Thursday, November 14, 2019

Winter Accessibility Downtown

Thursday afternoon is my coffee group time.  We meet at The Kitchen in downtown Meaford.  Unfortunately snow removal is not one of Meaford's strong points.  Although a three foot strip down the sidewalk had been plowed and sanded, the snow was just pushed to one side, partly on to the street.  The only access points were two or three spots where merchants, including The Kitchen, had shovelled a gap in the snowbank.

Mrs. F.G. usually lets me out at the end of the block in weather like this, but that was blocked by a snowbank too.  We fought our way into a snow-covered parking spot, and I had to exit through six inches of snow.  Then I had a chat with the coffee shop owner about winter access to downtown.  The alternative during the winter is the local MacDonald's.  At least they serve good coffee.  And the disabled space is right outside the door, and it's always clear.

But not many of our group wants to patronize an international company instead of a locally owned and operated business.  Our decision remains in abeyance.  We'll see what the weather is like next week.

The other problem I realized later, is the sand and grit.  After I got home I had to sit on a mat for an hour waiting for the wheels to dry.  Only after Mrs. F.G. had attacked me with a broom and got all the grit out could I move.  Between the snow and the sanding of the sidewalks there are serious limitations to going downtown in the winter!

We added another member to our group today.  We're up to nine now, all former very active volunteers with the local Bruce Trail Club.  Wherever we meet, I enjoy the conversation.

10 comments:

  1. I am sure one of our friends has had the same problem, but they lived on a few acres with some sheep.To solve the problem Brian had a "Inside" wheelchair that stayed clean, he was able to shift himself from the dirty outside one to the inside one.like you, he had the most wonderful inner strength and tackled problems head on.For you, Roll on to summertime again.

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  2. It must be really hard to get out in weather like that when you have all that equipment to look after. Glad to know you still keep truckin' though. :-)

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  3. Macdonald's in the UK were always well ahead of the game when catering for those in wheelchairs. Our school cleaner would have sympathy with Mrs FG - can you imagine twenty teenagers constantly going in and out when excited by the first snowfall? No waiting around for the wheels to dry for them!

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  4. I do not like fast food, so that would be a big sacrifice for me. I like the idea of two wheel-chairs. Perhaps just an inexpensive oe around the house? The winter weather is a challenge and maybe the tow council could do something about that.

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  5. Too bad people and business don't take the time to clear the sidewalks better. It's the same around here.
    Sometimes they put so much grit out that and when the snow melts it can be quite slippery especially going down hill!

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  6. It can be a problem here, too, snow getting cleared in a timely way.

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  7. People who are not disabled, or don't have a family member who is, just do not realize the problems and roadblocks that exist. It's easy to shed boots when coming in from the grit and mud (although H. would say I've missed a few too many times), but much different if you have to wash or clean tires. Thank to your group for wanting to keep patronizing a local business; our coffee group recently had to switch to a chain from a local business because we were made to feel unwelcome whereas the chain is happy to have us as regular customers.

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  8. I hope your local coffee place makes the sidewalks more accessible for you during winter. Your talk may have helped. Too bad there is not a wheel washer that you could wheel through to clean off your wheels. How about an air compressor with a nozzle!

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  9. It's good to catch up with friends for coffee, i use to help a quadraplegic man, when the wheels on his wheelchair got wet I put old towels on the group for him to run his wheels over that way they dried a bit quicker.

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  10. I suspect there would be road salt in that plowed up snow as well and we all know what that can do to metal. Having driven a wheelchair van (and bus in St. Marys) for a few years I well know the winter difficulties of trying to get people in and out of places for doctor appointments. Sunday morning church services, shopping, etc. If a majority of people were in chairs the problems would be quickly addressed and solved. However...…..

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