Lewiston/Auburn: Blocked sidewalks

I have noticed when in my wheelchair and going around town, I am forced out into the traffic lanes because of work signs for road work or construction.
I wonder why they couldn't put the signs on part of the lawn or the side of the road and not block the sidewalks.

But I will say one thing is that the drivers are pretty good to me when I do have to go out in the traffic lanes and I'm glad they slow down for me. I do want to say is thanks to those drivers out there that has been good to me when I have to be out in the road.

Motorist and Laws: Lewiston/Auburn

I have noticed in my travels that drivers are not paying any attention to the laws that Maine has made recently. The distraction law doesn't seem to phase any driver on the road as I see more and more holding the cell phones to the side of their heads and not paying attention to their driving.
Some I've seen has driven by me when crossing the street in a crosswalk and some have come very close to me as if I wasn't even their.
I have even thought about recording a video of these drivers that are not following the laws in which is distracting the drivers and someday they will run over a pedestrian sooner or later.

Auburn, Me: Sidewalk being used as parking lots

It my travels today on Sept. 5th I was forced off the sidewalk and had to ride in the street because half of a van was parked on the sidewalk blocking me or others from using the sidewalk. I could see there was plenty of room in the driveway and the parking place on the side of the street was empty except for half of the van was in it though.
These inconsiderate and irresponsible drivers should not have a drivers license if they can't follow the rules of the road. I have been seeing alot of these things happening in and around Auburn and Lewiston too.
I only ask that drivers please use common sense when behind the wheel.

Auburn, Me: Narrow Sidewalk

In my travels the other day on Court Street in Auburn, I was going up Court Street to get to Minot Ave. and found a very narrow sidewalk and I just barely made it by the street lamp post without going off the edge of the curbing.
Legally that part of the sidewalk is non-passable for wheelchairs and makes it a very dangorous sidewalk. Actually the sidewalk should have been made to go around the light post keeping the width at 4 feet from the base of the post.
The City of Auburn may have to do away with a parking place to make the sidewalk 4 feet wide from the base. I would thing they would do that or do away with the street lamp or move it onto the property that runs next to the sidewalk which means they would have to move the wall in towards the building. No matter how its done, it means a major piece of work to make the sidewalk passable by ADA standards.
Here is a picture of the sidewalk with the light post.

Auburn, Me: Sidewalk Survey

I have been busy doing a Sidewalk Survey of Auburn's intersections of the sidewalks if they have ramps or not and if the present ramp is ADA compliant. I have found a few sites that need fixing and have mentioned to the City Manager and they have a work order for those sites to be changed.
I have found that Auburn has been pretty good about fixing these issues.

Thanks Auburn.

Auburn: Walk light button height (Update)

Well, I was notified that the walk light buttons on the poles will be lowered to accommodate those in wheelchairs and those that use mouth sticks to reach the buttons and can't reach.

The ones that have been found to be higher than it should are the two at the intersection of Turner Street and Union Street bypass and then I found one at the intersection of Court Street and Great Falls Plaza next the an office building.

Auburn: OOPS, the city goofed.

The City of Auburn has been working on some projects around the City. The project the City was working on at the intersection of Gamage and Hampshire Street has done a great job and looks nice.
It would look better if they hadn't forgot to put in the ramp on the corner for crossing the street. That's right they forgot the ramp for wheelchairs to get off the sidewalk to cross Hampshire Street.