[tabi] Re: orientation of Braille on Starmetro signs
- From: "Easy Talk" <Easytalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 06:40:57 -0400
I think Star Metro mounted the signs the way they did to prevent vandalism. If
the signs were placed horizontally they could easily be broken off the pole.
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: Chip Orange
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2013 3:24 PM
Subject: [tabi] Re: orientation of Braille on Starmetro signs
Erica,
I wish to disagree with this point as well:
A braille cell is 50% taller than it is wide. When you turn it on its side,
it turns out to be almost the same width as 2 cells side-by-side.
Anyone can get the recommended spacing requirements for braille signage from
the internet; when you compute the two characters side by side, verses one
rotated, the difference is literally measure in hundreths of a millimeter.
I understand personal preference as a reason, but not faulty math.
Chip
From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Erica
Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2013 12:02 PM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tabi] Re: orientation of Braille on Starmetro signs
I understand the concern some of you, like Chip, might harbor about the
orientation of Braille on the placards.
In addition to my concurring with the replies which have already been posted
(about the repeated opportunities which were offered to view sample placards
and/or provide input), I would like to add a pragmatic consideration with which
some of you might not be aware:
Because the Braille signs include BOTH the route name(s) (which can be either
letters (for daytime routes) OR numbers (for night/Sunday routes), AND Next By
Text codes (which are a mixed string of letters and numbers), stacking the
letters on top of each other (as Chip prefers) would have required a wider
strip, since each character would have had to be preceded by either a number
sign or letter sign.
Unfortunately, placard width/horizontal space was quite limited because at
the time the bus stop poles were purchased-- long, LONG before anyone even
considered the "luxury" of Braille signage-- a unique octagonal pole shape was
selected. This in itself was, in my opinion, a very large concession to those
who needed tactile cues in locating the bus stops.
Given that we are the FIRST community in the COUNTRY to include Braille
signage (which also includes tactile large print), I think we got it fairly
close to FABULOUS! Perhaps other communities will choose to go about it
differently. However, as Lynda pointed out, she consulted with already
established standards before offering her input.
In the meantime, I remain very proud, indeed, to know that individuals CAN
effect positive change. And, frankly, having to turn your hand sideways to read
the Braille is far superior to standing at a pole wandering WHEN a bus will
come by... and WHICH ONE(s).
It would be especially appropriate, I think, to thank the individuals who
were key in making this accessibility a reality: John Plescow and Lynda Jones,
Jay Townsend, and Brian Waterman, in particular.
Respectfully,
Erica McCaul
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