Latest news with #NationalFederationoftheBlind
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Pause on new 'floating' bus stops welcomed by campaigners
Campaigners have welcomed the government's decision to pause the rollout of one type of so-called floating bus stop, but said "it does not go far enough".The design, which has a cycle lane between the stop and the kerb, is intended to allow bus passengers to get on and off safely while cyclists can continue Gayton, street access campaign coordinator at the National Federation of the Blind of the UK, told BBC London it was time to "go back to the drawing board and get better solutions for blind, visually impaired people, all bus passengers and cyclists".A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "The safety and accessibility of our roads and pavements is an absolute priority." They added: "That's why the government will ask all local authorities in England to halt the implementation of floating bus stops until new statutory guidance is created."There are currently 164 floating bus stops in the capital, London Assembly figures show. There are two different types of so-called floating bus stops: Shared use bus border (SUBB) where the cycle lane runs across the front of the bus stop, between the shelter and the kerb where buses stopBus stop bypasses where the bike track runs behind the bus stop/shelterThe government announcement on a pause refers to SUBBs. There are no SUBBs on Transport for London's (TfL) road network but many exist on roads managed by London borough with the most floating bus stops is Tower Hamlets (34), followed by Waltham Forest (19) and Southwark (16). Ms Gayton said she wanted the introduction of all types of floating bus stop to be said: "They're an absolute nightmare because if it's a SUBB, you have to board the bus directly from a cycle lane, or you have to get off into a cycle lane. "If you think that a blind person's got a white cane, you have to put your cane right out so it could be hit, it could be broken, it could be snatched out of your hand by a cyclist. "If you've got a guide dog, the guide dog sort of launches you forward down into the cycle lane and you can't see them [cyclists], you cannot hear them."A lot of blind people rely on their hearing so it's like playing Russian roulette because we know the majority of cyclists simply don't stop at these floating bus stops." In a written answer to Parliament last month, Simon Munk, head of campaigns and community development at the London Cycling Campaign, denied suggestions that floating bus stops were said: "Indeed, they appear to have very low collision rates, and are safer for pedestrians than many other road features not under scrutiny in general – side road entrances, zebra crossings, signalised junctions, pedestrian refuges etc."While the lived experience of visually impaired and other groups of people finding floating bus stops difficult to navigate is clear and important to consider, there is no evidence that visually impaired, other disabled or elderly people are finding floating bus stops so difficult to navigate that they are avoiding them." In a written answer to the London Assembly in May, the mayor of London stated: "TfL is awaiting further information from the Department for Transport regarding the proposed pause to the delivery of SUBBs across the country. "Once it has more information, it will carefully consider the implications for London and work with London borough councils to consider the appropriate next steps. "In the meantime, TfL is talking directly to boroughs with planned SUBBs to understand the current status of such works."
Axios
17-04-2025
- General
- Axios
Circle Centre Mall memories
As Circle Centre Mall's redevelopment (finally) gets rolling, we asked Axios Indy readers what era of the mall they missed the most. Here is what they had to say: 🛍️ " Not long after the mall opened ... our National Federation of the Blind chapter was able to schedule a tour. Our guides introduced us to the many accessibility features of the mall, and we toured all the floors to learn how it was laid out and what stores and other amenities were located there. I visited on my own many times after that, especially when I needed a shower gift, or a book for a friend. There were a couple of bookstores there, and a kitchen shop with lots of fun gadgets." "As a blind person living not far from downtown, I found it very convenient to ride the bus downtown and shop. Now I can shop online for most anything I want, but I do miss the ability to visit a store and compare different items before I buy," Susan J. wrote. 🏈 "The early 2010s was it for me … especially the year (Indianapolis hosted) the Super Bowl," Morgan G. told Axios. "I had just moved here from near Chicago and lived close to downtown. I didn't know a lot of people, so walking around the mall was how I passed the time and got to know more about the city. When I think of downtown, I still think of the mall first." ☀️ " Circle Centre in the summer in the late '90s and early 2000s really was a 'you had to be there' kinda situation. And you had to be fresh before you went because you never knew who you might run into," said Antonio P. "It definitely hasn't been like that in a very long time. And we got a whole generation of kids that don't know what going to the mall and hanging out with your friends all day on a Saturday feels like. I feel like the city needs that back."
