pages: CommissiononPersonswithDisabilities/2009-02-23.pdf, 2
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CommissiononPersonswithDisabilities | 2009-02-23 | 2 | Commission on Disability Issues February 23, 2009 Minutes Page 2 of 5 problem areas and accessibility issues for individuals with disabilities. Chair Lord-Hausman clarified that it is anything that would get in the way of accessibility to which Ms. Wilson responded sidewalks, access to a bus, a shelter at a bus stop and streets that are poorly lit or dark. Chair Lord-Hausman responded anything that would get in the way of accessibility at any level to which Ms. Wilson replied yes and the survey includes discussion of general transportation, destinations, as well as rating experience on AC Transit, the ferry, BART, Paratransit, sidewalks and bicycle routes. Commissioner Longley-Cook stated that there is no access to 9th Street from Portola which dead- ends. To which Ms. Wilson stated that when completing the survey, the more precise that you can be in talking about the intersections or the bus routes that you have a problem with, the more helpful it would for the plan. The Commission identified several problem areas, including Webster, entrance to the Tube, College of Alameda, Ralph Appezzato Parkway, Central, traveling East on Clement along the lane that comes right through the railroad tracks at Clement and Park. The Commission also pointed out that the railroad tracks make walking and bicycling difficult, and there are many unused railroad tracks in Alameda. Ms. Wilson requested that the Commission discuss AC Transit Services for people with disabilities, including getting on and off buses. The Commission pointed out that you have to climb up very high steps to get onto a bus and if you are a senior or have any type of disability that is very difficult to do. There are individuals who believe that bus drivers do not want to stop and deal with a person in a wheelchair and just drive by. Buses have a very narrow isle and they barely can hold able people, so if you are semi- disabled, it can be troubling. The Commission indicated it is important for people to understand that there are invisible disabilities and that bus drivers need better training, including sensitivity training for those individuals. There also needs to be adequate bus shelters, with seats easy to manage, spaces for wheelchairs and even a GPS so they can they can track how far away a bus will be and announce every approaching street, which can be helpful. Also, streets need to be well-lit around residential neighborhoods. Chair Lord-Hausman stated that she would like to see the Lincoln and Park Street intersection redesigned at some point, because there are a lot of people that turn left there and it is a wide intersection. An elderly or disabled person walks more slowly and people that turn left there are so busy trying to make their left turn that they are not paying attention to pedestrians in the crosswalk. That area is getting busier because of the library, lots of retail, service shops as well as increased traffic coming into the City off the Fruitvale and Park Street Bridges. Darrell Handy, City of Alameda Risk Manager, stated that he was previously Risk Manager for AC Transit. One of the reasons why drivers are reluctant to stop for wheelchairs is that their G:\Lucretia)CommDisability\Minutes)2009\Minutes_Final_Feb 23 2009.doc | CommissiononPersonswithDisabilities/2009-02-23.pdf |