Curb Cuts

If I am fortunate enough to find a parallel parking spot, or an angle spot at the right-side end of a row, that doesn't obstruct my ramp or lift with a planter or bike rack, and it has a parking meter usable by me, I might be able to access the amenities of downtown. That is, if I am not stuck wheeling multiple blocks one direction or the other searching for a curb cut as seen above. Crossing in the middle of the street because there is a curb cut/driveway for an alley is not unusual for me.

Unfortunately, once you get beyond downtown Saskatoon, curb cuts become a rarity. Old "character" areas of the city have few curb cuts, very high sidewalks, very few driveways, and sporadic back alleys. Any time I have tried to enjoy a photo walk with friends in those scenic parts of town I have spent more time searching for places to cross the street than actually enjoying the neighborhood, the scenery, and the photography. Newer areas are usually fairly good about having curb cuts but they are notorious for losing their smooth transition between the sidewalk and the road after one winter. That is, the concrete sinks and the asphalt heaves making for a large lip at the bottom of the sloped curb cut; ideal for doing a headfirst dive out of my chair if I am not very careful.

Speaking of winter, as we plunged back down into the -30°C range, everything but fresh snow becomes as hard as concrete and, ironically, makes it easier to wheel through and over than when it is warmer. A recent respite from the cold had us enjoying slightly above 0°C weather in January. However, the streets are a jagged, rutted mess now that it has refrozen and when it was warm the gritty, wet, slop that I would have to wheel through to cross a street makes for an utter mess. I restricted my parking to being on the same block as my destination. This did result in passing up three coffee shop options before settling on one where I lucked out to find a usable parking space.

I do not know what the answer for this problem is in winter. Anything but the most thorough snow removal would make for similar problems, but I do believe that improvement is possible. As for the limited parking downtown and the dangerous ridges where a curb cut meets the heaved asphalt, there are simple solutions. Firstly, remove the planters and move the bike racks. When the springtime pothole repair crews come to the neighborhood, the transition at the bottom of the curb cut could be made much safer for nine months out of the year for anyone using a wheelchair, stroller or other mobility aid, by evening out the ridge with the asphalt equipment they use to fill potholes. Regarding the complete lack of curb cuts in older neighborhoods that require me to spend much of my travel time on the street searching for a place to get back onto the sidewalk, that is simply an unacceptable discrimination.

On a positive note, the snow build up at the edges of roads, and medians in parking lots, often makes for the perfect transition between the lower and higher surfaces. Under the right circumstances, including a temperature of about -15°C or colder, everywhere is a curb cut, or should I say ramp. Aside from the bumpy surfaces, at least we are lucky enough, on occasion, to have easy access to small height differences.

Source and Solution: The only way to improve the situation is through organized petition of your city council.

Parking Meters

By now it is no secret that dexterity limitations of quadriplegics are possibly our biggest struggle, directly or indirectly. Putting coins in a parking meter is one of the ultimate tests. I have lost more than a few quality cups of coffee worth of coins to the gutter over the years. Every time I go to the University of Saskatchewan for photography, exercise or whatever other reason, I feel like I am part of a cruel experiment. Why do I feel like this when using the designated handicap parking meters at the University? Because of the way they face.

Follow along with my reasoning, if you will. As you will notice, the coin slot faces the street. If the individual with a disability is driving they cannot reach the meter from the driver's side as they will be on the street. Once they get out, the meter is too far away to reach from the street by wheelchair or walker which means they will need to get up and onto the sidewalk to deposit coins, just like a standard meter. However, the space between the meter and the edge of the curb is only between 30 and 45 cm, between 12 and 18 inches. The photo above distorts this distance because of the wide angle lens I chose to use, but believe me when I say it is less than 18 inches between the post and the curb.

This short distance between the curb requires the individual to back up to the curb to deposit coins while facing the coin slot. This introduces the risk of falling backwards off the curb, regardless of the disability in question. If you add some improperly cleared snow to the equation, creating a cone of snow around the meter's post, you make it even more difficult for the user to get close enough to deposit coins. For these reasons I avoid the designated spots whenever possible. However, with parking at the University being at a premium, often the only spots available are the designated ones.

I would greatly appreciate understanding the reasoning used by the person responsible for designing the meters this way. All of the designated meters at the University are like this so I know that it was not just a coincidence. There are no designated meters or spots around the city of Saskatoon so difficult meters are not a problem. But angle parking, with end spots blocked off by planters or other decorations, which make the use of a van with a lift or ramp impossible, are a problem.

The city of Saskatoon and the University of Saskatchewan used to have pay-by-cell phone but, for whatever reason, it is no more. Other payment methods, such as a card-based system, are enabled but this is useful to me only on a very occasional circumstance when I visit the University so I have not pursued that option.

Despite my criticism of the city of Saskatoon's lack of access, they have done one thing very well. They have implemented an annual $20 fee that provides disabled individuals with a sticker that is adhered to their parking placard which allows a free 36 hour parking limit at any standard meter in the city. Of course, you have paid your $20 annual fee, but the convenience makes it completely worth it at a very reasonable cost, in my opinion. The only thing we need now is for them to make a deal with the University, St. Paul's Hospital, Innovation Place and private lots throughout the city so that we can easily use those, as well.

Parking access varies from one city to another. It may have been costly to park in downtown Vancouver but they had a very easy to use smart phone app that allowed you to pre-enter your credit card information, enter the meter number you are parked at, and choose your length of parking. It also allowed enabling notifications to let you know when your time was running low so that you could apply more time. This was not just for accessible parking, it was for everyone and was a brilliant system that eliminated the need to carry change with you. In Seattle, any accessible parking placard approved in North America provided you with free parking at any meter. Period.

Solutions: Explore the options available in your city for accessible parking, don't be afraid to speak to your city counselor and, when traveling, examine what is available in the locations you will be staying.

UPDATE: Smart meters are finally coming to Saskatoon! This pay system was enjoyed by us during our trip to Vancouver and Seattle in 2013. The option to pay with a card, a smart phone app, and still pocket change, made quicker, easier, more precise and exactly what works well for the disabled community.