Your Worship and Members of Council,
Over the last months, I have become increasingly interested in and concerned about the
accessibility of our city. My main method of independent transportation on the streets and sidewalks is
my rugged four-wheeled Hurricane Scooter. I have driven this all over our city and have become
increasingly aware how inaccessible our city is in regards to its sidewalks, stores, and washrooms. Below
you will find my explanations of what I have found during my travels. Having spent my whole life on
crutches and now in a power chair and scooter, these findings concern me. I'm disappointed with our city
and the lack of care shown for our elderly and our people with physical challenges.
We know our population is aging. Statistics Canada numbers show that people are more likely to
experience disability as they age. Already more than one in six Canadians report having a disability that
impacts their daily life and this number is expected to rise. Also parents with baby strollers, runners, and
people who choose to not use cars to get around all experience similar challenges with our infrastructure.
Prince George is not adequately meeting the needs of all citizens.
This is unacceptable and I would like to know how our city will adequately meet the needs of
everyone. I realize these sidewalks and buildings will take some time to change, but I would like to see
these needs begin to be addressed this year. In 2015 we are privileged to host the Canada Winter Games.
Our city will have a great opportunity to build new relationships with other provinces and show off our
city's potential. Accessibility will be an issue many people are going to notice and comment on in social
media. Let’s start now to deal with these problems.
I have attached a list of the locations that concern me most, but here is a summary. Many of our
main streets, including Ospika, 15th Avenue and Massey, have sidewalks with some or all of the
following problems:
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Huge cracks, craters, and humps in surfaces
Sidewalks with such steep access ramps that a person in a wheelchair is in danger of
tipping over and even able-bodied people comment on how difficult they are to navigate
 Non-existent sidewalk access ramps on one block and not the next. These force mobility
aid users onto the road, creating potentially unsafe situations for everyone.
 Sidewalk access ramps that are too bumpy or too steep to be safe, or have huge cracks or
holes. Access ramps that are also slanted sideways, causing potential for tipping. "Slanted
access ramps" refer to access ramps which require the mobility device to start up the
ramp and then make a sharp, sudden turn before being able to continue along the
sidewalk.
 Sections of missing sidewalks, some with new access ramps at either end.
Some of the newer sidewalk ramps, such as those around UNBC and near Superstore, offer much
better access. It is hoped that we will soon see more sidewalks like these to provide better access to all
areas of the city.
Another problem for many involves the entryways to buildings as well as inaccessible
washrooms. Our older buildings were built to the standard of the day and do not meet current building
code requirements that apply to renovated and new buildings. However, these buildings pose a huge
barrier to many people. We are denied the opportunity to spend our money where we want. Some of the
problems include:
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Entries with one or two steps to the door, meaning that anyone in a wheeled mobility aid
cannot get in the door.
Many doors are not automatic, which can pose a huge barrier to people with mobility
aids, and older people with limited arm strength.
Heavy doors to washrooms, causing people to be stuck inside until an able-bodied person
comes along.
Small washrooms, meaning that people can’t transfer to the toilet or can’t turn around to
shut the door once in.
Toilet paper that is too far from the toilet.
Sinks or paper towels that a person using mobility aids can’t reach.
Narrow aisles in the store or merchandise stacked in the aisles that most mobility aids
cannot get through.
Although some of these problems may not seem big, consider that an able-bodied person has the
option to use any washroom or building in the city. I have to plan my trips outside my home based on
where accessible washrooms exist and I cannot enjoy being out all day the way most people can. I can’t
even enjoy most of our parks because washroom facilities are not adequate. Some locations have proper
facilities, such as the Keg, so I know that it is possible for local businesses to provide proper access.
Some stores have made an effort to have level entrances and these are very much appreciated. I hope
people will realize the economic benefits to providing access, and feel that the city has a role to ensure
that all public facilities, at the least, provide an example of how to do things right. Presently the public
facilities without fully accessible washrooms are: the Public Library, City Hall, and the Civic Center. The
library only allows someone using crutches in. The Civic Center has a large bathroom, but the door
leading in and out is extremely heavy. The accessible washroom on City Hall's 3rd floor does not
accommodate a larger wheelchair. The person cannot close the door because the washroom is not large
enough.
I would like to extend an invitation to our mayor and council members to accompany me to some
of the sites which are most in need of alterations. The access committee has already read this document
and discussed it at their September meeting.
If you have any further questions concerning these topics, please feel free to call me at home:
Thank you for considering my concerns.
Sincerely,
Dorothea Ellis
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Selected Sidewalk Problem Areas
Prudente and Davis
no access ramps on either side
Baker and Davis
no access ramps on either side
Range and Ospika
turning onto Range Road- on the left, there is no access
ramp and the ramp to the right is slanted so that one has
to make a sharp turn before being able to continue safely
Andres Rd. and Ospika
access ramps are rough and unsafe, making it easy to flip
a mobility aid.
