IT’S AN EMBARRASSMENT TO WALK AN URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD – WHEN THE SIDEWALK SHRINKS TO 2 FEED WIDE – CRUSHING ACCESS FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS

MIAMI'S NORTHEAST SECOND AVENUE IS SUPER WIDE AND DANGEROUS – WHILE PEDSTRIAN MOBILTY IS IMPOSSIBLE:                 THIS IS UPSIDE DOWN 

Miami’s Upper Buena Vista is exploding with great restaurants & shops.

But a sidewalk less than 2 feet wide means wheelchair users must go out into incredibly dangerous NE 2nd Ave.

The City of Miami and Miami-Dade County MUST fix this on east side of NE 2nd Ave. at NE 49 St.

This is a screaming violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

It defies every planning goal of having walkable, pedestrian friendly urban neighborhoods.

Many sidewalk sections -- why destroy independence for and rob dignity of people with disabilities -- exist in this redeveloping urban enclave.

PERPETUALLY FLOODED CURB RAMP IN MIAMI

ABLEISM IN DESIGN = NO INDEPENDENCE FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS

Dear public servants: design for people with disabilities is NOT an onerous task to be completed to check a “done” box & neglect.

Curb ramps only work when they don’t perpetually flood, then destroy the motor and battery of a wheelchair.

If architects neglected roofs the way cities neglect mobility for people with disabilities, only flimsy cardboard would protect people and their possessions from wind and rain.

Ableism destroys mobility for wheelchair users.

CITIES NEED TO CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

BEFORE ERECTING BARRIERS TO THEIR SAFE MOBILITY

 

I have criticized cities that put up giant bollards or oversized planters to block terrorists from driving into a street festival. 

Those monstrosities endanger wheelchair users who cannot see oncoming cars.

 

Coral Gables simply parked a pair of garbage trucks.

 

Problem solved.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 101: PROTECTING OUT OF CONTROL CARS FROM DOWNING LIGHT POLES

IS 100X MORE IMPORTANT THAN PROTECTING

HUMAN BEINGS FROM CRASHING CARS

Pedestrian epic fail recipe.

Put a streetlight pole in the sidewalk, not behind it.

Create a tripping hazard/uneven rolling surface for wheelchair users by putting the utility box next to the pole in the sidewalk.

Make up for the misdeed of blocking the sidewalk by adding a crappy extension that places vulnerable pedestrians inches from deadly traffic.

Neglect the shoddy sidewalk extension, so it crumbles – but never fix it.

Repeat…dozens if not hundreds of times along your city’s should be walkable, historic main street corridor.

YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL THINKS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DESERVE MINIMUM STANDARDS ONLY?

WORK TIREDLESSLY TO VOTE THE ABLEIST OUT OF OFFICE.

The next time your mayor is happy with dangerous, but bare minimum ADA compliance… 

Ask why they don’t boast of bare minimum: 

Saving taxpayer dollars. 

Constituent services. 

Compliance with city laws. 

Then vote them out!

REPEAT AFTER ME: ADA COMPLIANCE IS THE FLOOR

TRULY ACCESSIBLE UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS THE CEILING

What’s the difference between bare minimum ADA compliance & inclusive Universal Design?

A pair of horribly steep/bumpy power line covers on Ocean Drive at the Clevelander = the miserable minimum.

A world famous street in one of the biggest tourist destinations in the U.S. with a pulsing tax base from all the development – should NEVER settle for lousy mobility.

Miami Beach – fix this.

THIS PHOTO SUMS UP THE PATHETIC STATE OF DISABILITY INCLUSION

A THIRD OF A CENTURY AFTER THE PASSAGE OF

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

The alleged accessible entrance is barred/locked.

There is no call button.

The Ocean Drive vacation rentals building could be a perfect location for wheelchair users to roll to many Miami Beach Attractions.

But the entrance is locked.

This is what happens when ADA is viewed as onerous instead of inclusive.