THUNDER BAY - Tracy Hurlbert has been advocating on behalf of people living with a disability for more than 30 years and while she has seen a lot of progress, when it comes to mobility on city streets in the winter, more work needs to be done.
“This has been a problem since I have been in a wheelchair. Even since I was walking and using a cane,” she said.
“The street clearers go by and they create snow banks at the end of the city sidewalks, even when they are plowed. So we get snow banks at the end of the sidewalk and the sidewalk looks nice and clear and people driving by think: why aren’t you one the sidewalk, they are nice and clear, but they don’t see at the end of the sidewalk is a great big snow bank, so I am stuck on the road.”
At the corner of Arthur Street and Selkirk Street, Hurlbert showed how snow banks make it difficult to reach the pedestrian crosswalk button from her wheelchair.
It is an issue at many pedestrian crosswalks throughout the city and while she has a pole she can extend to reach the button, there are some instances where even that is not long enough.
“There have been times when I’ve gone to a crosswalk and I have my stick with me and I can’t reach the crosswalk button,” she said.
“That’s vital to be able to use those things. Crossing at some of the crosswalks you have to use the button to cross. When a vehicle comes along, then you can cross because the light will change, but what if there’s no vehicle coming. There have been times when I’ve had to cross against the lights.”
Safety issue for all pedestrians
Hurlbert has expressed these concerns on social media where she has received comments from people saying it is dangerous for seniors, people walking with a cane, and even kids.
“That’s another thing you have to think about. Able body people have to climb on to the snow bank and they could get hurt,” she said. “I’m glad other people are bringing that forward too. It’s not just people in wheelchairs who are having problems.”
Hurlbert said she has reached out to the city numerous times and has been told that it can be difficult to keep up with snow clearing to ensure all crosswalks are accessible.
Brad Adams, manager of roads with the city of Thunder Bay, said after a snowfall, arterial roads are cleared first, followed by residential areas and sidewalks.
“Once that is done, we have to go back through some of these areas and clean up areas where the snow plows have gone by so it takes a few days to clear up those areas,” he said.
But Hurlbert believes it’s just a matter of taking some extra time to ensure pedestrian crossing buttons are accessible and the crosswalks are clear.
“I’m hoping when people clear the sidewalks that they will clear right up to the buttons so we can reach the buttons. Don’t just clear the sidewalk and keep going,” she said.
According to Adams, that is not always possible for city workers clearing sidewalks, as getting the sidewalks open is the first priority.
“We try to get close to them depending on where they are,” he said. “If they have to move over to get it, they have a lot of area to clear and the focus is to get those sidewalks open as quickly as possible and then we come back and clean back areas around push buttons and where snow banks have been pushed up by graders.”
Hurlbert added that it can take weeks for a crosswalk to be cleared and some are not done at all.
“Someone has to phone and complain. I think that’s a shame,” she said. “As soon as a sidewalk is cleared, the crosswalk should be cleared so you can use it.”
City workers making extra efforts
Hurlbert added that she knows city workers are doing their best and she commends them for taking extra steps to help people living with a disability, including city grader drivers who take the time to clear the snow bank from the end of her driveway.
“He could have went by and created a big snow bank and I couldn’t complain about that because he is just doing his job,” she said. “But no, he stopped and cleared it out and was really good about that.”
The city has also come a long way in terms of accessibility, removing curbs from certain crosswalks, adding audio cues for people who are visually impaired, and more and more businesses becoming fully accessible.
“It’s been 30 years of struggle, but it’s been 30 years of a lot of triumphs because people are a lot more open minded I find,” Hurlbert said. “I find advocating for myself has actually worked too. I think they have learned that I do know what I’m talking about when I say things need to be more accessible.”
Late last year, the city installed new traffic lights at the corner of Arthur Street and Ford Street and will be utilizing a new thermal detection system for pedestrians that will eliminate the need to push a button to activate the lights.
Hurlbert said that would be a welcome addition to all intersections and used the example of her foster sister, who has cerebral palsy limiting mobility in her arms and causing trouble with hand-eye coordination, making it difficult to always push a button.
“That would be great not having to push a button,” she said. “At least if she has technology where it’s automatically noticing her, that would be a blessing for her and other people who can’t push those buttons.”
Anyone who would like to report an issue with city sidewalks or intersections can call the dispatch number at 624-2195 or email [email protected].
