Meeting Update for
November 21st, 2005
This newsletter/update is to keep members of CAN, or interested
parties, up to date on our monthly meeting, what we discussed, what our
plans are for the upcoming month, and any other pertinent information
covered during the meeting. We understand that not everyone is able to
attend a monthly meeting and hope that this will keep those interested
in CAN in the loop. Please let us know if you have any questions or
comments concerning our meetings and/or this update by e-mailing us at
[email protected], or by phoning (604) 466-8771. Thank you for you
interest. Your ideas, suggestions, and input will help to create
positive change in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Together we CAN!
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods held their third meeting this
past Monday, November 21st. We had several community members present,
as well as a representative from the BC Paraplegic Association. During
the meeting our new mayor, Gord Robson, popped in to ask about CAN, how
he might be able to help, and what issues we were discussing. Mr.
Robson explained that he has personal experience with accessibility as
he was in a wheelchair for several years. We appreciated his
attendance and look forward to working with Mr. Robson and the new
Maple Ridge council, as well as Mr. MacLean and the new Pitt Meadows
council, to improve accessibility within our two communities.
One of the most important accessibility issues in Maple Ridge and Pitt
Meadows is transportation. We have been communicating with Translink
to find out what their criteria is for deeming a bus stop accessible.
We have recently received a response and will be reviewing the bus
stops which are not currently marked as accessible during the next
three months. If you know of a bus stop that you feel should be
accessible but which is not please contact us with the location.
Currently accessible bus stops are marked with the designated
handicapped symbol on the top of the bus stop sign. This small
identification is hard to see and creates problems for passengers on
the buses who are looking for accessible bus stops while in a moving
vehicle. After we have reviewed the accessibility of the unmarked bus
stops we hope to work with Translink to create an easier way of
identifying the accessible bus stops. There were two suggestions made
during our meeting in regards to better identification of accessible
bus stops. The first was to have a pocket-sized guide that lists the
accessible bus stops. This will be useful for the bus riders as well
as the bus drivers. The second suggestions was to have a neon orange,
or pink, band painted around the bus stop poles; this would be more
visual and have less of a chance to be obstructed by overgrown trees.
If you have any other suggestions please let us know by phoning (604)
466-8771 or e-mailing [email protected].
Translink is building a new transit exchange (bus loop) in Maple
Ridge. They held an open house on September 14th to gather feedback
from community members about the proposed plans. CAN communicated the
need for accessibility. We wrote several e-mails to Shirley Samujh,
the Community Relations Coordinator. She was quick with her responses
to our concerns and assured us that Translink would take our concerns
into account when creating the final plans.
Translink held a second open house on November 17th at Haney Place
Mall. This open house showed the plans for the new transit exchange
and had several handouts. One of the handouts listed what Translink
had learned during the first open house. Two of the items listed
concern accessibility and show that Translink took our comments
seriously, and plan to implement our suggestions. The two items are:
“Safety and Security: The proposed bus loop will improve overall road
and transit operational safety by eliminating the need to cross the
street for bus to bus transfer. The improved lighting and installation
of a public telephone will improve security.”“Wheelchair Access: Wheelchair letdowns to and from the transit
exchange will be improved. The sidewalk surface will improve rider
comfort for wheelchair users.”
We are pleased to see that Translink has listened to our concerns and
has realized their importance. The elimination of the need to cross
the street is very important for safety, and is especially important
for people who are blind or who have visual impairments. For those
with visual impairments crossing the street can be dangerous and the
elimination of the need to cross the street creates a safer, and more
comfortable, environment.
We were very pleased to see that they have committed to improving the
letdowns (curb cuts) which are important for transit users with
strollers, wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, carts, and other mobility
devices. The addition of information concerning the sidewalk surface
is also very important and we appreciate their listening to our
suggestions.
The projected completion date for the new transit exchange is late
2006. We will continue to offer our feedback throughout their
implementation process. If you have any comments concerning the bus
loop you may contact Heather at CAN by phoning (604) 466-8771 or by
e-mail at [email protected]. If you have comments for Translink you can
contact Shirley at [email protected]
CAN is working in partnership with getmenus.ca to rate the
accessibility of restaurants listed their web site. We have spent the
last three months compiling information from different disability
groups to create a checklist for accessibility. The checklist is now
complete. We will use this checklist to rate the accessibility of the
restaurants. We have taken into consideration people with walkers,
scooters, strollers, wheelchairs (power and manual), and people with
visual or hearing impairments. This list will be fluid and will be
adjusted as needed.
In our reviews we will use universally recognizable symbols for
various mobility aids or disabilities to rate the accessibility of the
restaurant. We will also write a short explanation as to how the
restaurant is accessible.
After we have reviewed a restaurant we will give a copy of the
checklist, and completed report, to the owner or manager of the
restaurant so that they are aware of how they are, and are not,
accessible. We hope to increase awareness about accessibility by
letting business owners, and staff members, know what accessibility
means to us.
If you are interested is seeing the four page checklist please e-mail
us at [email protected]. We will start to review restaurants this month.
We are excited to be working with getmenus.ca so that community members
may look up local restaurants before going to them to ensure that they
meet the needs of all individual patrons.
During our meeting we discussed finances, and the need for grants,
sponsorships, or fundraising events. We have several members keen on
working together to create a fundraising event in 2006 for CAN. If you
interested in helping please let us know.
CAN has submitted a grant proposal to the Rotary Club of Maple Ridge.
CAN hopes to raise enough money to get a table at the 2006 Maple Ridge
Home Show. We will be working on creating a higher profile for CAN in
the two communities within the new year.
We will be starting a yearly $20 membership fee in January. If you
are truly unable to afford this yearly fee please let us know and we
will adjust the fee.
The Maple Ridge Power Soccer team has chosen a name: The Ridge
Rockets. The Ridge Rockets will start participating in games with the
West Vancouver, Surrey, and Vancouver teams in January. We are looking
for new players of all ages. If you, or someone you know, is
interested in participating in a sport for people in power wheelchairs
please phone Heather at (604) 466-8771. We are also looking for
volunteers to help with coaching and refereeing.
The team practices Wednesday evenings from 6 – 7:30 PM at Alexander
Robinson Elementary School.
There have been concerns about the curb cuts, or the absence of curb
cuts, on 224th Street in Maple Ridge. There are several crosswalks
that do not line up with curb cuts, or which have curb cuts going in
only one direction. The Municipal Advisory Committee on Accessibility
Issues (MACAI) has been dealing with this concern. They recently met
with members of the engineering department who have told members of
MACAI that the curb cuts are to be improved next year. We look forward
to the improvement of the curb cuts and thank MACAI for their efforts.
CAN�s November meeting was very productive. We look forward to
progressing forward with our goals. If you have any feedback please
let us know by phoning (604) 466-8771 or e-mailing [email protected].
I thank those who attended our meeting, and those who were unable to
attend but offered their support and ideas by phone or e-mail. CAN is
considering starting a daytime meeting in the new year for members who
are unable to attend meetings at night. If you are interested please
let us know.
A newsletter, such as this, will follow each meeting to keep you up to
date. If you are interested in receiving a copy of this newsletter by
e-mail or through regular post please contact us.
I hope to see you on January 16th at the Fraser Room in the Maple
Ridge Library from 6:30 – 8:30 PM, or hear from you by e-mail or
telephone prior to our meeting.
There will be no meeting in December.
Remember together we CAN!