Snow Clearance Does Not Make Me a Victim
Monday, January 7, 2013
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An article written up in the Whig Standard last Saturday (the 5th of January, 2013) has me furious. I am furious because, as a result of that article, I had several people phone me to a) accuse me of being too negative and, in short, a bitch, and b) tell me to stop playing the helpless game.
This article was not printed online so it took me a few days to get a hard copy of it, but I did have someone read it to me over the phone slowly so I could type it.
In this Blog I will share:
One final point I'll make before sharing the article is that I'm not impressed with their use of headlines. On page one it says in large print, "Snow Becomes a Mobility Issue." It then opens up with my name, says how trapped I am and how I consider the snow clearance unacceptable. On the inside piece (page 7), another header was added (in the same sized large font) that says, "Man Believes City Responds Appropriately to the Weather."
I am shocked that the reporter twisted what I said around, to make me look negative.
I am very active and thankful I can get out each and every day, but I know far too many people who can't. I also know it’s not easy to remove all the snow. When the Whig reached me for the interview I was in Toronto and it was tough. By the end of the day though, the snow had been removed, mostly by property owners.
I get out because I have to – Kingston has very few volunteer or paid services that can help people who are stuck at home because of the snow – so I use the Access Bus or I travel along the road. This is far safer than traveling on inadequately cleared sidewalks and risking sliding off them or getting stuck.
Given the amount of snow that has fallen I’m not surprised that the sidewalks were too narrow in some spots, and not ploughed in others. I’ve written Letters to the Editor of the Whig on this topic before and I’ve shared my views on some of the challenges that prevent adequate snow removal.
In one letter titled, "The Hazards of Ice and the Kindness of Strangers" I talked about how a thin layer of snow had sent my wheelchair careening sideways off the slanted sidewalk and left me lying on my side on the road in the path of oncoming traffic. I wrote the letter to thank the kind strangers who helped me, and I urged homeowners to help minimize the danger by not shoveling the snow from their yard onto the sidewalk and by taking time to remove whatever snow is left over after the sidewalk plough has been by. I was just repeating the same message the city sends out on their Listserve whenever there’s a major snowfall.
I also realized that it would be prudent to take action to protect myself from falling off sidewalks so I bought a walking stick with a spike on the end. I now use it in the winter for safety reasons.
In another Letter entitled, "Enlist 'snow angels' and temps for snow shoveling duty" I wrote about the impacts of the high volume of snow on the sidewalk ploughs because they were breaking down a lot. There’s no place to put the snow so it was a continuous dance between the road plough pushing the snow onto the sidewalk, and the sidewalk plough pushing the snow back onto the road.
In that article I shared knowledge of a unique volunteer snow removal program that exists in other cities. The program is called “Snow Angels.” If you Google that phrase you will see that it’s a volunteer program designed to help seniors and people with disabilities shovel their snow, and it’s becoming quite popular throughout Canada and the U.S. Eligibility criteria is required in order to qualify for help with snow clearance, but once approved a volunteer can be sent to the homes of those who are less able to do it for themselves. It's too bad Kingston doesn't offer this program.
More than 2 weeks after that major snow fall, the snow is still piled high on top of the brand new, and accessible, 30 foot cement pad that was laid at the bus stop on Rideau St. Instead, a patch of grass was cleared south of where it’s supposed to be, and a few days later, a poor excuse for a connecting path from the sidewalk was added. It’s not usable by wheelchairs and it’s not safe to use by people with walking difficulties. With better communication the snowplow drivers would know exactly where the bus stops are, so they could be cleared.
In closing I'll just reiterate that it's important to be careful with how to interpret what is written. Snow traps everyone not just those who are senior or who have a mobility challenge. I can guarantee you that there are very few of us who would make a choice to sit at home and spout to the newspaper about how we feel victimized by the reality of snow. We all value our independence and, in order to achieve it, we all need cleared roads and sidewalks so we can safely go out.
From The Kingston Whig Standard, Jan 5, 2013.
