Joystick controllers get euchred in the weather

The CONTROL panel / Joystick

An anonymous power chair owner stated: 

"You get Euchred in the wet/cold weather because once water gets in it breaks down.

 A case for the controls would make sense"

The far left symbol indicates that these are not to be used in precarious weather which

is un-practical to persons with a power chair living in CANADA.

The closest coffee shop on the block has only one accessible entrance

"Why is there only one curb cut and entrance, it's mission impossible just to get a coffee"
"We go down the street or to the mall location, you would think they would change this by now"

I have seen Pedestrian/sidewalk restaurant window drive throughs, something to think about the next time  a downtown locations is revamped.

Accessibility for all

BD, 2013.

Freezing Rain in Southern Ontario

Over the weekend we endured a severe ice storm

Take extra peripheral care and ettiquette on the slick sidewalks

According to a mobility vehicle technician there are two types of wheels for a scooters & power chairs

Most people select the later for a comfortable ride.

In extreme weather conditions this limits traction.

The flat fixer can repair your tire/wheel in pinch. A good tip, however, it would be difficult to store this on your mobility scooter/chair.

Accessibility for all

BD, 2013.

Mobility according to Mark

Owns a blue 3 wheeled mobility scooter.
"These are easier to maneuver than the 4 wheeled version"

     “I use it to go everywhere, mobility is everything”

 His battery lasts for 10 miles on one charge

In winter the snow melting salt is utilized for better traction on the sidewalks, 

Mark thinks this could be cumulative to wheel and motor damage.

“Yes innovation is needed, some solid tires would be better”

The recent snow fall limited accessibility and mobility, please be mindful to clear our sidewalks in a timely manner. 

Thanks to:

Ashkan Ezazi & Xingchen Liu

BD 2013

Beverley & Sugar

Owns both a scooter and walker: “A scooter with a feature to store your walker would help. “I have to park it (scooter) outside of places when I visit my friends” 

She prefers her walker because she once tipped over her scooter during the winter season.

“Two people helped me up, if they hadn’t of been there…”

She also mentioned that someone in the building has a fully covered scooter for all weather conditions.

“I would like one of those, because if it breaks down your covered”

   “I don’t like boarding my scooter on the bus especially during rush hour, it's too busy”

              

                                This is Sugar “can you put her in your blog, take a picture of sugar”

Having to board a city bus with her scooter during rush hour and adverse weather conditions are problematic to her mobility. 

DEC 2013

SHOWTIME: Mon / DEC / 9th @ 10am, Mohawk College

Near & Far / brought to you by the colour orange

Chauffer 4 wheels / Distinctively Visible / Anonymous

"Are you from the TV station?"

No, Mohawk College

"Ok, you can take my picture"

Click

"See ya" 

(Zoom)

Scooterville, coming soon…

Compiled by: B.D. 2013

Proceed with caution when cornering

Seemingly this barrier would be impossible to get around. 

I noticed how they assembled three wooden blocks as an extension of the sidewalk.

 Custom built by workers for this situation with found materials from the utility truck.

“We put these blocks here for the scooters, and wheelchairs. We do this when we work downtown…           there’s a lot of them down here”

 -   Perhaps it’s not the safest extension “caveat emptor’ rider beware.

  +    I respect the ingenuity under the given circumstances.

(2)

AROUND the Corner was another work truck, this is how they cautioned the sidewalk.

A dangled A/C cords 

   No alternate route

Compiled by Brandon Dean (NOV 2013)

SCOOTERVILLE the documentary, coming soon...

SCOOTERVILLE

scooterville.ca

2013

The Tiger-Cats Rally downtown Hamilton Nov 2013

    The best moments in life happen in seconds or small pockets of minutes.

Gene the genuine ti-cats fan.

A fan takes stock of her collected autographs.

 Looking above the crowd.     

A hero reaches out.

Kent Austin took the time to talk and sign autographs for fans, 

permeating an instantly classic moment in Hamilton Tiger-Cats history.

                                                 The crowd disperses after the team leaves.

Compiled by: B.Dean ( Nov 20th, 2013) 

Meet Glen "Honk, Honk"

Glen took some time to share his views:

“Respect us as much as you want us to respect you” (referring to sidewalk traffic)

“If I didn’t have my scooter I would have to stay at home,  can’t stay at home"

                      “People coming out of stores don’t look… I guess were not use to scooters yet”

“The Canadian flag is for patriotism, and because it helps me be visible”

Compiled by:

B.Dean (Nov, 2013)

Meet Vegan

We talked as she was on her way to drop off some donations at the Salvation Army.

Her take on scooters downtown: 

“I think they look fun, It’s going to be a world of them”

“They should slow down on sidewalks (impatient people), more manners... And we (society) should have more manners as well”

“The sidewalks should be more scooter friendly”                          

Vegan - Nov 2013

                                                                                   

Greetings and salutations,

I lurked around the main bus depot downtown, and asked some questions on accessibility features for travellers using scooters, power chairs, and wheelchairs.

All employees were receptive, courteous, and informative:

Ticket agent:

“Our busses have access, on the side… there is a sliding door, platform, and lift."

Bus Driver:

“We can hold two at a time, it’s best to call ahead of time and let us know, so we can accommodate for scheduled times of departure”

  

It might be advantageous for the busses to be designed with more     than two mobility vehicle spots per ride. 

Do able bodied people have to book ahead of time?

Complied by Brandon Dean. (Nov / 2013)