The City’s Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusion provided its annual report to Prince George City Council at this week’s meeting.
The Committee met four times last year, and advised on 67 service requests related to barriers on accessibility.
“The largest category was related to roads and sidewalks,” said Committee Staff Liaison Sarah Brown.
“That included requests for sidewalk installations, repaving, widening, and the addition of curb drops in various areas throughout the city.”
There were 32 requests related to roads and sidewalks, with the next highest category being civic facilities.
Councillor Brian Skakun brought up concerns regarding bus stops on Westwood Drive.
“There is no real bus stops on Westwood Drive, everybody has to get off on the dirt, there’s no way to get around the buses, so I don’t think people with accessibility issues can get on and off the bus there without real challenges,” he said.
He asked if it was easy to contact BC Transit to let them know what some of the challenges were.
“We definitely have a great relationship with BC Transit, specifically to any of the bus stops, that’s a piece that we look after for maintaining that infrastructure,” said Manager of Transportation and Technical Services Dave Bradshaw.
“We’ve actually got a plan in place to put some crosswalks in on Westwood and then have those connections directly over to the stops that are on the east side of Westwood.”
He added there would be a concrete sidewalk installed specifically for the bus stops.
Aside from roads and sidewalks, the next highest category was 19 service requests related to
These included the installation of push buttons on doors, increasing accessibility features for seating and spectating, and modifying or installing ramps.
Additionally, 21 action items were updated within the 2023-2026 work plan.
Committee Chair Ken Biron added to make improvements, you ‘never hear anything positive.”
“There is a lot that the City can do to improve, you have come a long ways, but like I say, there is still so far to go,” he said.
Councillor Cori Ramsay said there could be more work done on social and attitudinal accessibility.
“I, myself, have received some feedback from the public around how there’s not really consideration given for people with developmental disabilities,” she said.
“I think when we’re looking at accessibility, we’re transitioning out if it just being about physical spaces into really the social and attitudinal barriers, because those are things that are also impact a great majority of people with disabilities in our community.”
City Council approved the committee’s work plan for 2025.
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