I'm a blind and deaf St. Albert citizen and want to let you know of the unfair transit in St. Albert.
I have been visually impaired and hearing impaired my whole life and need transit to get anywhere. One of the most flawed parts of the transit system is they have no bus service that goes up to the Costco area after 6 p.m. or before 6 a.m. I don't know about you but this is extremely flawed since there are stores, restaurants, houses, condos, and a seniors complex in that area. I'm pretty sure people would usually go to this area in the evenings, but that's impossible due to no after hours transit.
The city council talks of our Botanical Arts City but how can you enjoy it if you can't even walk there or get there without owning a car.
This is only one of the annoying and unfair transit processes and city planning that is hindering pedestrians like myself.
The other issue is the lack of sidewalks and poor sidewalk conditions all over our city. I try to walk from the library up to Goodlife Fitness and shortly after crossing the river (not including right in front of the mall) there is nothing but token "aesthetic" sidewalks. How are these aesthetic? Well you can't get to them without walking first through ditches or parking lots. For a blind and deaf person this is dangerous to say the least. This is worse in winter when there is snow that is not cleared from those areas.
The transit service and sidewalks are less than stellar for pedestrians. Can we do something about it?
Kevin Dawson, St. Albert
