As I was walking back to my car, I saw a gentleman in a wheelchair a few yards ahead of me, sprinting down the sidewalk. I observed how swiftly he moved and timed his crossings to avoid the oncoming traffic. He had clearly taken this path many times before. I smiled as I watched him maneuver and appreciated the ease with which he moved along this route.
Then came the obstacle: the “parked” car that had pulled into a driveway, stopped, and now blocks the sidewalk. This is the same obstacle that requires me, with my walking legs, to step off the curb and into the street to get around the car. I’d complain to myself about how inconsiderate it is to block the sidewalk.
I’d wonder why someone would do that and how long the car had been parked there. Could they not find anywhere else to park? Or maybe they had just stopped to make a quick delivery. Regardless, I would easily find my way around the car and continue to my destination. Not so easy for the gentleman in the wheelchair.
I watched as he struggled to maneuver around the front of the car, being unable to manage the 3-inch-high curb at the back of the car. The incline of the driveway made it more challenging, especially as he tried to avoid bumping or scratching the vehicle. He moved slowly, using his hand to push away from the car, while managing the incline. By then, I had caught up with him. I stepped off the curb to walk around the car, and he finally emerged, meeting me on the other side, back on the sidewalk.
He was sweating, and I could sense he was exhausted from the effort. We exchanged smiles and hellos before he asked if I could help him get to the main street, which was three blocks away. He was running late for his appointment and could use the help. After further introducing ourselves, Eugene explained he could use my help in pushing his wheelchair. I agreed, seeing that he could use a rest. As we made our way down the street, we talked, laughed, shared parts of our stories, crossed the streets safely, and arrived at his destination in good time.
This past week, I read an article about an increase in parking tickets to people who park in driveways but block the sidewalk. In one neighborhood, someone or several people had been calling parking enforcement to report these violations. The article included interviews with some of the residents who had received tickets. One stood out to me: a gentleman said he didn’t think he was blocking much of the sidewalk and believed a wheelchair could still pass. To be considerate, he even leaves a sign at the bottom of his stairs inviting people to let him know if he needs to move his car.
In San Francisco, approximately 45,000 residents have a mobility issue that impacts their ability to walk or climb stairs. How would a partially blocked sidewalk or a sign at the bottom of the stairs have helped Eugene that day?