Hello MWABA,
Join us for Goalball, Yoga, the Bike Maintenance Workshops, Hiking, and a Tandem Ride!
Goalball
· Come to Goalball on February 7th from 10 AM to 1 PM at 1480 Girard St. NW, DC.
Yoga
· Our next yoga session is on Sunday, February 8 from 3:20-4:30 at Circle Yoga, 3838 Northampton St. NW, DC. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/M5Ceou6fABacvBjd7
Bike Maintenance Workshop Series – Part 2
· We are excited to continue our Bike Maintenance Workshop Series this February, a hands-on, learn-by-doing experience! Blind athletes will be paired with sighted guides to work together on diagnosing and fixing some of the tandems in our fleet.
· This series includes three sessions:
· Session 1: Diagnosing what needs to be replaced, adjusted, oiled or cleaned on the tandem bike
· Sessions 2 & 3: Hands-on repairs and maintenance
· Location: REI (201 M Street, Northeast, Washington DC)
· Time: 6:00–8:45 PM (please arrive 15 minutes early so that we can start on time)
· Dates: Thursdays Feb 12th, Feb 19th, and Feb 26th
· There are limited spots available, but we will try to accommodate as many people as we can. Sign up below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdiP6ZNFmpZtVusuhuxeZ7kLkgTHLEzyOeCzMoNVp1Bubn0ow/viewform
February 15th Hike
· Our next MWABA hike will take place Sunday, February 15th. More details forthcoming, but it will be an away hike at Prince William Forest, about a 45 minute drive from DC, convening at Franconia-Springfield Metro station at 9 a.m. We will send out more details once we have planned the route in the next week or so, but if you have questions and/or you’re able to drive hikers and guides, please contact Kevin Andrews at kevin.andrews94. Use the link to sign up: https://forms.gle/f7pmVCp6TYbP6ztX6
February 21st Tandem Ride
· Our next tandem ride will be in Bethesda on February 21st at 10 a.m. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/mqxPm8gjpS67JoHw8
Other Activities
· Research Study: Street designs continue to evolve resulting in new challenges for blind pedestrians. Accessible Design for the Blind, working with Kittelson & Associates, is looking for blind volunteers to participate in a study on the accessibility of bus boarding islands in the Washington, DC, area. They want to better understand the experience and challenges of people who have little or no vision when crossing bicycle lanes to get to or from buses at bus boarding islands. Bus boarding islands are separated from the sidewalk by bicycle lanes that must be crossed to board the bus or to reach the sidewalk when exiting the bus. These islands can be of various designs, and they may have a sizeable area to wait for the bus, or they may have limited or no width, in which case passengers board the bus from the edge of the bike lane. These bus boarding islands let people riding bicycles use a bicycle lane that passes buses on the side away from the street, so they don’t have to wait behind buses or go around busses on the left side. The boarding islands reduce conflicts between bicyclists and buses and other traffic, but they introduce potential conflicts between bicyclists and pedestrians.
· The study is looking for experienced travelers who are comfortable using a long cane, who regularly travel independently outdoors, have an inability to see shapes or objects such as pavement markings such as crosswalks, signs, or vehicles including bicycles AND who would be willing to participate in the research. If you take part in the study, you will be asked to do several trials in which you will begin on the sidewalk or bus island, need to locate the crossing location for the bike lane, and cross the bike lane. For some of the crossings, there will be additional assistive features present at the crossing. There will be a certified orientation and mobility (O&M) specialist with you as you travel. Compensation is $75, and travel costs to get to and from the study area will be reimbursed
· If you are interested in participating in this study, please call Marybeth Cleveland at 301-412-4224, or email her at mbcleveland to get additional information and to find out if you are eligible for the study. Feel free to share this with anyone who may be interested and who is in the Washington D.C. area. If you were scheduled in October for the study, Marybeth will contact you soon.
Thanks and see you out there!
Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes (MWABA)
Sports and fun for everyone!