I am writing to urge the Access Board to think twice about requiring accessible pedestrian signals and detectable warnings to be installed everywhere. While I am not blind, I do have many blind friends, and I have observed how they negotiate all kinds of street crossings--from the square unsignalized street corner to the T intersection with a traffic signal whose state is difficult to determine. I have also observed how properly-trained blind people can avoid many hazardous areas--without bumpy domes. But you’ve already made a poorly thought out ruling on that issue.

One question which comes to my mind immediately about the bumpy domes is this: How do they promote accessibility? They may promote safety, but then what is the Access Board doing looking into issues of safety? Shouldn’t that be done by another governmental agency which is better equipped to handle issues of safety? One that has the capacity for research, not emotional rule making?

Back to the traffic signals. Our economy is not in good shape now, and it would be really crazy for society to have to spend money putting in these unnecessary and unwanted devices. They might be useful in a limited number of cases, but to say that they shall be installed everywhere is simply irresponsible and wasteful.

Please exercise rational thought here, and don’t be swayed by those people who use pity to get what they want.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Alice Gosse

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