Apparently, the City of Victoria is working with an international group of experts euphemistically termed 鈥渢he Biketoria Dream Team鈥� to construct our life-threatening bike lanes. Although worldwide design codes are now recognized, the dream-team experts have either just arrived from Mars or have deliberately ignored these inclusive requirements.
Placing 鈥渇loating鈥� bus stops between the bike lanes and the road, away from the sidewalk, forces blind transit users to constantly cross the bike lanes. Unlike most cars, bicycles are silent, especially when beside a busy road.
This denial of any control over a person鈥檚 own safety when locating the bus stop or sidewalk defies logic and any respect for another鈥檚 basic human dignity. The Canadian Federation of the Blind has filed a human-rights claim against the city and sa国际传媒 Transit.
Why has such lack of concern for anyone else鈥檚 safety become so prevalent and why do the media act so flippantly toward safety for blind citizens? Mob rule now trumps any concerns for a powerless, unattractive, disabled minority. Shame on the city, the 鈥淒ream Team,鈥� the media and even the province for building life-threatening bike lanes, but refusing to acknowledge the safety of a group that just wants accessible bus stops.
Minister of Transportation Claire Trevena knows the potential danger of the present bus-stop location. But that did not stop her giving thousands to help with the construction.
Andrew McCreath
Victoria
