[tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk construction for Nova2010
- From: "Barbara Lineberry" <bkblpp@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 20:43:22 -0500
Hi Darla and Precious Roxy,
I'd seen you'd mentioned holding out your cane to be more visable to drivers.
I remember one time crossing Apalachee Parkway at Paul Russell Road (one of the
very few times I've had to cross by walking). I went with the light, but the
light changed before I could get across and a car honked at me to get a move
on. I glared at him and tapped his car with my cane and he threatened to sue
me and ranted the rest of the time I was crossing. It was very scary. I admit
I shouldn't have hit his car, but it was so obvious that I couldn't move
faster. I hope also that grant monies may be found and that the things that
Mimi mentioned can happen too, but the problem is always money and/or people in
power who won't do what they should.
----- Original Message -----
From: Darla J. Rogers
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, February 04, 2011 4:51 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk construction
for Nova2010
Dear Barbara,
I think Ron and Mr. Menendez understand not just blind people will benefit
from more sidewalks and repairs, so again, I hope grant monies may be found to
assist the city in its efforts.
Darla & Precious Roxy
----- Original Message -----
From: Barbara Lineberry
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 3:16 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk construction
for Nova2010
Just a note from a sighted member of this group. It's not just the blind
that have obstacles to their freedom. I'm severely orthopedically challenged
and can't go to many of the places around town due to obstacles and poor
balance. It's been this way all of my life, but is getting much worse as I get
older. I'm at peace with the problem for the most part but I'm only speaking
for myself. Yes, sidewalks would be a wonderful addition and even I can
appreciate the audible signals. Thank heavens I can drive with hand controls,
but not always, as have torn rotator cuffs and don't always have the strength
to turn the wheel. I'm well aware of being frustrated at some situations. I'm
one who believes things are finally accomplished when someone in power or who
is famous develops a disability which then gets a lot of publicity and forces
the "temporarily able" to make changes. And there are sidewalks in several
places that are in disrepair with cracks and other problems and those places
will probably be listed as with sidewalks even though they are more dangerous.
And to Sila and Darla, even though I haven't made a formal check, I'm pretty
sure that Kerry Forest has sidewalks, at least on one side and maybe both.
Barbara
----- Original Message -----
From: Charles Atkins
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 11:34 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk
construction for Nova2010
But who need, what group need sidewalks more than the blind, and, why is
it that no one can see that as a priority? I know they're building them and
we're not, but, we're not, because, they won't allow us such a privilege or
even such an education but, I bet there are those of us that could figure it
out and probably with a little help from our friends, do a whale of a job
helping with installing them!
They are not trying to keep us off the street. They are not trying to
maintain that we not compete the same as everyone else for the jobs,. They are
not trying to indicate that making sidewalks and and city travel more city
friendly for the blind might be inviting too many ways for some to be injured.
They know that for the most part, we're all very safe drivers in maneuvering
our courses, and yet, for some strange reason, they haven't fixed it up for us
yet! Even, in the state's capitalCity! There is something, terribly, wrong
with this picture!
It seems like The makers of Automobiles will have: self driving ones
before we lay our grounds to receive them!
We have gone more than a tenth the way through, yet, another century, and
still, we're on the outside looking in?
Everybody in the world is getting freedom and ripping and running around
at will but us blind folk William!
That's not fair!
Some time we wana tare out and run too! Don't we?
Somehow, things can be better we know! Right William?
Take it on to them like it is my friend!
Time waits for noone or, anything!
Tell them just like it i s is! Brother!
----- Original Message -----
From: blindwilly
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 7:57 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk
construction for Nova2010
Charles,
I am on your side buddy, but there is never going to be enough money.
We have a few million to work on high priority sidewalks now and perhaps when
we have finished them, we will get another grant to continue, but even then
there will be priorities.
It's like the pharmacy add says, this is not a perfect world. I wish
it were, and I am batting it out my friend so keep in there with the cause and
we will all get there in the end.
Willy
----- Original Message -----
From: Charles Atkins
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 9:20 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk
construction for Nova2010
Even with the remotest possibility of their, possibly, not finding a
sidewalk at a bus stop, stifles any notion they might have to just be creative
and venture out for the sake of just being a happier person and feeling more
independent as a blind person! Does anyone else feel almost like I do?
It would be fun to just get up and go, but, the fact of one realizing
the sidewalk project is millions of dollars short, impedes any such liberty for
the cane travelers.
Is there anything we cane travelers can do to help them come up with
the rest of the money that's needed to complete the project?
What a wonderful city it would be if we could just go a head on and
be guaranteed that no matter where we go we won't be bothered with such a
scenario as our not finding along the way, the sidewalk once we got to where
they're missing or hadn't been installed to allow us to just enjoy our trip!
Otherwise, it's just just a hendrance!
----- Original Message -----
From: Chip Orange
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 4:36 PM
Subject: [tabi] article for tomorrow's Democrat: Sidewalk
construction for Nova2010
Sidewalk construction for Nova2010 continues but 'woefully' short
By TaMaryn Waters
Being blind is a way of life for Bruce Weaver, and so is riding the
bus.
Weaver, 48, who's been blind for 25 years as a result of a
hereditary disease, rides
a bus five to six times a day since he's the independent-living
coordinator for Ability
1st. His job is to teach those with disabilities how to use
StarMetro's buses as
well as he does.
With StarMetro's new Nova2010 bus system slated to launch this
summer, city crews
are tackling the tough job of correcting safety issues with
sidewalks and building
new ones in areas where no sidewalk exists so people like Weaver
can get better access
to bus stops.
"Without sidewalks, my level of independence would be significantly
hampered," said
Weaver, who also serves on the city's Transit Advisory Committee.
Even though he's pleased to see more sidewalks in the works, Weaver
is disappointed
all of the sidewalks needed for the massive decentralized bus
system will not be
done anytime soon. The city has $15 million carved out of its
budget for sidewalk
improvements related to Nova2010. But there's $37 million worth of
need, which is
roughly 25 miles of sidewalks, said Gabriel Menendez, the city's
public works director.
As a result, the city has to prioritize which sidewalks get done.
Forty one segments
in varied lengths, equal to $8 million of construction costs, are
on land where the
city has right-of-way. But 30 other segments needed for Nova2010
are not owned by
the city. Menendez said it would cost an estimated $29 million
obtain the needed
right-of-way.
"We are going to be woefully short on sidewalks," Menendez said.
"We are doing everything
we can to make the process work."
It is also why we can travelers can't make more abundant use of the
chirping signals they have been installing!
It is fool's play to go out and chance it though, i'm sure many of
us often, would like to give it a shot from time to time.
That shot couldor could not work in random instances!
When will this constant threat to our lives end man?
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