The absence of sonorous traffic lights, tactile paving and ramps transform the Public Garden “Stephan the Great and Holy” of Chisinau into a real obstacles place for persons with reduced mobility. This is one of the conclusions of the pedestrian mobility audit carried out by representatives of the civic platform “Chisinau Accessible to Everyone”. The platform’s report and recommendations will be presented to the Chisinau Municipal Council, IPN reports.
The access ways to the central park of Chisinau were tested simultaneously by a number of persons with visual impairments and locomotor disabilities, mothers with baby carriages and representatives of civil society. Shortly after setting off, they met with the first impediments.
The pedestrian crossings near the park are not accompanied by traffic lights with sound systems, while the classical traffic lights are too fast. For Ludmila Iachim, who is confined to a wheelchair, this is a real speed test that endangers safety. The ramps are another impediment for her. At some of the entrances to the park, these are absent even if there are several stairs. Where there are ramps, these do not meet the standards. The curbs are also not adjusted for wheelchairs. They are too high and uneven.
For Gheorghe Staver, who suffers from visual impairments, the entrance to the park was a real challenge. There is no tactile paving on the sidewalks nearby and towards the pedestrian crossings. Even if there is such paving on some of the adjoining streets, this is too narrow and can confuse a person with poor vision.
As to the alleys of the park, these have holes and bumps. Not all the benches have backs and the persons with special needs cannot thus relax appropriately.
According to executive director of the Center for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Vitalie Meșter, the accessibility is not a whim, but a right that should be ensured for any person. The conclusions of the audit conducted today will be included in a report and will be presented to the Chisinau Municipal Council so as to be taken into account when the park is laid out.
The civic platform “Chisinau Accessible to Everyone” aims to monitor the observance of the accessibility standards and to encourage the municipal authorities to consult civil society when they plan to arrange public areas. The audit is carried out in the framework of the project “Civic initiative for promoting pedestrian mobility in the municipality of Chisinau” that is implemented by the Center for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with financial support from Soros Foundation Moldova/ Good Governance Department.
