Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

James Casserly's direct route to school is frequently blocked. DFI
accessibility

Cars, bins and sandwich boards on footpaths continue to cause issues for wheelchair users

Activists have said the situation deteriorated during the pandemic.

CARS AND VANS parked on footpaths continue to be one of the most serious barriers to the full inclusion of disabled people, a survey has found.

The Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI), to mark Make Way Day today, has published details of a survey of its activists it conducted which found 96% would like to see more awareness of accessibility issues caused by vehicles parked on pathways.

Wheelie bins and sandwich boards on footpaths also topped the list of barriers, as well as bicycles tied to lamp posts and beer barrels on pathways.

DFI communications manager Clare Cronin said most obstacles are caused by thoughtlessness and genuine lack of awareness.

“Frequently drivers believe it’s a civic minded thing to pull the car or van well in off the road,” she said, adding that it is not widely known that fines can be issued by gardaí and local authority traffic wardens for this offence.

13-year-old James Casserly from Lucan in Co Dublin is forced to take the long route to school because the more direct route is blocked by cars parked on the footpath.

His mother Vicki, who is a local councillor, said she does not “want to be that person on the estate WhatsApp group constantly nagging” but there have been times when the path was so badly blocked “all we could do was just stand there until the drivers got back to their cars”.

“It should not be up to the person with the disability to constantly explain their needs, which are the same are everyone else’s – that is to have equal access public spaces in order to get from A to B,” said Clare Cronin.

Mike Hennessy Cullen, who uses a wheelchair as a result of a car crash when he was 19 years old, said outdoor dining during the pandemic brought these issues “to the fore”.

“We don’t know at what point did it become acceptable in society for cars to wholly park on paths or for al fresco dining furniture to supersede tactile paving at road crossings,” he said. “Paths belong to all pedestrians. The function of paths in our towns and cities has become diluted and it should not be up to disabled people to police this.”

DFI is asking people to get involved in Make Way Day by taking photos of obstacles they see today and posting them to social media using the #MakeWayDay21 hashtag.

Your Voice
Readers Comments
19
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel