City Planners

City Planners or inspectors who are totally unaware of current building codes and when you provide them with information regarding the erroneous information they are providing its no big deal.

I always believed building codes were there for a reason if you will not abide by them why bother?

The Best Intentions

On a recent trip to the Ottawa international Airport I had to use the facilities. Now they have spent quite a bit renovating the terminal and it looks exceptional a very good job. When I entered the washroom it was simply amazing the first thing that hit me was how vast it was there was certainly no problem maneuvering with the wheelchair in that washroom. Everything was made of stainless steel and it gleamed.
As I sat there and yes MS does not allow me to stand so I must sit I was admiring the facilities and as I turned to my right I noticed a button an emergency button which I thought was simply ingenious. Unbelievable I thought someone actually had the foresight to install such a device then my mind wandered to a situation where I would need to utilize the device. Certainly not something I would use if I ran out of toilet paper rather something that would be of great need if I fell. Looking at that red button with the small string attached I realized that if I fell there is no way in hell I could reach the button and call for help. While the intentions were certainly well-meaning it serves as another example of best intentions yet not very useful when you need them most.

Diabled Parking Permits

Is it just me? Yet it appears the majority of the parking permits being issued are issued by MDs who simply want to get to the next patient without giving serious consideration to their patients needs.
Everyone seems to have them now which is absolutely ridiculous.
Did you know that I cannot even park my vehicle in the designated disabled space since the majority of them are not wide enough to accommodate a Van with a ramp for wheelchair access.

It certainly makes you wonder who designs these things, what the hell lets give everyone a parking sticker at the rate we're going now everyone will have them in the next 10 years or so.

Improper Road Construction

These Photographs

Show you just how dangerous it can be for someone in a wheelchair to navigate some of the streets in my area. I live in downtown Gatineau Québec one block away from a major shopping center. It is impossible for me to ride my wheelchair to the shopping center without having to drive on the street with the rest of the traffic.

I contacted my city counselor and provided him with the information, apparently this will be looked into next year. I'll keep you up to date on any developments.

Compost Heap

This picture is a few years old yet it demonstrates what tends to happen when people have no understanding due to a lack of education or sheer stupidity. I imagine to the person who unloaded this compost the handicapped parking space being wider than the others well it made perfect sense didn't it?
Idiot.

Things That Tick Me Off