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Citizen complaint of the day: The non-ADA compliant Christmas tree
By adamg on Wed, 11/26/2014 - 9:27am
A concerned citizen wonders how somebody in a wheelchair is supposed to cross Neponset Circle until the new year:
Neponset Circle is hostile enough to pedestrians without putting trees in the middle of crosswalks. How is this ADA compliant? Can't the tree go on the other side of the clock where it won't block the handicap ramps?
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Comments
That tree was
placed there to prevent lost North Quincy residents from driving onto the sidewalk.
I should be ashamed to admit this but ...
I once got lost in that rotary.
The one good thing about rotaries ...
You can just go around a few times until you get your bearings and pick an exit.
Heh
Our problem was we were looking for a road (forget which one now) that technically starts just beyond the rotary. Probably only some minor road like Gallivan Boulevard ...
But, you want a rotary from hell, try the Beetleback in Natick, where Rte. 9 and Speen Street come together. It's been confusing out-of-towners for decades.
I used to work off of Speen Street, near the mall
I called that light the Busby Berkley light since the traffic from our side (pulling a u turn to head towards Natick) and the mall got the green light at the same time and each side had to mesh perfectly while we headed towards 9W and they headed towards 9E. I got hit by a van there, not surprisingly (my car did - NEVER walked to the mall from work).
Normally that's the case, but not here
While it's called a circle because of the highway this whole area is really more like a series of allowed U-turns that can really screw people up.
That's because you stayed too
That's because you stayed too long in Rooney's ...
This is a valid observation
This object is blocking the top of the ramp and blocking access, right? It's kind of funny, unless you're in a wheelchair and you get thwarted by a cheery Christmas tree and then probably it's infuriating.
I have to agree with this....
That would annoy the crap out of me - and I'm not even in a wheelchair (yet)
(knocking on wood - hoping the multiple sclerosis stays quiet for a long time!)
WAR ON CHRISTMAS!!!
Now the handi-privileged are getting in on the act!!
SAVE US KIRK CAMERON!!!
It looks like a wheelchair
It looks like a wheelchair could get around the clock. If that's correct, this is a minor inconvenience at best. To the crew that placed it on that side: "You had a 50% chance of getting it right and you BLEW it.".
Think of the issue from the perspective
of a person trying to maneuver a wheelchair. Because of the obstruction in the path of travel, they come to the top of the ramp and now have to turn. Then they get to the clock and have to turn again. May seem minor to you, but it can be a big deal for a person in a wheelchair, especially if they have a severe disability.
Now, if the tree wasn't there, the person could just come to the top of the ramp and keep going - as the sidewalk design intended for.
This issue of manuverability is why intersections are now required to have separate curb cuts for each direction of travel, instead of a single angled "apex" cut serving both directions.
imagine there's also snow ....
poorly shoveled
I spent a week in a
I spent a week in a wheelchair last year. Those "apex" cuts quickly became the bane of my existence. Every single time I came down the ramp it felt like I was headed straight out into traffic.
Agreed
It may be possible, but it's definitely a degree of hassle that you and I don't have to put up with, on top of a lot of other hassles inherent in living in a wheelchair.
I have a rule of thumb that I try to use when two conflicting interests bump up against each other, which is to try to evaluate what cost is associated with either party having their way. A Christmas tree is pretty, but it's not necessary and it doesn't have to be there -- it can be placed somewhere else, and no one will be hurt or even inconvenienced. On the other hand, a person in a wheelchair only has one choice about where they can cross the street. It seems like a no-brainer.
For the record
I (knocks wood) do not need to use a wheelchair. However, over the years, I've known several people who are not as fortunate as myself, so I appreciate the intent of the ADA regs and can sympathize with the concerns and issues that wheelchair users face.
Outing myself...
It's hard to tell from the angle of the shot, but it's a tight squeeze to go around. You can see on Street View that there's not much room between the green pole protecting the clock and the curb.
I think they put the tree where it is because of the electrical hookup. In the link you can see the wire sticking out from the street light where they connect the tree lights.
There are 2 Physical therapy
There are 2 Physical therapy offices and a Health Center within 40 feet of the tree. There is enough room for the tree behind the clock. Hopefully the tree can be moved.