Can an individual or a small group make a difference for pedestrian safety? Here's two short messages that spell yes from our ACB member, Charlene Wills.
One: the city of Pasadena was doing some sort of roadwork at a particularly difficult intersection, and the pedestrian island was blocked so that one had to go out onto the busy street. Nothing was done to complete the work for months, so I complained by telephone, first to the City Council and then to the appropriate body responsible for the work. Within a week, the work was finished and the intersection made safe for pedestrian crossing.
Two: A friend of mine and I complained to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority, known then as the Rapid Transit District, about a bus stop that was almost inaccessible to blind and other disabled people, as well as to the elderly, because of the extremely dangerous freeway intersection that had to be negotiated in order to reach the stop. We suggested that the stop be moved to the other side of the unsafe intersection, thereby alleviating the crossing.
We pointed out that this change would not cause a homeowner or business owner any problems of blockage, etc, and the MTA complied with our request within a very short period of time. I still use that stop in safety to this day.
Sharlene Wills
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