Jeanette M. Schmoyer | September 9, 2002 |
I support the PROWAC report. I am legally blind and have been since high
school. I am now 60 years old. Blind people need to have detectable warnings at
places where vehicular traffic is likely to be found and we need accessible
pedestrian signals. I am in favor of ramped sidewalks for those who use
wheelchairs, but those ramps are a serious danger to blind people without
tactile warnings at the ramps. I have traveled to cities where detectable
warnings are used, and they are a tremendous help in knowing one is approaching
a ramped area. There is no question about how important the detectable warnings
are for train and subway platforms.
In addition, intersections are no longer the simple perpendicular two lane
traffic flow areas where you can hear if a car is coming or not. Audible
pedestrian signals are vital for safe travel and need to be part of the modern
day intersection development. People who are blind want to be full and
independent members of society. We need to be safe going to our jobs, getting to
the grocery an clothing stores, and going to leisure and recreational
activities.
It is time to enact these safeguards. Please, let's have no longer delay!
Jeanette M. Schmoyer