Comments on: Crumbling Sidewalks Spell Trouble For Mobility Device Users http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/10/26/sidewalks/5904/ Developmental Disability News Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:55:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: taniamorse85 http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/10/26/sidewalks/5904/comment-page-1/#comment-738 taniamorse85 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:14:11 +0000 http://www.disabilityscoop.com/?p=5904#comment-738 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. 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.

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