Print

Mail

wiki links

Disabled warn of dangerous sidewalks

Members of the Alliance for Handicapped People demonstrate how sidewalks are often blocked by parked scooters, cars, flower pots or other objects at a press conference yesterday. The group called for sidewalks to be returned to pedestrians. PHOTO: LIU HSIN-DE, TAIPEI TIMES

Blocked pedestrian areas, poorly designed sidewalks and construction frequently force pedestrians onto roadways, often resulting in serious injury, advocacy groups for the disabled said yesterday.

At a press conference, the groups -- including the Federation of the Disabled of the Republic of China -- urged the government and the public to "return the sidewalks to pedestrians."

Wen Chi-hsiang (溫吉祥), who is secretary-general of the Federation of the Spine-Wounded, said he was injured four years ago at a major intersection in Banciao.

Because the sidewalk he was on was filled with motorcycles and vendor stands, he had to drive his electric wheelchair into the slow-traffic lane on the road and was hit from behind by a taxi, dislocating his left shoulder, breaking his pelvis and receiving facial injuries when his wheelchair overturned, he said.

Wen, who is left-handed, said he could no longer use the hand to write or do other things.

To protect himself, he has now installed a light on his wheelchair.

Eden Social Welfare Foundation's deputy CEO Lin Chin-chuan (林錦川), who also relies on an electric wheelchair, said that in March last year he had to "fight with cars" to cross Zhongxiao Bridge in Taipei because there was no access to the sidewalk.

While using a car lane he was seriously injured in an accident.

He ended up with tens of stitches in his head and was hospitalized for three months; his brain injury continues to impact on his sense of smell, he said.

Lu Hung-wen (呂鴻文), chairman of the Taipei Association for the Promotion of Welfare for the Blind, said one of the association's members was also injured after being forced to walk in a slow-traffic lane two years ago because the sidewalk was blocked. However, the road was being repaired, but the warning signs were beyond the reach of the blind person's white stick. The person then fell into sewage that was five stories deep and, after being rescued, had to remain in hospital for two weeks to recover from the effects of the sewage, Lu said.

Hsieh Tung-ju (謝東儒), secretary-general of the Federation of the Disabled, suggested that government officials regularly update themselves on regulations to help ensure the safety of the disabled.
This story has been viewed 2337 times.