Comments on: On the 20th Anniversary of ADA, Too Many Streets Remain Inaccessible

By: Sprague

Sprague — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:50:43 +0000

Thanks for posting this good video. It would be great if it was broadly watched, from sea to shining sea, because the problem it shows is found in much of America.

By: jon

jon — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:22:23 +0000

re: victoria

All it seems to do is make it legal to cross midblock as in you wont get some BS jaywalking ticket if a traffic cop cared (most places they dont). it doesnt sound like any reclaimed legal protections for pedestrians, the pedestrian is still viewed as crossing a vehicular space and the burden remains on the pedestrian to not get hit by cars speeding by. So as far as I’m concerned this almost pointless and is the exact same as before. For this to be something, pedestrians would have the right of way midblock.

By: Corey Burger

Corey Burger — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:52:34 +0000

The Victoria jaywalking piece is a bit of a non-news item. All it does is allow what everybody else already enjoys outside the downtown core: crossing at midblock.

By: Clutch J

Clutch J — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:54:40 +0000

Fabulous video.

Interesting headline…the problem doesn’t seem ADA-specific, as perfectly able-bodied people are put at-risk by such poor roadway design.

By: poncho

poncho — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:57:43 +0000

i have to believe that if a transit agency can be liable for someone getting hit going to/from a bus stop, and if a DOT can be liable for dangerous road design for motorists, surely a DOT can be liable for lack of dangerous pedestrian conditions along a road. please tell me there is not some special rule that makes DOTs immune from pedestrian safety liability but not motorist safety liability.

By: john

john — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:38:54 +0000

Need to send your son or daughter to buy a gallon of milk at the neighborhood store? Good luck with that dream.

These DOTs are out of control and continue to make life miserable for too many. In rebuilding highway 64 through the heart of St Louis, (Just one example) pedestrian routes were made worse by permanently removing a pedestrian bridge. Shopping destinations that are just 500 feet away now requires walking along 8 lane roads and for 1.8 miles (one way) to access dozens of stores and restaurants.

In destroying the safety and viability of walking and cycling in the area, Governing magazine award’s MoDOT’s director: http://www.modot.mo.gov/newsandinfo/District0News.shtml?action=displaySSI&newsId=41447

“Rahn is one of the country’s most innovative transportation officials,” according to Governing magazine who named him as one of their 2009 Public Officials of the Year. Rahn’s willingness to take risks and his desire to make a difference helped him become the first state transportation director to earn this national honor in the 23-year history of the award.

By: poncho

poncho — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:51:46 +0000

That PBS video is shocking, sums it up perfectly and leaves you shaking your head. GDOT is so f#$&%ed up. And on top that they require all new roads to be overbuilt, just look at that new local street overpass bridge over I-75/I-85 connecting to Atlantic Station, its 8 lanes wide.

Is there any legal means of requiring the installation of working crosswalks? Anything that makes GDOT liable for the lack of them? or for accepting federal funding?

By: BicyclesOnly

BicyclesOnly — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:39:40 +0000

J, I don’t think cyclists have a case but the lack of ramps for mobility impaired pedestrians is an interesting angle.

But are you saying the construction is done, and they have left all of those temporary cantilevered staircases?

By: J

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:33:13 +0000

I have a legal question. The RFK (Triborough) Bridge walking path was just reconstructed, along with the existing stairs. This prevents those in wheelchairs from using the newly reconstructed bridge path (it also retains an annoying/unnecessary hindrance to bike access). Is this an issue? Can MTA Bridge and Tunnels be sued under ADA for not providing adequate facilities?

By: gecko

gecko — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:17:36 +0000

Recumbent or semi-recumbent hybrid human-electric vehicles with real seats that work on-and-off simple mechanical and or electronic collision avoidance control systems are pretty much the universal accessibility solution.