Walking map or 'mobility scooter expressway'? Bit of both, really

Tuesday, 31 July 2018

A map showing 'mobility scooter expressways' has been published to help wheelchair and mobility scooter users get around Blenheim, in Marlborough.

The map outlines the safest routes for scooter users between retirement homes, the council's housing for the elderly, and some of Blenheim's main urban areas.

Kilometres of 'expressways' have been mapped out between the town centre, Scott Street, in Redwoodtown, and Middle Renwick Road, in Springlands.

Mobility scooter user Lynne Nicholl and retired civil engineer Russell Hopkins drew up the map showing the most popular routes in Blenheim.

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Hopkins, a Grey Power Marlborough member, said the pair visited each rest home and elderly housing unit in town to find out which routes residents used most.

'We then went down each of the routes and found the uneven sections of the footpath, and wrote it down,' Hopkins said.

'We got on mobility scooters to feel the issues, and we found the main problems were at crossings.'

The pair sent their findings to Marlborough Roads, who settled on the Redwoodtown and Springland routes, which had the 'highest demand' in Blenheim.

The Marlborough District Council, working with the Access and Mobility Forum and Marlborough Roads, planned and tested the routes with people who relied on a guide dog or rode a mobility scooter.

Repairs and alterations were made at some spots along the routes to ensure they were up to the standards of the council's 'Pedestrian Planning and Design Guide'.

Yellow tactile ground markers were also installed at the best road crossing points.

Hopkins said the colour yellow was chosen as it was the 'best colour for people with vision impairment'.

There were an estimated 500 mobility scooters in Marlborough, with the number of people using them expected to increase as the population aged.

Council's mobility and access chairwoman Jenny Andrews said the safe routes would allow residents to keep their independence.

'At the heart of this was the thinking that any member of our community who walks, cycles or rides a mobility scooter should be able to do so in a safe and dignified way,' Andrews said.

'We wanted to identify the safest and most direct route to town for people, so they could move along the pavement without encountering any obstacles.

'An obstacle means something different to someone who is maneuvering a wheelchair or a scooter, compared to the way that any of you who can ride or stride easily. 

'Deep gutters or steeply angled footpaths, no clear way past, or no smooth ramp from footpath to road crossing point … little things for some, but major impediments for others.'

Marlborough Roads safety co-ordinator Robyn Blackburn said the map showed the location of drinking fountains, bus routes and accessible public toilets.

'[It] also gives the time at a walk speed of 5kmh … of how long it will take them to get into town.'

Blackburn said the two routes were 'just the start', with run-ons to Riversdale and Islington planned for the future.

She also said Picton could see its own 'walkability' audit in future, but not until its fibre network was completed.

A copy of the map was available from the council, the library and the Blenheim i-Site, or it could be downloaded from the council website.

The public could also help by reporting any footpath access issues to Marlborough Roads on 03 520 8330.