Walk-up ATM, But Not Roll-up ATM

I like walk-up ATM machines.  Too often only drive-thru ATM’s are available.

When I’m out using my wheelchair it helps to be able to roll up and use the ATM.  But the above ATM presented a few of problems for me:

1. The curb at the base prevented me from pulling up close enough.
2. The height & angle of screen & buttons was too great to have used the ATM even if the curb wasn’t there.
3. At other machines I tend to pull up with the machine on my right side, rather than straight in.  But the ramp into the entrance prevent that as well.

I could have pulled up and stood long enough to have done my transaction, but not everyone can do that. This credit union needs to add this ATM & entrance to a list of future improvements. I’d like to see these be improved within a year.  I will send my request to them.

– Steve Patterson

Missouri didn’t support the Tour of Missouri for 2010

The task of the Missouri Division of Tourism is to attract tourists to visit Missouri  — and leave behind some of their money in the process.

Without $1 million dollars from the state, the organizers had to cancel the 2010 Tour of Missouri. The tourism budget is roughly $13 million.  The poll this week seeks your opinion on the canceling of the Tour of Missouri.  The poll is in the upper right corner.

– Steve Patterson

Stray Rescue Welcomed Animals From St. Louis’ Shelter

On July 19th Stray Rescue of St. Louis welcomed 20 dogs into a partially finished new headquarters. From the press release:

“Stray Rescue and the St. Louis City’s Department of Health will begin transferring dogs from the Gasconade facility to Stray Rescue’s Companion Animal Center today. The Gasconade facility, built in the 1940s, is closing at the end of August because of inadequate health and safety conditions.
”

Video of the dogs being brought in one by one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktKQ26zVHhA

Additional donations are still needed to complete the facility.

– Steve Patterson

Forced into the street again

Last week I posted about being forced into the street to reach the bus stop on 14th Street between Washington Ave and Delmar.  The issue was a major lack of wheelchair curb cuts at 14th & Lucas, the alley/street to the north of Washington Ave.  So Friday when I wanted to take the same bus from the same stop I knew I need to approach from another direction.

I crossed Washington Ave to the north at the crossing at 16th Street.  One block east on Washington and then north on 15th one block to Delmar. Heading east to 14th it didn’t take long for me to see I was going to have issues crossing 14th Street.

The SE corner where I was headed has a curb cut.  Interestingly, neither street – Delmar or 14th — has a curb cut to correspond with the SE corner. So again I was back in the street, in drive lanes instead of crosswalks, to reach the bus stop.  Trust me, “driving” a wheelchair on the road is not a comforting feeling.

Yesterday I caught the same bus south of Washington Ave, next to the main library. Much easier access! All bus stops should be accessible. Remember, my access issues are not the fault of our transit agency, Metro – the city has failed to ensure access by missing curb cuts in a few places.

– Steve Patterson

Dead at 33: North 14th Street Pedestrian Mall (1977-2010)

The North 14th Street Pedestrian Mall, in a vegetative state for 20+ years of it’s short life, has died. The plug was finally pulled but nobody is mourning the passing.

In fact, today from 4pm-8pm is a celebration.

In a bit of irony, 14th Street will not be opened until after a street party.  The center of the newly redone 2-block area is 14th & Montgomery, one block south of Crown Candy Kitchen. The area is easily reached by transit (via #30 & #74) bus routes.  Congrats to everyone in Old North St. Louis for finally reopening North 14th Street!

– Steve Patterson