Jennifer Barrow
|
October 27, 2002 |
I am writing you to express my strong support of audible pedestrian signals
and detectable warning strips. I am legally blind, and I am a university student
in Boston. There are many streets here in Boston, as well as in many other
cities and towns with which I am acquainted, where the presence of audible
pedestrian signals would greatly enhance the level of mobility independence and
security we blind people strive for. I know pedestrian signals are effective
tools in assuring safer travel and in converting the visual cues available to
everyone in an audible format because I use the audible signals at the few
intersections where they exist today. I also strongly support detectable warning
strips because they are beneficial to both cane and dog travelers. Specifically
in Boston, there are numerous areas where the T tracks run over the streets at
road level, and you are not aware that you are walking over them until you feel
them under your feet. This can be a dangerous situation because a person cannot
necessarily hear a train's approach in the midst of heavy vehicular traffic. Our
subway pits in stations can also be deadly if a person were to fall in them
because of the precarious position of the third rail and the absence of escape
routes. I hope you will extend your support for audible pedestrian signals and
detectable warning strips as well.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Barrow