Kia ora koutou, my walking distances have shortened but I still do a walk most days. Its a little scary with the bikes but the riders are pretty good. With my eyesight the way it is (macular degeneration is taking its toll) I don’t always see them ahead and of course only know they’re coming from behind when they appear on my right.
I don’t know how other old nearly blind people manage but I wear bright coloured clothes and very bright coloured shoes. I have a choice of sticks between the yellow and black (High Viz) one and the white stick that Blind and Low Vision NZ gave me. I avoid using the white stick because when I do, as I’ve said before, nobody smiles at me or says hello. But yesterday I thought maybe I should use it a bit more often. It only takes one careless or deep in thought cyclist and I’d be in serious trouble. They’d get off with a few bruisesbut I would be much more severely hurt.
White sticks send a message and its not always that this person is blind – sometimes it means this person has very low vision and might not see you clearly.
Its very difficult for people to put themselves in someone else’s shoes especailly when I look the same as always, just older. If I use the white stick because it signals to other walkers and all cyclists to be careful, it would be the safer option but if I do that, then you all have to agree to say kia ora or hello when you see me.
What do you reckon? Do we have a deal?
Renée
