Across the country, crumbling sidewalks are relegating wheelchair users to the streets and that means trouble, advocates say.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, sidewalks must be accessible to people with disabilities. But years of disrepair and allocation of federal road funds to highways rather than pedestrian passageways mean sidewalks in many cities are practically impassable to people who rely on wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
That means increasing numbers of people with disabilities are competing with cars in the streets, creating a dangerous situation. And several cities’ sidewalks are the subject of lawsuits as a result. Now, the Justice Department is actively working through their Project Civic Access to bring settlements between cities and residents with disabilities.
In the meantime, many cities are enhancing their laws to protect people with disabilities on sidewalks and in the roadways. Jackson, Miss. lawmakers recently required that all wheelchairs have reflectors or a blinking light when used in a roadway and in Columbia, Mo. it’s now a misdemeanor to harass a pedestrian using a mobility device, reports USA Today. To read more click here.
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As a wheelchair-user, sidewalks drive me crazy. In many areas, I can’t go more than ten feet before I come across an area that is impassible or difficult to use. Whether it is crumbling or incomplete, sidewalks can cause more problems from us than they solve. I’ve lost count of how many front casters I’ve broken from having to travel on gravel in areas that are not paved. In addition to the paving/lack thereof, there is another problem I come across on sidewalks. Sometimes, a utility pole is put in the middle of a sidewalk, making the sidewalk useless. With all these problems, I often have to leave the sidewalk and use the street. So far, I have been able to do this safely, but it is just a matter of time before I or a driver is injured as a result.
Frankly, it does not surprise me that highways are given priority over pedestrian passageways. After all, if you have a car, you have to pay vehicle registration and other fees. There are no fees for being a pedestrian. If you pay to do something, you are significantly more likely get action taken on your behalf.