Councillor calls for accessibility review
From sidewalks to parking spaces, one Prince Albert councillor said accessibility issues in the city need to be addressed.
Ward 8 City Councillor Ted Zurakowski said he’d like to see the city review and update its regulations to ensure every part of Prince Albert is accessible. In his 20 years as a teacher, Zurakowski said he’s heard from students with low mobility about their issues, and how difficult it can be to simply go to the movies or get out of a car in a crowded parking lot.
“Everything from street lights to how we shape the pavement and concrete, to the width of the parking lines, all those practical examples make such a huge importance to the lives of people who have mobility issues,” he said, “and I think we need to do a better job of that.”
Zurakowski said council has taken several steps towards improving accessibility in recent years, including increasing the fines for illegal parking in handicapped stalls and requiring ramps in new sidewalk construction. While significant progress has been made in some areas, Zurakowski said the issue needs to be a higher priority.