The other issue with curb cuts in Manhattan that I refer to above is one that I find much more frequently. This is where I get to the corner and it is obvious that a curb cut had once existed but between the large potholes or the work previously done on the street there is now several inches between the sidewalk and the street. Remember the old saying, “Don’t lower the bridge, raise the water?” Well that’s what it looks like happened here. I haven’t been able to figure out how the street got to be so much lower than the sidewalk but it has happened in many places. The incomplete work that has been done on these streets or sidewalks effectively removes the curb cut and in some cases makes the corner even worse than those without a curb cut at all.
I’m going to write another letter and begin my curb cut campaign, but first I have to find out who is responsible for assuring that corners have curb cuts. Is it the Dept. of Transportation, the Mayor’s Office for the Disabled, the Paratransit Division of the MTA, if there is one, or the Dept. of Public Services? I’ll figure it out and see what they say so watch for a future posting on how I deal with this pet peeve, but when you come to visit New York City and plan to ride your scooter to see the wonderful sights, don’t be too optimistic that every corner will have a curb cut, or that you will be able to navigate your scooter onto a bus with no problem the first time you try.
Having said that, New York is still the best city in the world and you should definitely come to visit, deal with the rather small inconveniences and spend time in this wonderful city. I hope you get to meet the wonderful New Yorkers who are happy to help you or laugh with you when you get to the crossroad and find there is no curb cut.
Please watch for my next Posting which will be on what happened when I got where I wanted to go that day and what all the broken sidewalks, problematic curb cuts and potholes in the streets has done to my poor little scooter, and remember I just bought it a few months ago, which I wrote about in an earlier Post. I guess I have quite a collection of scooter posts now, hmm, I can see a reality show in my future…
hi denise, i can kinda understand what you are going thru, with the corners of the streets, not having cuts,...altho in your situation it is so much more important...when i walk my sweet grandson, and we come to a street and thier are no cuts, well, you know, you start backtrucking to find some...which is all fine, b u t , i cannot walk that long w/ out my back hinting to me, "that it is time to start getting back" (because if i walk too much , i pay dearly w/ pain for the rest of the day). i am glad thier are nice people to help you and that you have still enough humor within yourself, that you can laugh about the situation!!....was the gentleman nice looking that helped you up? i , so WOULD have planted that big sloppy kiss on him
!!...you have such a good attitude about the whole thing...and that is why i have told you before...you are my hero....in this dificult, neverending pain situation, we are all in...keep on writing your uplifting stories, i for one, look forward to reading them..and denise if you ever need to vent, believe me, i am here for you! hugs, cindi....have a wonderful day!!
Hi Cindi,
Thanks for your comment. I learned a long time ago that if I lose my sense of humor life will be much more difficult. In fact, when I hear that someone is going into the hospital, especially if they have not had much experience in one, I tell them if they check their dignity at the door, but hold on to their sense of humor and they'll do fine. Who can maintain their dignity when nurses are yelling across the room to ask if you'd had a bowel movement and was it normal, loose or hard. And just in case someone didn't hear it, they will often then yell it over the intercom to the nurse at the desk. Of course this only happens at visiting hours. And that's just the beginning, don't get me started on hospital gowns.
I am glad you enjoy my writing, Cindi, I get a lot of pleasure in writing and it helps me feel involved and productive. I am working on a book and hope I am able to find an agent or publisher when I am ready. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks for the offer of talking to you when I am down, you can't know how much that means to me. I count on everyone involved in Health Central for their wisdom and support and am pleased that you have made a point of telling me I can count on you for friendship, too. I hope you know that goes both ways, you can always send me a private message if you want to vent.
Have a good day and thanks again for your comment.
Denise
....and thank you, also, denise, for your offer when i need to vent, i have found 2 good friends on this site and truly they are wonderful (you know who you are
) but it sure would be nice to have others to vent to, i'm sure "my friends" may get tired of it, sometimes :)
yes, please do tell me when you have published your book.....one of the things i have A L W A Y S wanted to do...is write a childrens book....but i think i will write to you privately, thank you, cindi