Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market Has Good Acess Route

Regular readers know I am not a fan of Wal-Mart. Over the last few years they’ve completely changed the grocery market in my original hometown of Oklahoma City by opening numerous “neighborhood markets” These stores are grocery and pharmacy only and are small in size relative to a new Schnuck’s or Dierberg’s store. The stores, however, are bigger than Aldi’s although just as basic.

One thing I have noticed is they actually have done a decent job connecting these stores to local sidewalks, where they exist. That is about as close to a compliment of Wal-Mart as you are going to get out of me.

Above is the accessible route from the public sidewalk to the entrance of one such neighborhood market in South Oklahoma City. The store is located on a major corner but only one of the two streets has any public sidewalk at all.

Heading out the door to the one street that does have a sidewalk we can see a clear path for the pedestrian — they are not forced to simply walk through the parking lot. Those people leaving the pharmacy drive-thru can clearly see the pedestrian crossing although part is missing.

Out at the intersection on the main corner we see the real problem — an incomplete sidewalk network. You can take the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street and then manage to cross but if you are in a wheelchair, as I am now, you are stuck in the street and in the path of cars. In some cases OKC has added ramps on these corners but the streets still lack sidewalks. This corner has a fairly new Taco Bell on it — perhaps they should have been required to include the public sidewalks in their build-out? Ot should that fall 100% on the municipality? Or are sidewalks in such a highly suburban area optional? You know my answer — we need a good public sidewalk network everywhere and each business abutting the sidewalk needs to connect to it with an ADA-compliant access route. Wal-Mart did their part in the above example but OKC is way behind the curve.
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Going out for a bit

Yesteday I did something I hadn’t been able to do since my stroke — I went out to lunch with a friend. Getting in and out of her vehicle was easier than getting through the doors at the local Mexican joint here in Mt. Vernon, MO. Once inside it was great — good food (although I couldn’t even eat half), a menu with numerous choices and nobody taking my blood pressure or giving me medications. So being at a restaurant out in public was a great feeling — like my life is getting back to normal. I’ve had outside food a few times in the last six weeks (brought to the hospital) but most has been so-so hospital food. So far I’ve lost about 10% of my body weight.

Food aside, being among the general public was the real reward. Granted we were not in public space such as a sidewalk or park. In a town of 4K they don’t typically have bustling public spaces. A restaurant near the freeway exit had to do.

We should never underestimate the importance of space where the public gathers — be it privately owned or truly public. You never know what someone else is going through.
We went out again for dinner last night and lunch today. Perhaps the folks in this town are a bit more used to seeing people in wheelchairs but nobody batted an eye as I wheeled into the three restaurants. All three would have been a challenge for me on my own (door locations, small access areas, tall thresholds, etc). However all were happy to hold a door and with my friend pushing we did just fine. Still, being able to navigate the chair myself would have given me more dignity.

Bill introduced in MO house related to universal design in affordable housing

From M.a.d.e.n. (Missouri Advocates with Disabilities Empowerment Network):

Rep. Rachel Storch introduced the universal design bill this week. The bill, HB 2459, is still unnamed. HB 2459 creates laws related to the design of affordable, accessible housing units. Click here to learn more about the bill.

Universal Design differs from ADA in that it tries to create spaces usable by all — eliminating steps and other obstacles. When you find yourself suddenly disabled your housing choices, especially those that are affordable, become very limited in number. My loft will require a few modifications for my return but the open design with limited doors is a good start. Having more universal choices in the affordable category could only be a good thing.

Importance of the ADA

I’ve written numerous times about the importance of the Americans with Act and how it attempts to create environments that are accessible to all. I’d also said I didn’t want to be in a wheelchair while arguing for the rights of those in chairs. Except for time I was sedated and in ICU, I’ve spent nearly two months in a wheelchair. When you cannot walk, the chair represents freedom and mobility. I know that I will walk again — slowly and likely with a cane at first. Ramps, slopes, railings and such will all be important to me for my own personal mobility even when I return to walking.

Over the last month of rehab I’ve met many people who didn’t think they’d end up in wheelchairs, using a cane or walker. Fellow patients have included those injured in car accidents, diabetics, those who fell (causing brain damage leading to mobility issues), others that had strokes, people that got nerve/muscle-damaging infections and so on. While I hope not, please understand that each of you could end up in my same position. Seriously, nobody is immune.

This is why it is so important that we build environments accessible to all. While a person in a wheelchair is unlikely to go to Lowe’s for drywall they may need a new fridge that will be delivered. Or perhaps they just need a new light bulb or a new houseplant? Being regulated to a chair or other device doesn’t reduce the need to function in society.

I prefer to push my own chair rather than have someone else. Doing for myself is very important. Environments that allow me and others to be self-sufficient is a minimum we should provide — especially for tax subsidized projects. The ADA and accessibility should not be an after thought such as at Loughborough Commons. Every new project should start with a pedestrian plan just as you would plan for the circulation of cars.

Will City waste opportunity With new shoppping center?

posted by steve from hospital bed.

The city recently purchased the old MSD HQ at Hampton & i-44 (article), map link. Combined with the city’s street dept site this will create a 26 acre site with highway appeal. The potential for something great is high but Im afraid our leadership will have such low standard. pedestrian access and internal connection should be high. New residential should be included in some form. we deserve something better than St Louis Marketplace II.now is the time to establish some good standards.