The "Visitability Rules" approved by city of Austin (sale, houses)

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by AguaDulce

There's a fancy restaurant called Qui on the near eastside that built a brand new building last year at the corner of 6th and Comal--with no sidewalk! Is that even legal?

? Google satellite shows sidewalks running up and down 6th in this area?

[AguaDulce]

Originally Posted by Novacek

? Google satellite shows sidewalks running up and down 6th in this area?

It's at the corner of Comal and 6th. I'm referring to Comal.

[AguaDulce]

There are many more examples. That one is just the first one I thought of.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by AguaDulce

It's at the corner of Comal and 6th. I'm referring to Comal.

Qui's street address is 1600 6th, so I'm assuming handicapped access is via 6th street.

I've no doubt there's plenty of examples still grandfathered in, but I'd be surprised if something brand new really ended up with no access.

[AguaDulce]

Originally Posted by Novacek

Qui's street address is 1600 6th, so I'm assuming handicapped access is via 6th street.

I've no doubt there's plenty of examples still grandfathered in, but I'd be surprised if something brand new really ended up with no access.

Another example is Takoba restaurant, at 7th and Onion, across from the Texas State Cemetery. They installed landscaping on the corner instead of sidewalk. See where the fire hydrant is? (street view) So, if you're in a wheelchair on 7th Street heading east and want to turn right on Onion, you have to travel into the street for a little bit.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by AguaDulce

Another example is Takoba restaurant, at 7th and Onion, across from the Texas State Cemetery. They installed landscaping on the corner instead of sidewalk. See where the fire hydrant is? (street view) So, if you're in a wheelchair on 7th Street heading east and want to turn right on Onion, you have to travel into the street for a little bit.

This sanctimonious handwringing would be funny, if there wasn't a price tag attached. Seriously - we are talking about 1/2 of 1% of the American population. There is an enormous wheelchair access path right next to the handicapped parking space - where 99.9% of the wheelchair population will arrive. So for the 1 in 10,000 that might possibly be inconvenienced - perhaps once a decade - let's spend even more money and cover every possible access route.

Insanity, thy name is Austin.

[AguaDulce]

Originally Posted by scm53

This sanctimonious handwringing would be funny, if there wasn't a price tag attached. Seriously - we are talking about 1/2 of 1% of the American population. There is an enormous wheelchair access path right next to the handicapped parking space - where 99.9% of the wheelchair population will arrive. So for the 1 in 10,000 that might possibly be inconvenienced - perhaps once a decade - let's spend even more money and cover every possible access route.

Insanity, thy name is Austin.

Takoba is not the best example, I agree.

My point is really more about the absence of sidewalks. This affects people who walk, too. Not just people in wheelchairs. Being forced to walk in the street is illegal and dangerous.

What about my post was sanctimonious?

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by AguaDulce

Being forced to walk in the street is illegal and dangerous.

Illegal on who's part? Are you claiming it's illegal for Austin not to provide sidewalks everywhere? Or that it's illegal to walk in the street in the absence of sidewalks (it's not).

[AguaDulce]

Originally Posted by Novacek

Illegal on who's part? Are you claiming it's illegal for Austin not to provide sidewalks everywhere? Or that it's illegal to walk in the street in the absence of sidewalks (it's not).

Thanks. I misspoke. (Was thinking about jaywalking) But is is dangerous to be forced into the street. And it happens a lot. Even in downtown Austin. That was my main point. I suppose it should be a different thread.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by AguaDulce

What about my post was sanctimonious?

It was more about the entire thread. This entire initiative is ridiculous - and sidewalks for every possible approach path to a business is yet another. The impossible to resist statist bent of the Austin council has us headed right down the path to disaster. There isn't a heartstring to be tugged that they won't decide can be made right - through the taxpayer's pocketbook. We already spend $30,000,000/yr - 20% of Cap Metro's budget - to provide door to door free taxi service for the .5% of the population that is wheelchair bound. Sorry if I don't see the need for more sidewalks on top of that $30 mil.