Lack of accessibility for all

A few weeks ago, the footpath just by the showroom a few metres away from the roundabout in Marsa and the four-lane arterial road, was reconstructed. It was observed that not only does the footpath have a high kerb but also has an average width of 64cm, decreasing to 58cm at a particular section.

According to the cccess for all design guidelines issued by the National Commission Persons with Disabilities, the standard width of footpaths should be 120cm, yet such narrow footpaths are still being constructed.

All footpaths should have at least a 100cm obstacle-free width to enable access by wheelchair users, parents with prams and the public. Persons using wheelchairs have no access to use the above-mentioned footpath and are thus obliged to use the arterial road along with all the other vehicles. The situation is worse when there are vehicles parked in the parking spaces adjacent to the footpath.

Such a situation is high risk and may lead to serious injuries and fatalities. In fact, only recently it was reported that a vehicle had crossed over the footpath and evidence of the spilled oil is still there.

The footpath design rules have been around since the year 2000 yet these are still not being adhered to in many places. Here are just a few examples: bus shelters, such as the one in Psaila Street, Birkirkara (near the uniforms showroom); a step of variable height is being introduced in the new bus shelters on sloping ground, such as the bus shelter on the opposite side of the same mentioned road; zebra crossing poles in the middle of a footpath, such as the one near the Lija Cemetery. Finally, the new San Franġisk Centre at Ta’ Qali, inaugurated last October, is accessible via a ramp, yet the new footpaths in the road lack ramps at each end except for one!

It appears that accessibility for all is not being given its due importance by everyone and such cases as described above are being left uncorrected.

It is high time the authorities ensure proper enforcement of the guidelines, otherwise a part of Maltese society shall continue to be discriminated against.