March 20, 2008: Blind Sidewalks - Page 2

deadbeater · 03-22-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

We have those here. They can be a death trap if you're wearing spike heels. We also have noisy walk signals at traffic lights. Do you have those too?

Noisy, as in VERY loud clicks? Or does it makes some other noise? We get very small clicking noises on our lights in NYC, so the only real noise indicating a light change is the honking of the horns.

Aliantha · 03-23-2008, 01:09 AM

I wouldn't call the sound a click so much as a pipping sound, but it's very loud, and starts off with the sort of sound you associate with a laser shooter in a star wars movie. You can hear them from half a block away at a busy city intersection.

spudcon · 03-24-2008, 04:46 PM

It seems the dog only recognized, and stopped at roads with curbs.

Cloud · 03-24-2008, 04:53 PM

I'm more interested in the intersection of gay and high . . .

Wombat · 03-24-2008, 06:52 PM

We have those blind sidewalk pavers in Canberra, on the paved areas at the major bus interchanges. Ours look exactly like the ones in the pics.

We have the noisy walk signals too: they also vibrate to help people who are both blind and deaf.

lumberjim · 03-24-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

Back in the early 1980s, they redid the sidewalks in town in West Chester, particularly the crossing at Gay and High. For wheelchair access they removed the curbs at the intersections. It was a masterful job, with a very gentle slope to the street.

Unfortunately, blind people never knew when they were crossing the street. I don't know if there were any injuries or near misses, though.

Within a few weeks the brand new crossings were ripped up, and some rough cobblestones were laid in place to mark the edge of the sidewalk and the beginning of possible sudden death. If you've ever tried to cross at Gay and High, you know what I mean.

I believe that Dave Barry (who at the time was a columnist for The Daily Lack o' News) wrote a particularly humorous column about this.

was that the origin of "in West Chester, you go in High, and come out Gay?"

Karenv · 03-25-2008, 09:02 AM

Given that one can't really walk in high heels, I don't suppose that it matters much. High heels are for transferring from taxi to elevator, not for walking on city streets.

03-23-2008, 01:09 AM	#17
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	I wouldn't call the sound a click so much as a pipping sound, but it's very loud, and starts off with the sort of sound you associate with a laser shooter in a star wars movie. You can hear them from half a block away at a busy city intersection. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

03-24-2008, 04:46 PM	#18
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 2,078	It seems the dog only recognized, and stopped at roads with curbs. Attached Images

03-24-2008, 04:53 PM	#19
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	I'm more interested in the intersection of gay and high . . . __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

03-24-2008, 06:52 PM	#20
Wombat (marsupial with backward-facing pouch) Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canberra Posts: 251	We have those blind sidewalk pavers in Canberra, on the paved areas at the major bus interchanges. Ours look exactly like the ones in the pics. We have the noisy walk signals too: they also vibrate to help people who are both blind and deaf. __________________ If you don't do it properly, you'll get to the pub sooner.

03-25-2008, 09:02 AM	#22
Karenv Slacker Join Date: May 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 144	Given that one can't really walk in high heels, I don't suppose that it matters much. High heels are for transferring from taxi to elevator, not for walking on city streets.

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