This is in response to Kurtis Kelly’s letter (Charlottetown buses seemingly designed without consultation with people with disabilities, Oct.19). Public transportation is more than getting from point A to point B. Users of public transportation have to get to and from the bus stop. Most people will walk. Sidewalks play a critical role in providing mobility for individuals without access to a vehicle. Uneven, crumbling, inaccessible, too narrow, or unconnected sidewalks pose considerable accessibility challenges for people with a disability or a mobility impairment and a tripping hazard for elders for whom a fall can lead to a severe injury, or even disability. Snow and ice present additional obstacles when sidewalks, crosswalks, bus stops and shelter areas are not cleared regularly. Sidewalks must be well connected and part of a regular maintenance program so that everyone can walk and roll safely. For people who cannot drive because of a disability, public transportation can be a bridge or a barrier to independence and opportunity, depending on its availability. As Kelly wrote: “People with disabilities are people first, and it is important to make sure that we have the same freedom as anyone else.”
Barbara Dylla,
Charlottetown