Accessibility: People who use wheelchairs find that even paths cleared by ploughs are dangerous.
Bark, who has lived in Kingston since 1983 uses an electric wheelchair and said the wintry weather can act as a barricade to her mobility.
“I won't venture out in that stuff,” Bark says. “It's not safe.”
Following a significant snowfall, such as the one that hit the region last week, even sidewalks that have been cleared by ploughs can seem impossible for those with those faced with mobility issues, such as seniors or people with disabilities.
On Rideau St for example, Bark said snow clearing efforts by the city of Kingston did little to make it accessible for her electric chair.
“The snow is either piled on sidewalks or pushed on the roadway,” she said.
“Either way it is not satisfactory to use it, she says.”
If the sidewalks are filled with snow or ice, Bark says she is forced to venture onto the road leaving her to feel vulnerable.
In 2009, Bark says Bark was travelling on Concession St and hit a patch of ice that sent her sideways onto the road, landing on her side.
With the help of strangers, she was lifted upright without injury but was jarred by the incident.
For Bark, sidewalk clearing is about independence.
“I can't go out, it's as simple as that,” she says. “I don't have anyone to call or to do an errand for me so you just do without. I have no choice.”
Bark said the city should do more to keep the sidewalks clear from snow and ice.
More than a week after a large snowstorm many sidewalks in Kingston still contain snow and ice.
Glenn Outhwaite, a resident in the neighbourhood of Cataraqui North said he too learnt first hand about the dangers of traveling with an electric chair in the wintry conditions.
Three years ago a patch of ice caused the 64 year old man to tip over in his scooter and come face-to-face with an oncoming car.
Fortunately the driver saw the incident unfold and was able to stop and assist Outhwaite with the help of 2 nearby police officers.
“Some of the sidewalks are really quite slanted,” he said. “If they are slippery you have to do a balancing act to try to shift your weight from one side to the other to keep you on the sidewalk.”
Although ploughs attempt to clear the snow, often a layer is left on the top of the pavement. When it melts, ice is formed he said.
Outhwaite says more attention needs to be paid to the clearing poles with crossing buttons attached.
However, Outhwaite says he believes the city’s responsibility is appropriate for the winter weather and with the resources it has available.
“They definitely face challenges,” he said. “It’s an endless job. I think the city tries and I have to give them credit for it. If streets are missed or corners are missed then someone is not going to be happy. I think it’s very challenging and very difficult task for the city.”
Outhwaite said he too avoids leaving his home in the days following a snowstorm but said that shouldn’t be the case.
“I’m not independent if I have to rely on someone else to push me or help me when I get stuck,” he said. “It’s not being independent and that should be the bottom line.”
Catherine Milks, communications coordinator for the Seniors Association of the Kingston Region said snow packed sidewalks can a hazard for anyone, but especially the seniors.
Milks, 64, says she has heard some concerns from members of Frances St. Association recently, including one elderly woman who chose to walk on the street with a walker because the sidewalk wasn’t ploughed.
Without the means to travel, Milk says, seniors face isolation.
“Seniors become housebound and they don’t get out, and of course they’re missing the social interaction and those other things. Senior’s are making that choice. The weather does affect what they are able to do.”
A spokesman from the city of Kingston was not available for comment.
Please Read my Other Blogs:
Transit: http://wheelchairdemon-transit.blogspot.com
Health: http://wheelchairdemon-health.blogspot.com
This article was not printed online so it took me a few days to get a hard copy of it, but I did have someone read it to me over the phone slowly so I could type it.
In this Blog I will share:
- A Letter to the Editor that I wrote in response after reading this article. It was submitted to the Whig the same day
- A photo of a non-accessible bus stop,
- A scanned copy of the newspaper article,
- A typed out version of the article, after it was read to me on the phone Saturday. Note: There might be the odd mistake, but the context will be perfectly clear.
