Lynn,
I think Charles is right; we should be brave enough to tell people what we
cannot *safely* do; especially if, *if*, there's an alternative; transfer
points where riders don't have to leave that point, and the planner told
me
that was possible.
And one more thing Lynn; you're playing with other people's lives; just
because you're willing to take the chance on crossing a busy intersection
every day, should not mean that you argue so that others are also forced
to
do that.
I just talked to a blind person in the last week, who has been blind over
5
years, and does not yet feel confident in independent travel. he is also
totally blind, which does make a *big* difference.
so, I don't feel bad in asking them to do things differently. I'm not
doing
a "blackjack" and saying I won't play; not when I'm only asking for a
change
in design.
and it's not just blind people who are effected; it's anyone in a
wheel-chair, or anyone who's elderly and may not walk as fast as they once
did, or is mobility impaired for any number of reasons.
so, I hope you'll think of all these things, and understand I'm asking
them
to plan for all of these people, not cancel the entire project.
thanks for writing and telling us how you feel.
Chip
-----Original Message-----
From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf
Of Lynn Evans
Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2009 7:21 PM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tabi] Re: my object to Nova 2010
You are correct in saying there are no guarantees when it comes to life.
it
is a crap shoot. A person steps out boldly from the curb of life with the
mobility skills we have and takes their chances. You are asking for a
guarantee for city services? You mean like the electricity want never go
out? The water will never be turned off? The trash will always be picked
up?
Look at the changes Star Metro has made to their plan so far. We asked for
a
route description and they gave it to us. Robert asked for the Village
Square change and they did that.
Let us not do a "Blackjack" here and tell Star metro if they want play by
our rules then we will not play,. the intersections where the transfer
points are, need to be made as safe as humanly possible for EVERYONE. This
is what we need to tell the city commission.
It scares me to tell anyone, what I can't do. That puts me in a vulnerable
position in their eyes.
We need to work with Star Metro or we are going to be left on the curb as
the bus passes us by.
----- Original Message -----
From: Easy Talk <mailto:easytalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 2:40 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: my object to Nova 2010
Chip, After much consideration and Soule searching, I am with you
100 percent. I am one who has been hit at an audible crossing. I am
certainly for decentralization but more work needs to be done and as
Heather
said Star Metro does transportation/buses not Sidewalks, Audible signals
or
Police Safety. They can only educate but it is up to other departments to
do there part and so far there are no guarantees.
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: Chip Orange <mailto:Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 11:54 AM
Subject: [tabi] my object to Nova 2010
hi all,
I spoke with a StarMetro planner yesterday, and he said only
2 intersections of the possible 41 proposed for transfer points, currently
have audible signals. (I think Lynn did tell us that).
perhaps, just perhaps, they'll be able to add 10, even 20,
in the next year, but by no means all of them will get audible signals.
the point I made to him, and the one I intend to make to the
city commission unless there is a dramatic change in the plan, is that no
intersection, even with an audible signal, is safe for a blind person to
cross. audible signals only make it somewhat safer, but many of our local
blind residents can testify about being hit. I don't think even our
best,
most skillful, independent travelers, can say that crossing an
intersection
such as many of those proposed by StarMetro is safe; and, a number of our
blind residents do not fall into the class of our "most skillful"
independent travelers.
I intend to urge the city commission to deny the entire plan
until the safety of disable riders can be assured by never requiring a
transfer through an intersection; StarMetro has got to be forced to come
up
with another way to handle transfers.
I know others of you have other objections to the plan, and
I've heard and agree with a lot of them, but this is to me, the single
really good one, which is good enough to warrant the city commission
stopping implementation until it is worked out.
I do support other objections which have been raised,
including the one I just mentioned that with all the bus stops moving to
new
locations, they are going to be hard to find, and that the routes and the
location of stops require a lot of walking at times, which itself is also
unsafe. but when I write the commission after the plan is submitted to
them, I am only going to focus on the safety issue, as I think it's the
most
important, and I don't want to overwhelm them in my letter with les
important objections.
I hope all of you will consider writing to the city
commission, but not until the plan has been submitted to them. any
letters
before then are evidently just forwarded to StarMetro, without engaging
the
commissioners' attention.
thanks.
Chip
------------------------------
Chip Orange
Database Administrator
Florida Public Service Commission
Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(850) 413-6314
(Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and
do not necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service
Commission.)
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