The building of ramps for wheelchairs at crosswalks and of tactile paving for persons with visual impairments are two international accessibility standards that were adopted by Moldova at national level. But these are neglected by the local authorities of Chisinau municipality in the process of repairing the streets Negruzzi, Alecsandri and Stefan cel Mare. Such accusations were made by the Center of Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities.
In a news conference at IPN, Ion Cibotarica, the Center’s director for advocacy programs and public policy, said the given standards were approved at national level at the insistence of the Center of Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities as the local public authorities rejected the multiple requests to set up tactile paving, arguing there is no national standard that would regulate the type of pavement, type of markings and implementation method.
“The standards of accessibility for persons with disabilities are normal requirements for any modern, European city,” stated Ion Cibotarica.
The standards of accessibility for persons with reduced mobility envision ensuring of ramps for wheelchairs at crosswalks and curbs not higher than 2 centimeters, while the standards for facilitating the movement of persons with visual impairments provide for the building of tactile paving. These conditions are needed for the persons with disabilities to move without companions.
According to Ion Cibotarica, the projects to repair the streets Alecsandri, Negruzzi and Stefan cel Mare overlooked these standards. Therefore, the Center of Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities went to court and won the case.
On September 19, 2016, the Buiucani Court obliged the General Public Transport and Communications Division and the Institute “Chisinauproiect” to start to make the asked changes to the street repair projects, including those concerning tactile paving. But this hasn’t been yet done, according to the representatives of the Center of Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities. The persons with disabilities call on the authorities to honor their obligations.
