Too bad, better next time!
deplorable
Accessible Bergen op Zoom is very sorry that she was not involved in the terrace design plans one and a half meters of society. Other cities such as Breda and Utrecht did use accessibility experts by experience. In those municipalities unsafe and inaccessible situations were thus prevented. The Corona crisis team simply overlooked Accessible Bergen op Zoom. Bergen op Zoom has been a precursor to inclusion since the beginning of 2020. Apparently the policy makers and decision makers were not sufficiently alert or were not yet fully aware of it.
Cause
In our view, the layout of the Beursplein near the Markies is an omission in terms of road safety and accessibility. Fortunately, near misses have ended well so far. Bicycle, moped, light moped and car traffic in the direction of Fortuinstraat reaches high speeds there.
Pedestrians walking on the right side of the street in the direction of Fortuinstraat have no choice but to enter the road because the sidewalk is blocked. Pedestrians, wheelchair users, people with a walker, people with prams and occasionally with walking children enter the road with all the associated risks. Accessible Bergen op Zoom wondered why the parking spaces near the Markies had not been used.
Due to the 1.5 standard, the sidewalk on the other side (eastern side) is in fact not usable for two-way pedestrian traffic. Didn't the crisis team also think that pedestrians in the shopping area should walk on the right side of a street? Why not here?
Understanding
Accessible Bergen op Zoom fully understands the entrepreneurs in these difficult times. Naturally, she grants every visitor a pleasant, health-safe place on a terrace. In a society, however, a broad and acceptable balance of interests must always be sought. After all, everyone participates!
Dialogue
With the municipality
Accessible Bergen op Zoom has now successfully sought a dialogue with the municipality of Bergen op Zoom.
Under the motto "Prevention is better than cure", the foundation has advised the municipality to include two assessment paragraphs as standard in all proposals for public space in the future. For that matter:
- processes design and refurbishment public space processes temporary measures processes permits for terraces exhibition policy permits events
The first assessment concerns road safety, in particular for vulnerable road users such as children, seniors and people with disabilities.
The second assessment should be about accessibility itself, based on the assumption that people with disabilities should be mobile as independently as possible.
The aim of all this should be that the people who prepare the decisions, who take the decisions and who carry out the technical implementation also 'get in the know' that road safety and accessibility are important and immediately include (temporary) measures and permit grants in all plans. role.
With the entrepreneurs
Accessible Bergen op Zoom would like to talk to entrepreneurs with the aim of raising awareness and achieving a good balance between the interests of entrepreneurs and ALL visitors in the future.