One final point I'll make before sharing the article is that I'm not impressed with their use of headlines. On page one it says in large print, "Snow Becomes a Mobility Issue." It then opens up with my name, says how trapped I am and how I consider the snow clearance unacceptable. On the inside piece (page 7), another header was added (in the same sized large font) that says, "Man Believes City Responds Appropriately to the Weather."
I am shocked that the reporter twisted what I said around, to make me look negative.
Snow Clearance Does Not Make Me a Victim
A Letter to the Editor (as yet, unpublished).
I read today's article about snow removal and its impact on people with disabilities, and I must say I was flabbergasted that some people felt it was appropriate to accuse me of being too negative about how the city handled the snow removal. On rereading the article I could see that the wording was such that it could be interpreted two different ways. One interpretation could be that the snow was not well cleared and that everyone had a problem navigating over and around it. The other interpretation could be to ignore reality and assume that if they can get out, so can everyone else. Denying there are differences in ability and blaming a person for coming across as a so-called victim doesn't solve a thing. We all have different levels of ability and, as an advocate for the disabled, seniors, and others I’m going to state the facts as I see them. There’s no doubt I was critical about how long it took to remove the snow because it was extremely difficult to get out.I am very active and thankful I can get out each and every day, but I know far too many people who can't. I also know it’s not easy to remove all the snow. When the Whig reached me for the interview I was in Toronto and it was tough. By the end of the day though, the snow had been removed, mostly by property owners.
I get out because I have to – Kingston has very few volunteer or paid services that can help people who are stuck at home because of the snow – so I use the Access Bus or I travel along the road. This is far safer than traveling on inadequately cleared sidewalks and risking sliding off them or getting stuck.
Given the amount of snow that has fallen I’m not surprised that the sidewalks were too narrow in some spots, and not ploughed in others. I’ve written Letters to the Editor of the Whig on this topic before and I’ve shared my views on some of the challenges that prevent adequate snow removal.
In one letter titled, "The Hazards of Ice and the Kindness of Strangers" I talked about how a thin layer of snow had sent my wheelchair careening sideways off the slanted sidewalk and left me lying on my side on the road in the path of oncoming traffic. I wrote the letter to thank the kind strangers who helped me, and I urged homeowners to help minimize the danger by not shoveling the snow from their yard onto the sidewalk and by taking time to remove whatever snow is left over after the sidewalk plough has been by. I was just repeating the same message the city sends out on their Listserve whenever there’s a major snowfall.
I also realized that it would be prudent to take action to protect myself from falling off sidewalks so I bought a walking stick with a spike on the end. I now use it in the winter for safety reasons.
In another Letter entitled, "Enlist 'snow angels' and temps for snow shoveling duty" I wrote about the impacts of the high volume of snow on the sidewalk ploughs because they were breaking down a lot. There’s no place to put the snow so it was a continuous dance between the road plough pushing the snow onto the sidewalk, and the sidewalk plough pushing the snow back onto the road.
In that article I shared knowledge of a unique volunteer snow removal program that exists in other cities. The program is called “Snow Angels.” If you Google that phrase you will see that it’s a volunteer program designed to help seniors and people with disabilities shovel their snow, and it’s becoming quite popular throughout Canada and the U.S. Eligibility criteria is required in order to qualify for help with snow clearance, but once approved a volunteer can be sent to the homes of those who are less able to do it for themselves. It's too bad Kingston doesn't offer this program.
More than 2 weeks after that major snow fall, the snow is still piled high on top of the brand new, and accessible, 30 foot cement pad that was laid at the bus stop on Rideau St. Instead, a patch of grass was cleared south of where it’s supposed to be, and a few days later, a poor excuse for a connecting path from the sidewalk was added. It’s not usable by wheelchairs and it’s not safe to use by people with walking difficulties. With better communication the snowplow drivers would know exactly where the bus stops are, so they could be cleared.
