Tag: disability

#365daysofbiking A sign of failure

 

February 25th – Telford station, Monday morning.

I notice we now have an ‘Official Procedure’ for when the lift on the new pedestrian bridge breaks down.

‘Complimentary’ taxis will run the stranded passengers from one side of the station to the other.

If you spend nine million pounds on a new bridge to fix disability access issues, then omit a ramp and replace it with an unreliable lift meaning punters can become stranded if it breaks – you have failed as a designer and actually made the problem you set out to solve worse.

This is an idiotic disgrace. Those that allowed this to happen should be ashamed.

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#365daysofbiking Disasterous design

January 17th – It’s rare I’m negative about anything over much, but the new footbridge at Telford Station is an utter design failure and in my opinion, a fiasco.

Still very much unfinished, the build quality in places is very poor, the finish terrible and when I arrived mid morning, both lifts had failed.

With no lift on the westbound side, and the utter design failure of no ramp, I had to shoulder my bike and carry it up the steep steps.

The old bridge had no lifts – but ramps both sides. Although not good in a wheelchair, they at least were continuously available. If the westbound lift fails here now, wheelchair uses are stranded.

The situation is so bad there is now a hastily drawn up plan for calling for help if  the lift fails.

The powers that be have spent 10 million pounds to make the situation far, far worse for wheelchair users than it was before they started, ostensibly to improve things for them.

Telford and Wrekin Council and Network Rail should hang their heads in shame.

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August 29th – Never seen anything quite like this before. I was taking a lunchtime ride into Birmingham, and headed across Sutton Park to hit the Plants Brook cycleway into the city. At town gate, I came upon this curious, 3 wheeled chariot.

I’m assuming it’s electric, and it bears no registration (it occurs there could be a plate on the tailgate, which is down in the photos), although looking very moped-like with indicators and mirrors. It’s parked in a disabled bay, and from the design and rear door that doubles as a ramp, it’s clear that a normal wheelchair is propelled onto it, and the vehicle piloted using the moped-style handlebars without leaving the wheelchair.

Looks fun, actually. Never seen one before.