Sir, - Despite the undoubted progress that is being made in helping people with physical problems to work towards independence in many areas of life, one aspect seems to have escaped solution.
I am concerned about one such gentleman, who sets out to drive in his motorised wheelchair from his home in Beech Hill, Donnybrook to the city centre.
In keeping with the enlightened attitude of our times, he wants to conduct his own business in town. But what does he meet with? A succession of harassed bus, car and truck drivers, who, in their pressing hurry, beep him off the road again and again. His wife has answered by trying to push the wheelchair into town, but at the path-breaks she cannot manage to lift him on to the next footpath. No ramps are in place on this route until one reaches the Stephen's Green area. Consequently, she is forced on to the road and she, in turn, is beeped off the road by other road-users.
Now, I do not believe the adage that the milk of human kindness evaporates as soon as the driver puts his hand on steering wheel. In fact, some truck-drivers have stopped to help lift the chair on to the footpath, which I think is heroic. But I feel that the solution has to be found in another direction.
I wonder if some of your readers may have noticed and perhaps may have given some thought to this problem, which must affect many people. I would like to hear from them as to the possibilities they have looked at. Could the wheel-chair motorists be allocated part of a cycle lane at valley periods from Donnybrook to Stephen's Green? Could more ramps be provided? Could someone devise a light, mobile ramp that could be carried, and adjusted to fit different heights of kerbing?
I am writing to Dublin Corporation to see what can be done, but meanwhile I would be happy to receive suggestions from your readers. - Yours, etc., Liz Donnelly,
Nutley Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.