In closing I'll just reiterate that it's important to be careful with how to interpret what is written. Snow traps everyone not just those who are senior or who have a mobility challenge. I can guarantee you that there are very few of us who would make a choice to sit at home and spout to the newspaper about how we feel victimized by the reality of snow. We all value our independence and, in order to achieve it, we all need cleared roads and sidewalks so we can safely go out.
 |
| Picture showing snow clearance, and its lack of access at a bus stop |
Article from the Kingston Whig Standard, January 5, 2013
 | |||
| Newspaper article about snow clearance. |
From The Kingston Whig Standard, Jan 5, 2013.
Accessibility: People who use wheelchairs find that even paths cleared by ploughs are dangerous.
Snowy sidewalks become mobility issue.
Louise Bark doesn't attempt to travel the few blocks from her Rideaucrest home to the city's downtown core following a snow fall.Bark, who has lived in Kingston since 1983 uses an electric wheelchair and said the wintry weather can act as a barricade to her mobility.
“I won't venture out in that stuff,” Bark says. “It's not safe.”
Following a significant snowfall, such as the one that hit the region last week, even sidewalks that have been cleared by ploughs can seem impossible for those with those faced with mobility issues, such as seniors or people with disabilities.
On Rideau St for example, Bark said snow clearing efforts by the city of Kingston did little to make it accessible for her electric chair.
“The snow is either piled on sidewalks or pushed on the roadway,” she said.
“Either way it is not satisfactory to use it, she says.”
If the sidewalks are filled with snow or ice, Bark says she is forced to venture onto the road leaving her to feel vulnerable.
In 2009, Bark says Bark was travelling on Concession St and hit a patch of ice that sent her sideways onto the road, landing on her side.
With the help of strangers, she was lifted upright without injury but was jarred by the incident.
For Bark, sidewalk clearing is about independence.
“I can't go out, it's as simple as that,” she says. “I don't have anyone to call or to do an errand for me so you just do without. I have no choice.”
Bark said the city should do more to keep the sidewalks clear from snow and ice.
More than a week after a large snowstorm many sidewalks in Kingston still contain snow and ice.
Glenn Outhwaite, a resident in the neighbourhood of Cataraqui North said he too learnt first hand about the dangers of traveling with an electric chair in the wintry conditions.
Three years ago a patch of ice caused the 64 year old man to tip over in his scooter and come face-to-face with an oncoming car.
Fortunately the driver saw the incident unfold and was able to stop and assist Outhwaite with the help of 2 nearby police officers.
“Some of the sidewalks are really quite slanted,” he said. “If they are slippery you have to do a balancing act to try to shift your weight from one side to the other to keep you on the sidewalk.”
Although ploughs attempt to clear the snow, often a layer is left on the top of the pavement. When it melts, ice is formed he said.
Outhwaite says more attention needs to be paid to the clearing poles with crossing buttons attached.
However, Outhwaite says he believes the city’s responsibility is appropriate for the winter weather and with the resources it has available.
“They definitely face challenges,” he said. “It’s an endless job. I think the city tries and I have to give them credit for it. If streets are missed or corners are missed then someone is not going to be happy. I think it’s very challenging and very difficult task for the city.”
Outhwaite said he too avoids leaving his home in the days following a snowstorm but said that shouldn’t be the case.
“I’m not independent if I have to rely on someone else to push me or help me when I get stuck,” he said. “It’s not being independent and that should be the bottom line.”
Catherine Milks, communications coordinator for the Seniors Association of the Kingston Region said snow packed sidewalks can a hazard for anyone, but especially the seniors.
Milks, 64, says she has heard some concerns from members of Frances St. Association recently, including one elderly woman who chose to walk on the street with a walker because the sidewalk wasn’t ploughed.
Without the means to travel, Milk says, seniors face isolation.
“Seniors become housebound and they don’t get out, and of course they’re missing the social interaction and those other things. Senior’s are making that choice. The weather does affect what they are able to do.”
A spokesman from the city of Kingston was not available for comment.
Please Read my Other Blogs:
Transit: http://wheelchairdemon-transit.blogspot.com
Health: http://wheelchairdemon-health.blogspot.com
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