A Creative Way to Overcome Barriers
Friday, June 12, 2009
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A unique way to rescue me off of a curb!(The lift at Via Rail which is normally used to board vehicle passengers who use wheelchairs into the train)
Today I, once again, had to get off of the bus because of perfume. This time I was trying to transfer buses so, when the bus driver of the International bus on Route A asked me where the safest place would be to transfer at the Via Rail station, I said the grass because it had the advantage of a curb. The ramp is very steep to come out of that bus when there is no curb.
Little did I know the bus on Route C would have a person who was wearing too much perfume and this would prevent me from getting into the bus. I told the bus driver not to worry, that I could wheel down to the end and get off the shallower part of the curb a distance down the way, so he left. Little did I know that I was expressing famous last words. I got to the end of the boulevard and there was no hope of getting off. The curb was too steep and, because it existed, I was unable to take a run at it and jump off with my wheelchair. I was stuck.
The only thing I could think of to get a rescue off of the curb was to call inside the train station and ask for their help. Two station personnel came out and rescued me using a really unique method; the lift designed to board a wheelchair into the train. I was expecting a few pieces of wood from the fork lift pallets that were stacked along the side of the building but this was much better because it was safe!
For those who have never seen the lift at Via Rail, you wheel in one end where the ramp is down in the picture, then the big silver flap on the right drops down so you can wheel out.
At least to get me off of a curb, they didn't have to crank me up and down!
It was a brilliant solution, but it was a lot of extra work for the train personnel, and a little embarrassing for me. But it worked!
I still think a ramped curb cut would make a lot more sense. But it has been at least 2 years since it was first suggested and, so far, a curb cut has never been added.
Oh well! A big thank you to the Kingston Via Rail employees!
Please read my other blogs:
Transit: http://wheelchairdemon-transit.blogspot.com
Health: http://wheelchairdemon-health.blogspot.com
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