My name is Michael Riley and I work as a Rehabilitation Teacher for the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Recently, there has been controversy about the pedestrian laws and signals to help the blind travel more effectively and safely. I work with the newly blinded to help them retain their independence by learning new skills and techniques. In many cases, it is a matter of life and death that these people not be forgotten when implementing new pedestrian laws. I do not believe in the argument that someone should have been better trained as a justification for keeping the laws as they are.

I also have been blind from birth and know that no matter how much training you have, you still encounter situationswhere traveling is a challenge. Given my belief in pedestrian safety, I want to support the work of the PROWAC committee and their considerations to improve pedestrian laws and help the blind travel more safely. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Michael Riley

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