[bscb-l] How do you navigate the green line with the noisy fans?

[Alison]

...And BSCB members could also lobby the State House for increased funding for the MBTA, the same way we lobby every year for the Commission for the Blind and the Braille/Talking Book Libraries...

--Alison



----- Original Message -----
From: "DeAnn Elliott" <deann.elliott at gmail.com>
To: "Bay state (Massachusetts) discussion list" <bscb-l at acb.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 12:24:23 PM
Subject: Re: [bscb-l] How do you navigate the green line with the noisy fans?

I agree that the public transit system is a hugely valuable resource for the
blind community, and while it's not up to European standards, it does allow
us to get around in a way that's much better than in other parts of the
state, and that's a big consideration not only for quality of life but also
for the ability to find a keep a job, get to medical appointments, etc.  We
have the oldest subway system in the country, and it's showing its age.
They've been upgrading the stations to include elevators and wheelchair
ramps, and all of that is important and worthy of our support. We're all in
the same disability boat. I'm happy to have the free fare, and I also agree
it doesn't cost anything to make some of these smaller accommodations like
stop announcements, but I also agree with Alison that it could be a useful
thing to get involved in positive advocacy by volunteering to serve on
consumer committees and so on to ensure that the needs of PWD are being
included in all levels of planning. We should aim to have blind
representation on every regional transportation committee and board. In
light of the privilege of riding for free, I might even be in support of a
small donation to the MBTA, just to emphasize that we're here and invested.
More needs to be done to expand service in other parts of the Commonwealth,
but if we're talking about local issues, my pet peeve is the ridiculous
public announcement system on the Red Line.  I get off at Harvard and half
the time the only way I know it's my stop is when I hear the squeal of the
train wheels as it rounds the corner coming into the station from downtown.
I know that I'm supposed to record the number of the train car and report
it, but realistically, when I can't read the number myself and I can't even
tell if a person is sitting next to me or maybe I'm in the train car alone,
or I have to ask and memorize the numbers while I have to fight my way out
of a crowded car with my dog before the doors close, it's not practical.
The speakers should just be checked and maintained regularly, which benefits
everyone, not just people who can't look out the window to read the stops or
see the landmarks. That's not too much to ask, I don't think.  But we do
have to find some ways to expand our involvement in circles that count, and
that may require lots of people getting involved.

DeAnn Elliott and Emmy

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