waterman@xxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [tabi] Re: Braille signage-- demand and offer Erica, I have been in on this since the first, along with our TCB. One thing I noticed is that for every one person that complained about the efforts, there were three that were positive. We have a long way to go, but we have come a long way and farther than the mass majority of America. William ----- Original Message ----- From: Erica<mailto:ericamccaul@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> ; brian.waterman@xxxxxxxxxx<mailto:brian.waterman@xxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2013 1:15 PM Subject: [tabi] Braille signage-- demand and offer I am going to make an offer and a demand for the folks subscribed to TABI. There has been some hugh and cry regarding a perceived lack of information about the process used to determine how/if Braille signage should be included in Starmetro's attempts to improve our bus service. Many venues for information are open to the general public, including-- perhaps most obviously-- the City's Press Releases, which can be accessed through Talgov.com<http://Talgov.com>. Lynn Evans has done a wonderful job of faithfully and timely posting these to TABI... so there should be no excuses here about not having access to that information in the past. (Lynn, I am in no way obligating you to continue this service... but I certainly want to publicly thank you for all you have done!) IF, however, you still are uninformed, AND WISH TO BE, please email me off-line and I will provide you with a list of information sources. If you choose not to get involved-- do not make an effort to inform yourself, cannot find it in your schedule to make your voice heard in a productive manner-- THEN HERE IS MY DEMAND: please remain silent about such issues. Starmetro has done a wonderful job in their efforts to get Braille signage to little ol' Tallahassee! There have been a few snags, yes, but every pioneer has faced such challenges. Startmetro DOES NOT NEED TO HEAR whining and crying at this point about opportunities individuals missed to have their input heard, or about a "better way" to do something they have already completed. That is no way to show our gratitude for their efforts, not to mention the efforts of the citizens who were involved. Starmetro NEEDS to hear "Thank you!" IT IS DONE. IT HAS BEEN DONE AS WELL AS WE-- Starmetro staff and involved citizens-- COULD POSSIBLY FORESEE AND PLAN. And, NO, in case you are wondering, it was not just 3 or 4 local folks stabbing in the dark; Department of Transportation and other national standards were consulted. (Thank you to Lynda Jones!) If you don't use the bus, then you will never have to worry about your hand getting a cramp from reading sideways. However, for those of us who do ride, this will be a HUGE help! I'm sure we are smart enough to read Braille "sideways", just as sightlings adapt to signs written vertically. Let's move forward with positive comments only. just like Thumper's father told him, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say nothin' at all." Erica