'A modest amount of consideration:' Winnipeg man raising accessibility concerns to city
A Winnipeg man is raising concerns about accessibility in Winnipeg after one intersection in the city had the wrong auditory signals being used.
Tyler Sneesby is visually impaired and relies on these sounds to cross the street.
There are two sounds that can be heard at crosswalks, "chirp" and "beep-boop." When the chirp is heard, it means people can cross going east-west, and when the beep-boop is heard, it means people can cross north-south.
Sneesby said when he was at the intersection of Maryland Street and Broadway on Wednesday, the sounds were going off for the wrong directions, which could have led him to walk into traffic.
He said the problem was brought to the city's attention and it was fixed the same day.
"It was a bit of a softball for the city to fix. It was literally just a switch issue," said Sneesby.
Sneesby added that this problem highlights a greater need to focus on making Winnipeg more accessible for all, as he pointed out the signal had been wrong at the intersection for months.
"There's bigger accessibility issues out there that those of us who are walking around with disabilities that we have to deal with on a daily basis."
One issue he highlighted is creating a ramp from the sidewalk when there is construction so that people can still get around everything.
He said he has come across several instances where the construction company doesn't create the temporary ramp and the city doesn't do anything about it.
"There is a bylaw that the city does not enforce, that says that these construction sites are supposed to create alternate pathways," said Sneesby.
"Those of us who are visually impaired, we're just walking along and we suddenly hit a sidewalk that is closed and there is no indication that it has been closed."
He added he couldn't imagine being someone who relied on a walker or other device to get around as they would have to backtrack to find another way around.
Sneesby also noted these aren't problems people who can see and are mobile might think about as they can usually avoid it by jaywalking or walking around it.
"For those of us that are visually impaired, we're not going to jaywalk. I stick to strictly controlled intersections or crosswalks, so sometimes I have to do detours up to two, three, four blocks."
Sneesby lost his vision a few years ago and said in that time, he knows there have been several instances where he has had to risk crossing the street because signals weren't working or the sidewalk wasn't taken care of properly. He added there is a good chance it isn't just him who has been affected.
"I just think it is not a priority for the city. That is how we are made to feel anyway."
When asked what he would like the city to do, he said he wants the city to show that accessibility is at the very least being considered and thought about and that progress is being made, such as an alternate route set up around a construction site so that he can still walk safely.
"I guess I would like to see a modest amount of consideration to show that it is actually being thought of."
Dana Erickson is the CEO of Manitoba Possible, an organization that promotes inclusivity.
He said there is still a long way to go until Winnipeg is fully accessible.
"Accessibility continues to be a work-in-progress throughout the city," he said.
While there are challenges, Erickson said the city is making improvements.
"The city has a lot of structure in place," he said. "It has got a human rights committee of council, it has an access advisory committee, a universal design steering committee, and so on. There is a lot of good structure and processes in place in the city.
"The thing that I would encourage every government decision-making body to do is to continue to listen to and hear from people with lived experience."
In a statement, the City of Winnipeg said it has been working on improving accessibility in all of its service areas, including intersections and construction zones.
"While many steps have been taken to support navigation and accessibility, the City is responsible for all pedestrian infrastructure across Winnipeg and takes this matter seriously," a spokesperson said in a statement. "While we monitor and keep tabs on the entire network, we welcome the public identifying errors and failures when they encounter them. This helps us respond more quickly to such problems."
Residents can call 311 to identify any barriers or problems they encounter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Trial begins for Winnipeg serial killer who claims he was mentally ill
The trial of a man who admits he killed four women in Winnipeg is set to begin Wednesday, and a law professor says lawyers for Jeremy Skibicki have multiple hurdles to clear for a defence of mental illness.
New Canadian study could be a lifesaver for thousands suffering from CTE
A first-of-its-kind Canadian research study is working towards a major medical breakthrough for a brain disorder, believed to be caused by repeated head injuries, that can only be detected after death.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.