Parking meter bases on pavements pose hazard to pedestrians
Unused bases of parking meters on pavements within the central business district of the city are posing a hazard to pedestrians. More than half a dozen of the bases have been installed with no meters attached to them. In the vicinity of Robb and Camp streets there are at least three bases cemented on the pavements.
Pedestrians have complained bitterly of bumping into the bases since there are no clear markings.
Questions have been raised about whether these bases should be allowed at all onto the pavements.
Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan yesterday said that the placement of infrastructure on the pavements should not be since it is a hindrance to persons using the walkways.
“I don’t see how they can want to install infrastructure on the pavements which is not only used by pedestrians but persons with disabilities as well,” he stated.
Duncan in an invited comment said “I have seen some of the foundations on pavements; a black square with screws and no tape around it.
It is an occupational safety hazard and for a company like Smart City Solutions, who say they have years of experience, encumbering on pavements reflects badly on them.”
He stressed that the encumbrance on pavements is one of the areas he had objected to, while stating that he believes the parking meter by-laws should have addressed the infrastructure on the pavements.
Duncan went on to say that he has received numerous complaints from persons who have sustained minor injuries as a result of bumping into the blocks.
Meanwhile, a guard who works in close proximity to two of the bases on Robb Street reiterated to Stabroek News that many nights she would witness persons walking into the bases.
“You know is a black box and if you walking and don’t know it is there you would walk into it especially when it is dark. Plenty times I hearing people sucking up they teeth and cursing when I find out what happened, they tell you they stump their toe,” she pointed out.
It has been more than two months since the bases were concreted to the pavements and no precautions have been taken to prevent them from being hazards to pedestrians.