That’s right – curb cuts. You know – the modifications to sidewalks to make it easier to get from the sidewalk, down the curb, across the street and back up on the sidewalk? When nicely done, they look like this:
It looks like Wallingford is getting a few more, on Thackery Ave N and NE 44th. (Actually – these are ADA ramps – but everyone calls them curb cuts!)
I used to think they were for folks with mobility challenges, but now think they are for everybody else, too. (Big thank you to the folks that worked so hard to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act). I mean – it’s great that folks in a wheelchair have better access, but it’s also great for:
- Stroller pushers
- People on crutches
- Pet walkers
- Toddlers taking a neighborhood stroll
Adding a curb cut makes access easier for everybody!
For those of us in the neighborhood that are in a wheelchair it is much more than better access, in some cases it is the only access or may be the only safe access. Many wheelchairs are not able to independently go up and down curbs, therefore if I am going to the bus in my wheelchair I sometimes have to go out into the street from a nearby driveway and then stay in the street until another nearby driveway. This is very dangerous as my wheelchair height can put me at a height that many drivers miss if they are backing up. I’m not saying it isn’t great for all the reasons you mentioned because it is, but it truely is a safety and independence issue for those of who are in wheelchairs.
I’m soooo grateful to hear the construction under way outside my house right this minute. Driving the Latona/Thackeray couplet isn’t hazardous enough with many vehicles daily speeding along these one-way streets in the wrong direction. Watching people in wheelchairs forced to use those streets over the years has always sent chills down my spine. Many thanks to everyone who finally prioritized those ramps and got them installed!
No doubt the stand-up comedian who defined ‘pessimist’ as ‘a person who looks both ways when crossing a one-way street’ never spent an afternoon between these two Wallingford streets!
When I moved to the hood a few years ago, I was surprised how few curb cuts there are, particularly along Wallingford Ave. They are crucial for anyone in a wheelchair or (mobility) scooter; but I think they’re important for increasing neighborhood walkability in general. If there are curb cuts, it’s a lot easier to walk to the store, using a grocery cart, for example. My elderly dog appreciates them, too!