City of Boston Public Sidewalks – Lack of Access
Boston City Hall
One City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
Phone: 617-635-4000
http://www.cityofboston.gov/
Today, my mom, friends and I traveled to the
Family Advocacy Day rally at the Massachusetts State House. The purpose of the rally was to ask our State Legislators to PLEASE restore the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) funding and other disability services that will be drastically reduced or eliminated to thousands of people with disabilities and their families.
The rally took place directly in front of the State House on Beacon Street. I had the opportunity to share my personal experience with transitioning from living in an institution to living in the community. There is no comparison of the two; I felt isolated and miserable living twenty years in the nursing home; I feel happy and fulfilled living in the community.
Jamie & Crew joined us at the rally. After the rally, we wanted to cross Beacon Street to get to the Boston Commons, located directly across the street. There is a very wide pedestrian cross walk which is clearly marked with white painted lines.
Well to our dismay, there is NO WHEELCHAIR ACCESS from the sidewalk to this wide pedestrian cross walk because there is no curb cut out. Many persons seated in wheelchairs attended this important rally today and many needed to cross Beacon Street and other nearby city streets to access the parking spaces where they parked. Most all city sidewalks ONLY have a wheelchair access slope located at either end of the sidewalk. Many handicap parking spaces do not have an access slope to the sidewalk close by.
We in wheelchairs have no alternative except to wheel in a busy street to get to and from our parking space. Today, Jamie and I both found ourselves wheeling in a busy street just to get to our street handicap parking space. This problem is HUGE throughout the entire City of Boston. During many other visits to Boston, we have had the same problem. It is unsafe and unacceptable!
Kenny & company and Jamie & crew give the City of Boston ZERO STARS for not placing enough wheelchair access slopes to Boston public sidewalks. This is a dangerous situation, forcing many wheelchair-seated travelers in Boston to wheel in busy streets.
May 10th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Hi Scott, Thanks for this information and the link to http://www.neighborhoodaccess.org/. Let John Kelly know we think his advocacy work is well needed and very much appreciated by all us wheelers. Thanks again!
May 28th, 2009 at 11:39 am
I didn’t know who to send this to so after Googling for a time you won!
Last Friday a friend and I took the train from the North Shore into Boston to spend the day. I tripped on a damaged sidewalk, in front of the Coast Guard Station and badly bruised my left calf and kneecap. Some CG people came out to check to see if I was alright and got some ice for my swelling knee and a Security Guard gave me some first aid. I’ve been laid up since then. The CG people told me that several people have tripped/fallen at that spot. I would think the city would fix the sidewalk before they are sued.
May 28th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Hi Cyndi, Sorry to hear what happened and hope you are well soon. It doesn’t surprise me for many of the sidewalks in Boston are not safe or accessible. I think the best place to voice your complaint is to Mayor Tom Manino’s office. I’ve heard he helps citizens and visitors of Boston. I think you can find his contact information on the city of Boston’s website at http://www.cityofboston.gov/. Best wishes!