A local group representing people with vision issues is asking the city to consider putting audible beacons at crosswalks. (file photo/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Improving accessibility

Looking for a solution: group for the blind asks P.A. council for help getting around city

Jun 20, 2023 | 8:00 AM

An ad hoc group of Prince Albert residents who are either blind or have reduced vision asked the city’s council for a few changes at an executive committee meeting on Monday.

This included beeping crosswalk lights, mandatory sidewalk clearing, and bus stop announcements.

Don Horncastle spoke on behalf of the group, telling council that about 1,800 residents have significant vision problems and there are ways the city can help.

“Think about pushing the walk light and then walking the wrong way and what might happen. Most of us can’t see across the street to see if the light is even on,” he said.

Many communities use audible sounds at crosswalks and have different sounds for walking north/south and west/east. Horncastle also said that the federal government has grant money to help cities with those types of projects.

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Another area of concern for the group is the city transit system.

Horncastle said bus drivers are “less than courteous” so he asked if the city could modify its agreement with the bus contractor to have drivers announce stops ahead of time.

A third area they would like to see improvement on is snow clearing of sidewalks in the winter.

Horncastle requested the city make snow shoveling mandatory for residents/property owners to keep people off the actual street.

“I’m sure the city doesn’t want us to stagger down the middle of the street,” he said.

His final point was to ask if the new city facilities such as the pool and hockey arenas incorporate the universal design principles that make access possible for people of all physical abilities.

Councillors commended Horncastle on his well-prepared presentation and that it included solutions to the problems he was raising and voted unanimously to have the issue forwarded to public works.

They also said they hoped to have something more tangible to include in the budget presentations, which start towards the end of the year.

—

susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

by Susan McNeil

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Looking for a solution: group for the blind asks P.A. council for help getting around city

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