Home / Environment / Mother Nature Clears What City Neglected: Tactile Paver Woes
Mother Nature Clears What City Neglected: Tactile Paver Woes
6 Mar
Summary
- Visually impaired advocates criticize city's winter snow clearing efforts.
- Tactile pavers, crucial for navigation, remained snow-covered for too long.
- City staff state they prioritize major walkways and review performance annually.
Winter snow clearing efforts in the city have drawn sharp criticism from advocates for the visually impaired, who state that crucial tactile pavers were inadequately cleared. These dimpled surfaces, vital for distinguishing sidewalks from roadways, were often covered by snow long after precipitation, and sometimes even obscured by plows. Organizations like the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) report that their appeals to city officials to prioritize these areas were unsuccessful.
The city, however, denies these accusations, stating that only 14 calls regarding tactile pavers were received via 311 and that no related injuries were reported. A spokesperson noted that snow-clearing crews prioritize major pedestrian walkways, and tactile indicators are part of the regular sidewalk clearing program. Despite these claims, advocates like David Lepofsky emphasize the ongoing struggle, noting that piled snow covers the surfaces needed for cane detection.
Moving forward, advocates are urging city staff to identify and map the most hazardous intersections during warmer months. This information would then be used to ensure these specific areas receive priority attention from snow-clearing crews in the upcoming winter season. City officials have indicated that the annual review of the winter maintenance program will assess performance and identify areas for improvement, with decisions on service changes to be made post-review.
