Sidewalks not safe for walkers, wheelchairs

If you think riding bikes in this city is dangerous, you should try getting around Victoria with the four wheels of a walker or wheelchair.

I challenge all who favour bike lanes to a competition — walk using my walker with groceries from Wellburn’s Market to my house a few blocks away. The driveways in the sidewalks will take you out into the middle of the street if you don’t struggle and fight to keep the walker on the sidewalk.

The sloped crossings don’t match up with the opposite sloped crossing and are not level with the road. The road and crossings connections are indented or raised, catching your wheels and causing a spill.

I am done falling, hurting myself and damaging what I carry. I will not be using the sidewalks anymore. I will walk on the road only. Even with the walker empty, it’s a challenge using the sidewalks and moving around this city.

An appropriate study was not done on the use of bike lanes. I’ve watched the road myself to know that hardly anyone uses the Pandora Avenue bike lane. Certainly not enough people use it for the $3.4 million it cost.

Certainly those who ride from the ritzier parts of town could take city-paid courses in riding safety for less money than these isolated “safe” bike lanes.

Will any city councillor accept my challenge? Doubt it. Monica Babic Victoria