Viewpoints
Wheelchair access
By Liz Lybrand
May 24, 2007
Thursday
I am not the only wheelchair user in town. Altho I use a big
heavy powerful nearly-untippable chair, the sidewalks or the
lack thereof make using my chair in the downtown area dangerous
for me and others in my situation.
Most of the sidewalks in Ketchikan are narrow, slanted, broken,
uneven, or non-existent. They are difficult and dangerous to
negotiate in a power wheelchair. The larger wheels on my chair
operate independently of each other. This makes the chair highly
maneuverable but also difficult to control on uneven sidewalks.
The sidewalk at the corner of Dock and Main (in front of Wells
Fargo entrance) is so slanted that I am fearful even in my heavy
chair.
There is a lack of wheelchair ramps onto sidewalks in many locations.
When coming off the Schoenbar Trail and crossing over the bridge,
there is no ramp onto the Park Avenue sidewalk. The sidewalk
on the other side of Park Avenue fades out at about this point
and I am forced to ride in the road.
I have expressed my concern to the proper city officials. Maybe
we can get something done?
Liz Lybrand
Ketchikan, AK
Received May 24, 2007 - Published May 24, 2007
About: "User of motorized
wheelchair for five years."
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on Viewpoints are the opinions of the writer
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
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