Able bodied, or Not…

Crossing Main Street at Alice, in Waterford is a challenge at the best of times. Able-bodied or not. In the winter it is almost impossible. Quite often the snow is moved in such a manner that there is no egress aside from a driveway that has been cleared by a home owner. The sloped curbs are rarely clear enough for a motorized chair, a manual walker or simply someone using a cane. Having to navigate the traffic, as well as having to find a place to try and get to the sidewalk on either side is a frightening and often impossible task. There are three sloped curbs , one on the east side of Main, just north of the bus shelter at Main and Alice, There is one on the west side of Main right at the corner of Main and Alice, and there is another on the East side of Main , just south of the same bus shelter. That sloped curb leads to the library and the subdivision behind the library. Sadly, I’ve yet to see it negotiable in the winter. In the summer all the ‘ramps’ are clear, but the traffic coming over the arc of the bridge from the north does not let pedestrians of any ability level cross without needing to be quick in whatever manner they are using. There is a light and a crosswalk a few blocks away (at the post office), but that’s quite the distance if you are coming or going to Alice Street. Again, winter is doubly problematic . There seems to be confusion with regard to the bus shelter as well in the winter. It would be impossible for someone of limited mobility (or not) to use the shelter or to disembark from the bus safely. Even if there are two parties responsible, the County and the Bus Consortium , let’s say, that whole section is an accident waiting to happen for anyone trying to get to the Library, the subdivision, the bus shelter from any direction .

I respect that there might be different jurisdictions involved, but if we are truly talking about accessibility then some cooperative efforts or meeting of the minds needs to take place.
Good Luck with your initiative!