Rolling with Sarah

You know that space at the end or in the middle of a sidewalk where the curb slopes down so it is a smoother transition to the road – the “curb cut” if you will?  Many people take this for granted, but I can assure you none of these people are in a wheelchair trying to manoeuvrer across the street.

For me to get around, this break is vital, and its state of repair is critical.  My chair cannot magically go up a step on the curb any more than it can climb a set of stairs. It is important for everyone to realize that without this slope, wheelchair users cannot get onto or off of the sidewalk, meaning we have to stay on the road to travel. This is simply dangerous for both me, drivers of oncoming cars, cars going the other direction, and bystanders. It means traffic needs to avoid me, which is risky. And this is if they see me.  I am in constant fear of  being hit or an accident occurring.

Accessible parking spaces are somewhere else that need a well-maintained curb cut. The car I am in not only needs a place to park, but when I get out of the car, my wheelchair needs to be close enough to the car for me to transfer into it. The parking spot is rendered useless if I can’t even get out of the car.

This is just my personal experience with curb cuts. More often than not, they are not maintained properly or have been poorly installed to begin with. There should be a level transition. Even an inch or two is enough to prevent a wheelchair from rolling properly. If you spot a curb cut that has deteriorated and is no longer up to snuff, report it!  Without awareness, nothing will get fixed. You may change the outcome of someone’s whole day without realizing it.  Better curb appeal is good for everyone!