236219
235048
BC  

Blind don't like bike lanes

Blind residents of Victoria have the backing of the Canadian Federation of the Blind in their opposition to new bike lanes in the city.

The organization has filed a human rights complaint, saying they are too dangerous for the visually impaired.

The City of Victoria has asked the BC Human Rights Tribunal to dismiss the complaint, however, CTV News reports.

Graeme McCreath and his guide dog hovered nervously at the edge this week as cyclists whizzed by.

"Did the bike go through?" he asked as CTV cameras rolled. 

Complainant Oriano Belusic says bus stops now on the far side of the bike lanes should be moved so buses can once again pull up to the sidewalk.

“They’ve created a terrible problem, and they just don’t want to deal with it,” Belusic told CTV.

Susan Breau, Dean of Law at the University of Victoria, says the rights tribunal "should go to a full hearing to decide whether or not blind people who are getting off buses, crossing streets are in any danger, as a result of the traffic accommodations that have been done.

"This is a question of these people's safety."

– with files from CTV Vancouver Island

 



More BC News

235999