Denise Avenue and Ferry
bumpy access ramp with large gouges in the sidewalk
and an uneven surface
Melody
access ramp slant is dangerous, making it easy to fall or
overturn a mobility aid
access ramp is at a strange angle (see Range and
Ospika) and the sidewalk is partially gone making it unsafe
for a mobility device
Hopkins
Sycamore
Nicole Ave.
access ramp has a 1-1/2-inch thick "lip" to fight your way up
without tipping
-extremely difficult to navigate onto the sidewalk safely
rough access ramp
690 Ospika (Group Home)
large hole in sidewalk to the left of the entrance
Ospika and Massey
access ramp at a steep pitch which could flip mobility aids
South Nicholson and Massey
sidewalk very rough
Massey
no sidewalks with access ramps except across Westwood.
The next access ramp is at Del Laverdue Way and this has a steep pitch
Opie Street (All Mobile Vets and Ospika Pet and Farm Supplies)
sidewalk is so slanted towards the road that runners avoid it.
- anyone using mobility aids cannot use this because of the extreme
slant
Ospika and Davis Road
three of the corners have unsafe access ramps
Range and Ospika
no access ramp on the left
Andres Rd. and Ospika
access ramp is rough and unsafe, making it easy to tip a mobility aid
Christopher, Pinewood, Hesse, Gould Cresc, Forrest, Arnett, Hopkins and Ferry and James crossing
all have rough access ramps going up onto the sidewalk
and the ramps are tilted at an angle so mobility aids must
go up first and then make a sharp turn onto the sidewalk
Ospika Blvd and soccer fields
a huge gouge in the sidewalk
Ospika and Massey
no access ramps on crossing island, making it impossible to push
pedestrian walk signal button
Arnette St
rough, bumpy access ramp
Range Road and Wieb
no access ramps on either side.
Range Road and Westwood
no access ramp
Westwood after Range Road
terrible shape. Across from John McInnis some parts are paved and
some are not. They are just gravel or long grass
Westwood (Ferry to Pine Center) Across from the Westpine Apartments there is a new ramp but no
sidewalk. The ramp is followed by a bumpy, dirt trail and wild grass.
Just before Pine Center, there is a short sidewalk and another new
access ramp.
Ospika and Massey
(the corner on the side of
the strip mall)
The access ramp going up to the sidewalk is steep and requires a sharp
turn before one is on a level sidewalk again. This is rather uncomfortable
sense of possibly tipping, which might very well occur.
Massey (right side on the same
side as Pine Center)
People in wheelchairs must travel at the side of the road where traffic
continues whizzing by at 50-60 km/hour. This is both dangerous and
unnerving. The sidewalk begins again after the underpass but there is no
access ramp so people with mobility issues must continue on the street
with the traffic.
Massey and Del Laverdue Way There is access to the sidewalk but it ends at the Y entrance so a
mobility aid user must go down a bumpy knob of grass
to the road traffic again.
Massey and Carney
There is an access ramp here but this sidewalk only goes as far as the
beginning of the underpass on Winnipeg. There it ends
with the brick wall of the underpass. From there, I must
travel along a narrow bike lane until Winnipeg and 13th
Avenue where an accessible sidewalk begins again.
However, for some reason, 7th and Winnipeg has no
access ramp on one side.
The corner of
Carney and Ospika
By Massich
There are bumps and divots which can cause a scooter/wheelchair driver
to lose control. There are large chunks missing in places,
which can cause a mobility aid user to tip or fall towards
traffic.
North side, 15th Ave. going west
sidewalks are primarily old, bumpy, and cracked. There
are "surprise dips" which pitch a mobility aid to one
side, throwing the person off balance. These sidewalks
have become "rounded" over the years. Therefore, a user
cannot truly walk or ride straight.
Alward
new ramp on the side closest to the hospital but not on
the other side. There is a large hole in the middle of the
sidewalk in front of the first back alley after Alward and
at Ewert.
15th between Central to Ahbau
half the sidewalk is missing along the length of it
Fraser Street
the sidewalk is badly pitted in front of the apartments to
the left of Fraser Ave
Liard to Ingenika
very bumpy and uneven
South side of 15th going west
The sidewalk is old, bumpy and curved until after the
Bypass. Short section of new sidewalk; after this, the old
sidewalk continues to the corner of 15th and Ospika.
Hwy 16 to Hospice House
Similar to all old sidewalks in Prince George. However,
just before the entrance to the School Board office, one
whole cement panel is missing.
There are many other examples, but this gives an idea of the challenges of trying to get around Prince
George using mobility aids. Some able-bodied people may be able to safely step around all of these
obstacles but anyone with any type of mobility issue or other disability, or seniors, or parents with baby
strollers, or runners, have difficulty in many areas of our city.