Photo competition shows obstacles on the Haarlem sidewalk: “It’s not in your system”

Pauline is therefore the website last year Barrier-free Haarlem started. The photo contest is one of her first feats of arms to draw the attention of her fellow citizens to the obstacles that she and her guide dog Irsa encounter every day. The photo of the most striking situation will be announced this afternoon.

Easy to solve

The photos, submitted by adults and children, mainly show a lot of red and white traffic signs. And according to Pauline, those are the obstacles that are easy to solve. “You can make branches from the guide strip during road works if it takes a little longer. Or indicate well in time for the motorists with a sign that pedestrians are coming on the road.”

Pauline has already discussed this during an introductory meeting with mayor Jos Wienen. She has indicated that she is studying her ‘laundry list of points’ and seeing what can be done quickly.

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The photo competition is mainly intended to make Haarlem residents more aware of their own environment. “I want people to learn to look at the accessibility of their own neighborhood. It’s not in your system, while I’m soaked in it and see where it goes wrong.”

Error Parkers

Pauline also sees in the photos that were supplied that it still mainly concerns cyclists and scooters that are parked incorrectly.

She herself ‘sees’ more structural obstacles. Such as the guide strip for the visually impaired on the Gedempte Oudegracht in the city center, where bicycles are continuously parked. “Because there are bicycle racks next to them and when they are full, people connect their own bicycle next to it. And then they are on that strip.” Pauline therefore prefers not to see bicycle racks near the guide strips.

terraces

The terraces are also a recurring annoyance, especially now that they could be expanded more extensively during the corona measures. “I’m sure that 99 percent of catering entrepreneurs get it when I say something about it, but one percent continues to stubbornly put the chairs in the way.” If the terraces have to be reduced again by 1 October, she hopes to get more space.

“And I am entitled to that according to the UN Handicap Convention. On the street, the sidewalk should be as clear as possible so that Irsa can guide me safely and we don’t have to step onto the unsafe street unnecessarily.”