Who's on First Place?

On Thursday August 14/14 the scooterville production brigade set out for streeter interviews outside The First Place building downtown Hamilton, ON. 

Talked about the damage to his scooter. 

Stated that she usually rocks Allen Jackson on her Headphones

This Tim Hortons has many patrons with scooters / power chairs / walkers / wheelchairs… one ramp

We spoke with the insightfull Patricia on our way for a coffee break. 

We also taped 3 interviews at a 20 Jarvis St. (March of Dimes) building with:

Madelyn Silberio

Tony Aquilina

Amy Dolan

Production Photos are by Laura Twigg.

Special Thanks to the interviewees

Amy Dolan

Cathy McCourt

Madelyn Silverio

L. Anderson

Patricia Schirmeister

Tony Aquilina

Production Crew:

Brandon Dean

Laura Twigg

Nicolas Savard

Scooter / Powerchair Demo Day

June 10th, 2014

at SilverCross Hamilton

1405 Upper Ottawa Street #10-11

Test driving the "Cobra" 4wheeled luxury scooter.

Smooth Ride

Nicolas Savard (Camara Operator) / Maggie Stefflar (Owner)

Setting up for the shot. Richard Frontzak (Technician/Sales) in back.

The Silver Cross Van for on site calls Richard makes as Technician

Special Thanks to Maggie and Richard for their hospitality. One of the most enjoyable shoots I've been apart of. 

B.Dean / June 2014

Back to the Streets / Scooterville is back in production

In association with Cable 14 / TV Hamilton Ltd. 

We are announcing the relaunch of the Scooterville production.

    

The following are production photos taken downtown Hamilton on Thursday July 17th, 2014:

Gaining wisdom by the Fountain  

Evan Forbes rocking the release forms

Feels the accessibility needs in our city is a complex issue

"Nick & Nick"

Nick Northrup & Nicolas Savard

On his way out from Jackson Square Mall main entrance

Last interview of the day at King & James

If you have a scooter, power-chair, walker, or wheelchair and would like to be interviewed or have an opinion contact us at: scooterville.hamilton@gmail.com or visit http://www.scooterville.ca 

Special thanks  

to the production team

Evan Forbes 

Nick Northrup

Nicolas Savard

and the interviewees

Angela G.

A.H.

David Favero

Deanna Smith

Dorothy Edwards

Gertrude F.

Jerry R.

Judith Foley

Rick Miles

Robert Wilson

Susan Patterson

Tim Button

Ursula Samuels

B.Dean / July 2014

Why wouldn’t you use the sidewalk ?

Helen Dam is a phycology student. We spoke on the Friday after the big storm on Monday the 3rd of February.

With My condition, I am ambulatory but it's not practical for me to walk across the campus. When I started university, I got an electric wheelchair to make it easier on myself because my condition is progressive.

So when I get stuck in the snow, I feel weird when I get out and have to push my own wheelchair… I feel like people are going to stare at me

and say “why is the person who is sitting in a wheel chair getting off their wheelchair still able to push it to dislodge it in the from the snow”.

I feel like people in the cars who drive around me think: “Why wouldn’t you use the sidewalk ?”. They don’t understand I could get stuck in the snow. Even my dad one day said why isn’t that person [in a power-chair] using the sidewalk? 

 I had to explain to him that it’s because he has too, the sidewalks aren’t shoveled enough, and He has to use the road to avoid to get stuck. And my Dad knows that I get stuck.

I think it’s our societal perception…

What do you think about Hamilton’s by-Law to shovel the sidewalk within 24hours?

 On Monday [FEB 3^rd, 2014] during the snow storm, a lot of my neighbours and my dad didn’t bother to shovel because it’s just keeps building up and getting worse, and a lot of people because… it’s 24 hours they won’t touch it for until after... 24 hours.  

When I have to get to class at 9am in the morning. It’s not going to help me 24 hours after the snow stops in the afternoon.  I purposely skipped that day, especially because I live in a court. My reality is that I still have to make it to school everyday.

And a lot of people were ranting and upset on social media about how McMaster didn’t call a snow day.  They look at it as were all adults and responsible to make our own decision to go to school, but for someone who has a mid-term. They’re going to make it if it’s worth 40% of their mark.

