May 2004, #20


Another Perspective on Disabilities

When we think of getting around Alameda as able bodied people, we just put on our shoes or jump on our bicycle and take off. While safety and street design are important to us in making it easy and inviting to get around, there is an entirely different perspective and concern if you are blind, in a wheelchair, hard of hearing or deaf, or using a walker.

So what can be done as a city in undertaking a redesign, or a bicyclist or walker when coming upon a less abled person? What do we need to be sensitive to in order for our community to embrace persons with disabilities or physical limitations.

Curb cuts are obvious design considerations. If it’s a flat curb, then it is difficult for a blind person to determine if the curb is even there unless there are curb bumps to signal the approach. For a person in a wheelchair or walker, the flat curbs are wider and less steep so maneuvering is easier. A regular high curb with a “channel” cut are often steep and more difficult to manage.

Gina McGaughey, who has a guide dog, takes the bus. With the service decline, she has to walk much further to her needed stop and now has to take two buses instead of one just to get to South Shore. Overall, she and her four-legged companion maneuver very well around Alameda though at certain main intersections when there isn’t much traffic, sound signals when it’s time to cross would be extremely helpful. Her dog is also her alert system to obstacles in the sidewalks so she doesn’t stumble.

Ed Cooney, also blind, and Gina both have a pet peeve intersection -Central and Webster -that has one section of the intersection marked “not a pedestrian crosswalk”. Gina said that if she’s not quite sure of her location to that no crossing section, it is hard to know which way to go.

“The hardest streets to cross,” says Ed, “are Willow and Otis, Central and Webster, and Atlantic and Webster.”

Audible signals are definitely helpful and for all pedestrians, a delayed signal where the pedestrian has a few seconds advance green light before the cars’ green light, would be a benefit. This allows the pedestrian to begin moving and to be much more visible prior to the cars moving.

Often able bodied people seem uncomfortable around a person with a disability. Ed has this advice: relax, be yourself, and care. Don’t grab a blind person’s arm but ask first if he/she would like some assistance and then offer your arm.

Ed has a kind sense of humor and understanding of human nature as he tells of how sometimes kids will shout “look out for that tree!” Ed smiles and says to himself, “Since when does a tree grow in the middle of the sidewalk?”

What is appreciated by all is when a bicyclist or pedestrian alerts someone that they are approaching or passing. Being startled can throw someone off balance and could cause an accident if a person moves the wrong way.

Jim Gwynne, who has been in a wheelchair for 12 years, appreciates the wide curb cuts and asks that when he is waiting at a crosswalk, for motorists to make eye contact to ensure that both see each other and to not take turns too sharply. His advice on city design, “Amenities for those with disabilities can be beneficial for everyone, and often makes getting around twice as easy for the physically fit as well.”

Handicapped parking and access are a must. The options of going places for a person with a disability is guided by parking or just basic access whereas others don’t have that challenge.

As the saying goes, “until you’ve walked in the shoes of another” do you really understand the challenges. Let’s all be thoughtful of one another as we are out enjoying our island community – it belongs to each of us equally.

Jeff Swatman is the Alameda Police Department Traffic Sergeant. If you have questions regarding pedestrian/bicycle safety, please call him at 748-4508 extension 3342. John Knox White and Audrey Lord-Hausman work with Pedestrian Friendly Alameda (www.pedfriendly.org) and BikeAlameda (www.bikealameda.org).

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