The Ballroom
Austin's Sad Attitude Toward Accessibility
RECEIVED Thu., March 30, 2006
Dear Editor,
Mario Rodriguez is right about Austin's sad attitude toward wheelchair accessibility [“Postmarks,” March 24]. Not only do Austin's government and motorized citizens disrespect and fail to accommodate people in wheelchairs; they also treat pedestrians with contempt.
Austin's Department of Public Works and Transportation does not consider walking a real means of transportation. The right of the public to walk in the public right-of-way, they say, is outweighed by the need of private citizens to plant cactuses there. Austin's mayor, Will Wynn, declines to defend the right of the public to walk in the public right-of-way.
There are no sidewalks on Barton Springs Road from Robert E. Lee to MoPac and Rollingwood. Public Works was ready to build them, but the good citizens of the Parks Board voted against sidewalks, on grounds that they would increase impervious cover. Two Parks Board members admitted to me that, in their view, impervious cover considerations outweigh pedestrian access and mobility, but motorcar access outweighs impervious cover considerations. For the same reason, Riverside from South First to Lamar is still open to cars, but part of the wide sidewalk on the north side of Riverside has been removed. That's just great for people in wheelchairs.
Some of Austin's motorized citizens seem to think that all wheelchair users have SUVs to transport their wheelchairs. This is untrue. Many people in wheelchairs ride the bus, and are dumped unceremoniously at the sides of busy roads without sidewalks. Motorized citizens park their cars and trucks on sidewalks and dump trash there.
Maybe they're not trying to be mean. Maybe Austin's motorized citizens just don't notice people on foot, with or without crutches or walkers, or people negotiating the streets in wheelchairs. Please, people of Austin, wake up! Life exists outside your cars!
Mario Rodriguez is right about Austin's sad attitude toward wheelchair accessibility [“Postmarks,” March 24]. Not only do Austin's government and motorized citizens disrespect and fail to accommodate people in wheelchairs; they also treat pedestrians with contempt.
Austin's Department of Public Works and Transportation does not consider walking a real means of transportation. The right of the public to walk in the public right-of-way, they say, is outweighed by the need of private citizens to plant cactuses there. Austin's mayor, Will Wynn, declines to defend the right of the public to walk in the public right-of-way.
There are no sidewalks on Barton Springs Road from Robert E. Lee to MoPac and Rollingwood. Public Works was ready to build them, but the good citizens of the Parks Board voted against sidewalks, on grounds that they would increase impervious cover. Two Parks Board members admitted to me that, in their view, impervious cover considerations outweigh pedestrian access and mobility, but motorcar access outweighs impervious cover considerations. For the same reason, Riverside from South First to Lamar is still open to cars, but part of the wide sidewalk on the north side of Riverside has been removed. That's just great for people in wheelchairs.
Some of Austin's motorized citizens seem to think that all wheelchair users have SUVs to transport their wheelchairs. This is untrue. Many people in wheelchairs ride the bus, and are dumped unceremoniously at the sides of busy roads without sidewalks. Motorized citizens park their cars and trucks on sidewalks and dump trash there.
Maybe they're not trying to be mean. Maybe Austin's motorized citizens just don't notice people on foot, with or without crutches or walkers, or people negotiating the streets in wheelchairs. Please, people of Austin, wake up! Life exists outside your cars!
Yours truly,
Amy Babich
Amy Babich
