Icy Metro Vancouver sidewalks make problems for residents with mobility issues

While it can seem like a slight inconvenience to some, snow and freezing weather can be a serious barrier to others.

As Metro Vancouver gets its first blast of winter, one advocate is reminding people of the importance of keeping sidewalks clear.

Accessibility advocate Kim Egger, who has been using a wheelchair for 40 years, says winter can be a challenge for anyone who uses a mobility aid.

Just outside her home, Egger tells CityNews she can move around with ease.

“Because I shovelled it,” said Egger.

But just a short block away, the sidewalk goes from completely cleared to completely snow-covered. It’s slippery. Ice hides beneath fresh snow. It’s dangerous, even for those who don’t use a mobility aid.

For Egger, even a small amount of snow is a challenge while she’s using her manual chair.

“My hands keep slipping off the tires and the rims, so it’s actually really hard to push.”

And it isn’t just getting through the snow that’s tough.

“My hands are already red, and we haven’t even gone very far. We haven’t even gone very far. They’ll get redder,” Egger explained.

Snow clearing in Metro Vancouver, Egger says, is often done without thinking about the needs of people with limited mobility.

Obstacles like snow on sidewalks, road crossings, and bus stops make it even harder for people to get around.

Within minutes of showing CityNews her journey, Egger became stuck.

“It looks easy, but it’s not,” she said, overlooking an icy curb.

Snow can get piled up, sometimes into seemingly spacious accessible parking spots. But Egger says people using wheelchairs need the room.

She needs a run-up space to get up her ramp. Even then, she sometimes needs a push. And she needs as much space to get back out.

Egger says people need to get snow cleared as quickly as possible, for everyone, not just those with mobility issues.