Wheelchairs and sidewalks

[NorasMom]

O. M. G. Today is the first time I've really had to go out in public with my motorized wheelchair, and if I wasn't already desperately trying to keep it together I would have had a complete meltdown on the city street.

Our county seat is NOT wheelchair friendly! It can't help the fact that it's a series of rolling hills, but I swear that every 6' of sidewalk was paved differently. Every street crossing was different. At one, I had to drive through the center of the intersection to reach the next wheelchair ramp, which was 15' up from the actual crossing. The hospital's handicapped parking spots also don't have easy access to wheelchair-accessible sidewalks, and don't get me started on their pockmarked parking lot.

I nearly rammed into the side of a building because the ramp was at the very end of the sidewalk, and there were several times I was afraid I was going over the hillside because the sidewalks go right to the edge with no guardrail. I feel very sorry for the people who actually live in that town and have to deal with it every day. I hope I never have to do it again.

[Xvettech]

oh that sounds so scary! I’m sorry for you! I hope you never have to do it again either

[Cwright170994]

That is well and truly scary!!!!! It's like planners don't have anyone who has to use a wheelchair on the planning committee! 😱 I'm thankful the UK follows the Disabled Discrimination Act and actually has dropped curbs every so often, even if drivers park on, or close by to them like the pr!cks they are 😑

[goatgal]

Well, this account would make for an effective disability advocate. I'm sure there are openings for a local gadfly. The county seat here is a village with sidewalks in some places where new codes have required them but not in new housing developments. The nearby market in a strip mall with a donut shop, state liquor store, pharmacy, and sign shop has about 6 handicapped spaces by the market, further away than the spaces for customers who order online and wait in their cars (engine running, music on) for their groceries to be brought to them. The attitude here seems to be that if you need access, go live somewhere else.

[NorasMom in reply to goatgal]

Do you live near me? lol. Our Super Walmart has always had a fraction of the handicapped spaces or motorized scooters as the number of customers who'd use them. The scooters are usually out of service, and when they started the grocery pickup thing they changed over most of the handicapped spots to pickup only.

Then there's the new driver's license center. It's a long, low building at the top of a rather steep hill. They put the handicapped parking directly in front of the doors...but the ramp to reach the sidewalk is at the far end of the loooooong building.

As frustrating as yesterday was, I also feel embarrassed that I'm one of the many people who never noticed these things until they affected me personally.

[goatgal in reply to NorasMom]

I live in Central Virginia. I have seen motorized wheelchairs using the state highway that runs through town, a highway traveled by logging trucks and many other large vehicles, many of which do not observe the 35 mph speed limit. And don't get me started on Walmart's inadequate parking for handicapped.

[Cutefreckles72]

I know exactly what you mean. The city I live in has a problem with sidewalks also. I have a motorized wheelchair and it can be dangerous riding on unleveled and cracked up sidewalks. Be careful when riding. 🛵

[Goldilockssearching]

ugh! I still TRY to walk unassisted & I feel similar. We went out for lunch & a woman came barrel assing out the door onto the uneven walkway & almost knocked me over-luckily I grabbed onto my husband.

No regard for others & to quote my husband, the world was not built with people like you in mind. Like a bathroom up a ramp on the other side & end of the building which is work walking up & even more walking down.

I’m tired of encountering struggles in what seems like everywhere I go!

[Elle61]

Complain to ADA in your State , that is not fair,

[NorasMom in reply to Elle61]

ha ha ha ha ha. Given the way the rest of our towns look, this is already considered "good". If we actually had sidewalks where I am, I could get myself to a nice shopping center.

I tried complaining a few months ago to our local senator about the aerial chainsaw that was flying in circles directly above the houses in our residential area and hovering above a major highway. The response from her office was "Oh, it's perfectly safe and they just trim pipelines and railroad tracks." If you've never seen one of these things in action, they're terrifying. So, my point is that our state just doesn't care about public safety. But I do appreciate the thought!

aerial chainsaw

[twooldcrows]

sounds like a horror story you are going thru ...that is so bad and so dangerous ...wow...