And the Day after, the snow banks were so high I have trouble getting on the HSR bus could load me on. And luckily I was able to walk and dislodge me on the snow bank, and then two guys helped me lift the electric wheelchair, and I had to walk on the bus.  It’s a hassle.

McMaster campus currently has some construction going on.  The accumulation of snow on monday was cleared by McMaster services however the path they shovel isn't accessible for everyone, Helen showed me…

I called student service to let them know about this... The person on the phone was looking at a map trying to understand what I’m talking about, because there is construction so the person in the office doesn’t really know what’s outside. 

They did shovel an area to walk in but I can’t use it because there is no curb cut.

http://scootervillehamilton.blogspot.ca/2014/01/a-warming-personality.html

Brandon Dean / FEB 2014

Madelyn Silberio

Hi Madelyn

Hey it's the Scooterville Boss

Ha Ha...What are you up to?

I'm waiting for the DARTS bus….

You like Betty Boop, that's cool

She's the best

"I was on the sidewalk the other day on King St, heading to the mall and a group was blocking the entire sidewalk…. you know... hanging out"

"I said excuse me, I can't get through"

 one of them replied:

(What do you think you own this block… when you people come around downtown on your scooters you think you own the sidewalk)

I told them we can all share the space

I prefer to take King William now"

B.Dean FEB 2014.

A pocket full of perspective

Ian MacPherson

On mobility:

"In the winter I usually stay inside"

Ian Macpherson shops at businesses that are Barrier-Free. 

"Most people in the city are courteous to shovel their own sidewalk."

"I have seen a few times where only a walking path is cleared"

"I sometimes use the bike path, only a couple of times have cyclist said something about my power- chair. 

Most people understand that we can share the bike lanes"

Related articles:

http://www.macleans.ca/science/health/article.jsp?content=20060807_131521_131521

http://www.canadapharmacynews.com/2007/05/experimental-drug-is-ians-only-hope.html

Thanks Ian.

B.Dean, Feb 2014.

Mobility is everything

Jeanette is a newlywed that has recently moved from downtown Hamilton to the west end of the city.

She has both an assistive walker and electric power chair.

"In the wintertime I don't use my power chair outside, just around the apartment.

Once the summer gets here I will be out all the time."

"The wet and the salt in the winter conditions gets on the battery and all over the chair, my chair is this much (whispers the amount)…. that's a lot of money."

"I like the walker because it's easier and convenient to get around, I use it in the kitchen to sit on when I'm cooking."

 What if you had a spot on your power chair to store your walker, that way you could bring both.

 That would be excellent.

"My message would be if people have an illness go and get a device… I didn't want to get one, right… But if you need it don't be ashamed."

Mobility is everything.

Brandon Dean, Jan 2014

A warming personality.

Meet Helen:

Yesterday was invasively cold. Ice covered sidewalks and streets didn't deter this dedicated post secondary student from making it to campus. And with a little help from Jackson Square Mall power outlets she was able to re-charge her power chair on her way home. That's when we started chatting…

"My battery in this cold loses 40% of it's charge life, I packed my charger today to charge up on my way home"

On her way to school she had to flag down the bus to stop on a dry patch where the accessibly ramp to bus could be extended and embarked safely. When piles of snow/ice collect on HSR curbs and landings it prevents direct access.

"The bus driver was unable to kneel the bus due to the cold"

(*HSR buses have hydraulics to lower the bus for closer access to curbs and landings.)

 She also got stuck on an ice patch on the sidewalk; luckily she was able to gain traction out of the situation. Helen made it to her destination on time.

*Helen has agreed to be an interviewee in the Scooterville Documentary. This segment will delve into the realities personal mobility vehicle owners face in the winter months.*

BD, 2014

Sidewalk Sweepers

Wheeling around in the sticky slush can be an arduous task. The sidewalks downtown Hamilton, ON are well maintained when winter hits. The timely sidewalk upkeep is a contributing reason to why downtown is a personal mobility vehicle hub in terms of accessibility.

The sweeper traverses the sidewalks to clear a path for all pedestrian traffic. I think these inanimate objects have a personality that resonates reliability.

 

Whisk away the slush, and carry on to the next block.

*Keep an eye out for each other in terms of sidewalk ettiquette when things are slushy or slick.

B DEAN

2014