MOTORISTS round Galway have been reminded this week that careless parking on kerbs – or illegally occupying areas allotted to disabled drivers – could cause untold hardship for individuals with disabilities.
‘Make Means Day’ takes place this Friday when motorists might be requested to suppose twice earlier than leaving their vehicles in ‘obstructive positions’ – cyclists who tie their bikes to posts and ramps are additionally focused.
And whereas Friday’s marketing campaign is all about consciousness and respect, motorists had been additionally reminded of the stiff fines that may be imposed for careless parking on trails or in handicapped areas.
One of many marketing campaign organisers, Peter Gohery from Eyrecourt, stated parking in a disabled parking area with out the designated blue card is punishable by a superb of €150, whereas the penalty could be as much as 3 €000 if such a card is used illegally by another person.
“Penalties are in place for this sort of parking, however above all we wish it to be a marketing campaign of consciousness and respect.
“If, for instance, a disabled particular person is pressured onto the general public street as a result of a automotive is parked on a path, this not solely implies inconvenience for the disabled particular person, but in addition an actual hazard,” Mr Gohery stated.
An amputee himself following an agricultural accident a number of years in the past, Mr Gohery stated consciousness and customary sense amongst drivers might make an enormous distinction for individuals with disabilities.
“For instance, a visually impaired particular person utilizing a information canine could also be pressured off the trail if a automotive is illegally parked there – we simply implore individuals to suppose twice earlier than parking illegally,” he stated. .
Dr Charlotte Might, coordinator of the Galway Public Participation Community (PPN), stated Make Means Day was a part of a nationwide marketing campaign by the Incapacity Federation of Eire to carry individuals with disabilities nearer to the broader neighborhood.
“The day is supposed as a pleasant reminder that vehicles parked on sidewalks; illegally parked bicycles; and rubbish cans left on sidewalks block passage and create obstacles for individuals.
“Make Means Day isn’t about pointing fingers at native authorities, different companies or haphazardly scattered activism.
“The entire level of the day is to make the general public conscious of an issue that it’s totally of their energy to vary. It is a hard-hitting, coordinated and decisive day of motion,” she stated.
Make Means Day might be marked this Friday in Loughrea (Bridge Avenue automotive park) at 10am and in Portumna (The Sq. subsequent to St. Brigid’s) at 12.30pm the place obstacles in paths and streetscapes might be recognized and highlighted.
An analogous occasion can be deliberate in Clifden between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. from the city corridor.
“The marketing campaign brings collectively incapacity and the broader neighborhood to handle the wants of individuals with disabilities within the public areas all of us share.
“Anybody can get entangled. And everybody ought to get entangled as a result of we have discovered that recklessness is the large deal,” Dr Might stated.