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Autonomous vehicles make Arizona roads safer. That's no accident
Arizonans are living in the future, and many in our community may not even know it. It's become such a part of our everyday lives that you need to look closely to realize there's no one behind the wheel of some cars gliding down streets like Camelback Road and navigating the intricacies of Phoenix traffic at rush hour. While many other states remain paralyzed by the thought of reconciling technology with older infrastructure, Arizona has done something remarkable: It has embraced rather than shunned self-driving car technology, creating a model rooted in innovation, regulatory humility and the principles of freedom. This was no accident. It came from deliberate leadership, according to a new report from the Goldwater Institute, where I work. In 2015, then-Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order launching Arizona's experiment in what's been labeled permissionless innovation — the idea that regulatory frameworks should default to openness, transparency and stability. Rather than allowing bureaucrats to imagine dangers for them to act against, the order required regulators to demonstrate tangible harm before intervening. The Arizona model — now codified into law — has positioned our state as a leader in innovation while keeping our communities safe by mandating that autonomous vehicle companies meet federal safety standards, respond intelligently to system failures, and maintain full compliance with traffic laws and insurance requirements. Yet it avoids the reflexive overreach that has plagued other states, where layers of local and state mandates often unintentionally work together to render innovation nearly impossible. In Arizona, regulatory authority is streamlined at the state level, ensuring safety while avoiding the policy fragmentation that too often creates complicated webs of regulation that stops companies from deploying new technologies before they can even start. The results speak for themselves. As of 2024, 13 companies are actively testing and deploying autonomous vehicles across Arizona's roads. Waymo alone has logged more than 20 million autonomous miles in the Phoenix metro area, with peer-reviewed data revealing a dramatic reduction in crashes. That includes 81% fewer airbag deployments and 78% fewer injury-causing collisions compared to human drivers over the same distance, Waymo reports. But autonomous vehicles do more than reduce risk on the roads. Opinion: AI fights fires and drives cars. Soon, it'll do our jobs For older adults, people who are blind and those with other disabilities, these vehicles can offer long-overdue freedom and independence. When designed with accessibility in mind — and through strategic partnerships with organizations such as the National Federation of the Blind — companies like Waymo are engineering vehicles that do more than drive: they communicate, accommodate and adapt to meet riders where they are. A freedom once dependent on others can now be self-directed. Arizona has earned this success by doing the opposite of our neighbors to the west in California, where multiple government agencies impose broad but fragmented permitting regimes and operational limits. While caution has its place, the way autonomous vehicles will reshape infrastructure, labor markets and public safety cannot be overstated. According to economist Jim Rounds, Arizona is likely to attract $6.1 billion in research and development related to autonomous vehicles, creating 39,000 direct jobs and potentially $4.3 billion in economic output. Rounds also estimates, conservatively, that the industry could generate up to $500 million in tax revenue by 2030 if Arizona's supportive regulatory environment remains intact. If we want to stay ahead of the pack, the impulse to regulate must be disciplined by humility and trust. Regulation must remain retrospective — based on demonstrable harm — and must continue to be standardized at the state level. Embracing a freedom-based model for technology will continue to make our lives better. As other states scramble to rewrite regulations for autonomous vehicles at the municipal level, Arizonans can look toward the future, trusting that our framework embraces both innovation and safety on our roads. And in doing so, it invites the nation to follow our lead by putting on display the success to back it up. Brian Norman is director of state affairs at the Goldwater Institute, where he leads the institute's nationwide government affairs strategy. Reach him at bnorman@ This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Waymo put Phoenix innovation on the map. That was the point | Opinion
Associated Press
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Statement from the National Federation of the Blind on the Harmful Stereotyping of Blind People in Political Discourse
BALTIMORE, Feb. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Federation of the Blind strongly condemns the inappropriate and harmful stereotyping of blind people that has been highlighted in the response to a recent Congressional hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency. The online mockery and skepticism directed at a blind witness reflect a broader aggressive and deeply troubling pattern in today's political discourse—one that wrongly assumes blind people, and people with disabilities more generally, lack the capacity to participate fully in public life, including in complex and technical fields. We specifically condemn all media outlets that are actively perpetuating these horrible misconceptions and are falsely validating low expectations that harm our society. Amplifying misunderstanding about blind people is never appropriate and should never be exploited as comic relief. The idea that blindness equates to incompetence is not only false but profoundly damaging. Blind people serve as scientists, lawyers, educators, engineers, and business owners. We navigate and contribute to society with skill, knowledge, and independence, often despite systemic barriers and outdated misconceptions about our abilities. The public ridicule and dismissive attitudes being used to reject a blind expert witness in last week's hearing perpetuate the very discrimination that blind Americans continue to fight against in employment, education, and civic participation. The use of disability as a political tool—whether through outright mockery, insinuations of unfitness, or performative outrage—dehumanizes people with disabilities and reinforces harmful stereotypes. It will not be tolerated by blind people, who vote and pay taxes, and it should be rejected by all Americans. We call on all elected leaders, policymakers, and media outlets to engage in informed, respectful discourse that recognizes the capabilities of blind individuals rather than exploiting ignorance for political gain. The National Federation of the Blind remains committed to challenging these misconceptions and advocating for a society where blindness is understood not as a limitation, but as a characteristic that does not define one's ability to contribute meaningfully. We are prepared to work closely with elected officials and media professionals to provide accurate and meaningful information about the true lived experience of blind Americans. About the National Federation of the Blind The National Federation of the Blind, headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at Stephanie Cascone National Federation of the Blind 410-659-9314, extension 2244 443-934-0666
