Blind residents rage at motorists
By Brian O’Grady
Two blind Sligo residents have hit out at inconsiderate motorist who make their life hard by parking on kerbs.
Unknown to many car owners the visually impaired face on a day to day struggle due to bad and illegal car parking.
Guide dogs are trained not to enter narrow spaces with their owners so a car parked on the footpath can become an unforeseen hazard and danger to the public.
“I’d confront the owners if I could”, vowed Anne McDaid. “No one should have to go ‘round the cars.
“People with push chairs also face the same problem.”
Besides impeding access on our footpaths, motorcars that stall on pedestrian crossings also make life more difficult for the blind another Sligo resident said. The bleep says go but the passage is not clear.
Jackie McBrearty crosses the John Street junction with her guide dog, Bangles, on her way to and from work and finds the crossroads particularly irritating.
“The mornings here are lethal. I hate even coming down here. You can’t go in front of the car in case it moves forward or behind in case there’s a trailer.
“You’re left standing there unless somebody helps you.”