Pedestrian Access Still an Afterthought at Loughborough Commons
By November 2008 the first of four outparcels at Loughborough Commons was finished — a Burger King.
No sidewalk was built to provide access to the two parcels to the east. Granted, at the time, the parcel to the west wasn’t built upon so the connection to the sidewalk system I fought for in 2005-06. Still it is clear the engineers that planned Loughborough Commons had no provisions for pedestrian access.
The lot to the west now was a Fifth Third Bank, it was under construction a year ago. During construction I raised the issue of pedestrian access. When it opened it did have an access route past the drive thru lanes to the front door facing Loughborhough.
When the bank opened pedestrians had a way to do their banking but not a way to eat at Burger King, not necessarily a bad thing I suppose. Once construction began on the parcel to the east they suddenly realized they needed to correct the earlier lack of sidewalk at Burger King.
Yesterday I took the #70 Grand MetroBus to Loughborough Commons to buy something at Lowe’s. While there I checked out the changes since my last visit. This was my first time there in my wheelchair. View Loughborough Commons in Google Maps here.
Crosswalk stripes are still needed at the auto drives to Fifth Third Bank and Burger King. After I took the above picture I looked to my left and the last remaining out parcel. At some point they expect to connect it to this sidewalk, right?
They’ve already poured the curb with no provision for an accessible route to the last unbuilt parcel to the south. Talk about poor planning! When that lots sells this work will need to be changed, potentially interrupting this business.
Loughborough Commons is far better than it would have been had I not pushed the issue as it was being built. Still, problems exist that I will elaborate on in future posts. This shows what an afterthought pedestrian access really is. The civil engineers should be embarrassed.
– Steve Patterson
Embarrassed indeed. Â The complete absence of pedestrian consideration in these kinds of developments drive me bonkers. Â Even if you arrive by car, once you park it, it all goes to shit.Does the city not have some development requirements that would improve things if actually enforced? Â If not we need some.
Embarrassed indeed. The complete absence of pedestrian consideration in these kinds of developments drive me bonkers. Even if you arrive by car, once you park it, it all goes to shit.Does the city not have some development requirements that would improve things if actually enforced? If not we need some.
How could there not be? I just think there is no one to make sure things are done correctly. Shortcuts galore!
How could there not be? I just think there is no one to make sure things are done correctly. Shortcuts galore!
All plans and specifications for new construction are passed through the streets department, as well as the department that handles accessibility, before a permit is issued. Look to those departments for answers to your questions about “why”.
All plans and specifications for new construction are passed through the streets department, as well as the department that handles accessibility, before a permit is issued. Look to those departments for answers to your questions about “why”.
Do you even have a job or do you just complain all of the time? Who cares if there isn’t handicapped access to the BK. NO ONE should be able to access that crap.
Do you even have a job or do you just complain all of the time? Who cares if there isn’t handicapped access to the BK. NO ONE should be able to access that crap.
The disabled, believe it or not, have to buy things to survive. We have to reach places like Loughborough Commons. The able-bodied also need to reach these places as pedestrians and transit users.
The disabled, believe it or not, have to buy things to survive. We have to reach places like Loughborough Commons. The able-bodied also need to reach these places as pedestrians and transit users.
Sadly, the lack of concern for pedestrian access is everywhere. Here in Ferguson, they got a $50,000 grant to do a study on how to encourage people to walk more. The consultants presented beautiful streetscapes that Ferguson will never be able to afford, and held public meetings which will be of no consequence. But when I contacted the city to suggest that businesses not plow their parking lots onto the public sidewalks every time it snows, all I got was attitude.
Sadly, the lack of concern for pedestrian access is everywhere. Here in Ferguson, they got a $50,000 grant to do a study on how to encourage people to walk more. The consultants presented beautiful streetscapes that Ferguson will never be able to afford, and held public meetings which will be of no consequence. But when I contacted the city to suggest that businesses not plow their parking lots onto the public sidewalks every time it snows, all I got was attitude.