Accessibility at qathet Regional District (qRD) facilities and installations was championed at the regional district’s committee of the whole meeting.
At the October 14 meeting, Dave and Marg Hodgins appeared as a delegation to the committee, outlining their frustration with access to a new bridge that has been installed in the Myrtle Creek area. Dave, whose son is in a wheelchair, took his son to the new trail, and at the top of the hill, his son asked to be taken back to the vehicle.
“That was his response to the hill down to the bridge,” said Dave. “I cannot find hikers who are interested in this trail who were consulted. I cannot find any biking group that was consulted. This, to me, is a local trail. I find the construction of the bridge overbuilt.”
Dave said he was told by a third party that a developer at the end of the street wants to subdivide and was informed that there is a lack of water, and they cannot subdivide, so “where is this water going to come from, if it’s true?”
Dave asked why anyone riding on a nice bike lane on Highway 101 would ride up Bradford Road, turn onto what looks like an unmarked driveway, out at the end of this trail, onto Centennial Drive, which is very narrow, and a hazard to bikers.
“Where is this trail going to?” asked Dave.
He said there is not one park that is accessible in the City of Powell River or the regional district.
“It’s an embarrassment to our community,” said Dave. “We need to start paying attention.
“I find the money ill-used and ill-spent for a bridge on a trail that starts nowhere and goes nowhere.”
Marg said she and Dave had been in front of regional district directors many times, talking about accessibility, and had been assured that anything starting fresh in terms of new infrastructure would be accessible for all.
“I find it really insulting – I feel that our son and others with physical disabilities are being treated in our entire community like third-class citizens,” said Marg. “For anyone who is disabled, their ability to get out and about anywhere is virtually nonexistent. The bridge is incredible, but for a pathway and bike lane, I think it’s seriously overbuilt and doesn’t accommodate anyone with a disability.”
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said he’d gone and looked at the bridge. He said the slope on the bridge itself seems okay, however, on the eastern side of the bridge, there is a slope going up to the end of Centennial Drive and the west side has a big dip.
“When I took a look, I realized there was no way I could get a wheelchair down and up again,” said Gisborne.
He asked if signage could be put up so that way, anyone with a wheelchair knows not to go to the bridge.
“I’m concerned about the potential liability of someone going down there and not being able to get back up,” said Gisborne.
He also asked the delegation if they’d like to see the slopes smoothed out so the bridge could be wheelchair accessible.
Dave said he wouldn’t be taking his son to the bridge. He said he would much sooner have the money spent at Haywire Bay, at the parking lot, to allow him to take his son to the beach. Dave would also like a picnic table where his son could be seated.
“That would be money well invested in the community,” said Dave. “I think Haywire Bay is a prime spot. We can’t take him there because the soft sand means we’re stuck before we even get him out of the van.”
Dave said his family are realists and know that the past cannot be corrected. He said what he’d like to see in regional district budgets is a line item where one regional park is picked each year and some minor things are done. He said any new infrastructure should be looked at from an accessibility viewpoint.
“For the bigger projects, look at accessibility,” said Dave. “However, we are trying to fix the small stuff and make it easier for people to get out and enjoy the opportunity.”
