THUNDERSNOW and endless Flurries in April limit Mobility

Snowed In?

-- How do you maneuver through the slippery streets of Minnesota winters?  

If pedestrians had clout, the sidewalks would be clear and dry and the cars, not the people, would have to deal with avalanches of plowed snow from the boulevards. It's hard enough for an able-bodied person to slosh through the thoroughfares of the Twin Cities, with routes reduced by snow piles and narrowed by ice. But what about the rest of us? 

It's time for Minnesota drivers to recognize that road-worthy wheelchairs are not in the way of traffic-- they ARE traffic. If a sidewalk isn't shoveled well, it's safer to drive your wheelchair on the side of the plowed street, with the direction of traffic. Regardless of the frustrated drivers who are confused by seeing wheelchairs on the road, taking the street is often the wiser choice because you don't even know if  a cleared sidewalk will have a clear curb-cut at the end. 

Curb-cuts are the vital little slopes from sidewalk to street that are so easily blockaded whenever the plow pushes snow to the curb. In the summer you have to deal with gawking pedestrians who stand right on the slope you need to drive down, as well as inconsistent curb-cuts-- some sidewalks & bike paths leave you high and dry. In the winter, you can't always tell which sidewalks are accessible because the plow's piles are in the way!The city pays shovelers to do the grunt-work of clearing curb-cuts-- be sure to thank them whenever you see them!

It's unfortunate, however, that the city prioritizes the downtown walkways, considering them the most highly trafficked, without getting to all the curb-cuts we need.

  Without a vehicle, you really could be snowed in this winter, especially if you live in a suburban or rural community.

But going out & visiting friends this holiday season & into the new year is still important & quite possible --our communities don't hibernate & neither do we.

So, as you head out into the wind,

bring a flashlight,

remember to charge up your cell phone & powerchair,

& boldly go where few powerchairs have gone before this season.Someone's gotta make those first tracks in the fresh snow!

  Do you have any other tips for winter mobility?