I was walking along Mission Street in the Financial District to get coffee this morning and was struck by how efficiently a big lab was in guiding a blind person through a crowded, chaotic crosswalk. The pair navigated multiple near-collisions plus the curb at the end. It was impressive. More after the jump…
Back at my Google Machine, I discovered that at least one prominent guide dog training program lists SF as an example of an advanced guide dog environment:
Phase #7
- Guidework in extremely challenging downtown urban areas (San Francisco and Portland)
- Training on buses, light rail/subway systems and platform edges
- Introduction to low overhead clearances
- Advanced off-leash obedience
- Formal traffic training
Interestingly, San Francisco State University was the first university in the world to offer a post-graduate degree in guide dog training.
(Photo from Flickr stream of bossco)
Bonus video: Here’s Mambo learning to navigate curbs!