[Blindtlk] cleaning up the snow within bus stops

[Steven Johnson]

Humberto,

This is not an uncommon in places across the nation where snow is a
common-sight throughout the winter months.  There is good news and bad news,
so let me start with the good news. Basically, there are protections under
the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III which require an entity to
maintain a clear path of travel and furthermore, to public places of
accommodation.  You could and probably start with your city to see if they
have a snow removal ordinance in place.  Many do, and have x-amount of hours
to have the snow removed usually 24-48.  However, the greater issue
surrounding this, and now the downside, is enforcement.  There are no ADA
police, and in your municipality, they will depend on persons like yourself
to file the necessary complaints against a property owner.  However, start
with the city first as it is not only persons such as ourselves that
struggle, but think about individuals using mobility devices, the frail
elderly and anyone who accesses public transit.  Find out who is required to
maintain the sidewalks in your city; the property owner or the city.  What
you will probably find at a point, is that the sidewalks will tend to be
maintained pretty well, but the bigger issue, is that the accessible curbs
tend to be clogged with snow.  Again, I would start with your local
municipality, and your Public Works Department; the one's who take care of
the streets, and start the dialogue.  If you have any other questions,
please don't hesitate to contact me anytime at blinddog3 at charter.net

HTH,

Steve


-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Humberto Avila
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 8:24 PM
To: blindtlk at nfbNet.org; nabs-l at nfbNet.org
Cc: blackburn.minkina at yakimaschools.org; tarinkendrick at msn.com
Subject: [Blindtlk] cleaning up the snow within bus stops

Hello all,
 
I am running into a problem that has been bothering me to a point where I
want to try out my advocacy skills, and I would like to share it with you.
 
Well. here is the story.  a couple of weeks ago a major winter storm was
upon us here in Central Washington State, and it really affected my city,
Yakima. We had a snowfall that left about up to 5 inches of snow throughout
the city, and the first two days that happened it went nonstop for more than
24 hours. this left people unable to go to work and school for about two
days, and public as well as school routes for buses were reduced or limited
those days. this storm left me unable to ride the city bus to and from
school, making my Dad take me to and from school for the rest of next week.
today that still continued; My dad still drove me to school and back home. 
 
While the roads and all highways are clean, many sidewalks including
sidewalks where there are bus stops and benches are still soaked into so
much snow and ice from two weeks ago. And you know what is worse? the people
or machines who clean the snow in the mornings or nights deposit all that
snow there, leaving the piles and trails of snow into those very places I
mentioned, especially at the bus stops. Now in fact, that snow has turned
into ice, and the sidewalks with bus stops are even more slippery and hard
to walk or step on. 
 
With all this mess, how is a blind person going to walk to take their
desired public transportation? How am I supposed to step on all those
mountains of slippery ice waiting for the bus? 
for once, this is driving me crazy and is putting my independence at risk of
going down the drain. Like I said, my parent has to drive me to and from,
every day, and if this continues to happen, I fear that I will lose practice
of traveling on the city bus. 
 
what it's making things more bothersome is that, quite frankly, I feel
embarrassed by my Dad to pick me up at the college, right in front of the
main class building, and take me there because, well, about 99.2% of all the
college students can DRIVE and do DRIVE their own cars, and I don't know
what they think of me when my Dad has to do that. I am very disappointed
with them not being able to also clean up the snow and ice from the bus
stops and their sidewalks. I am also angry because they don't even think
about people, especially blind or disabled, depending on buses to take them
everywhere since they have to use those bus stops.
 
What should I do? Where should I start from in trying to put someone to
clear up those paths and sidewalks where there are bus stop so that I can
travel safely and independently once again? who should I tell about this?
which authority should know this? 
 
I wonder how sighted people are getting off and on those buses with all this
sleek. I'm sure Ice can try out on those sidewalks and stops, however, it is
very cold and I doubt this will happen soon enough for me to ride the bus.
do you have any recommendations for me on this situation? Any ideas?
suggestions? tips?
 
your help and advice is welcome please. I'm tired of my dad having to drive
here and there every morning and spend his gas, and embarrassed that I am
one of those very few, or the only one, whose parents take them to college.
I'm sure no college student wants that since we are now adults.
 
Sincerely,
Humberto
_______________________________________________
blindtlk mailing list
blindtlk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blindtlk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/blinddog3%40charter.ne
t