Jack Grieco: No option but to despise the Huntington brick sidewalk

Posted by Jack Grieco

Editor's Note:
This begins a series of statements by people with disabilities of why we absolutely hate, loathe, despise, hold in complete contempt, abhor, and are none too pleased with all-brick sidewalks. Jack Grieco, longtime member and recent board chair of the Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL), recently received the Marie Felton award for contributions to the disability community. Here with:

No option but to despise the Huntington brick sidewalk.

I have a spinal cord injury that results in my utilizing an electric wheelchair for mobility purposes. I live in Symphony Towers which is located on the corner of Massachusetts & Huntington Avenues. Due to the location of my home, I access Huntington Avenue frequently.

Since the first time that I heard the news of replacing the conventional sidewalks with bricks, I have despised the entire concept. Someone who has no knowledge of disabilities or access must have conjured up this bone-head idea.

Prior to the conversion to all-brick, the sidewalks for the first block of Huntington Ave. from Massachusetts Ave. were far from level. This situation was not addressed at all when the bricks were added. Now you have a sidewalk that is not flat at any point, a sidewalk that is designed to drain into the street. On top of this it now has bricks which are uneven, with some missing, which when they are wet and or frozen promote hydroplaning in electric wheelchairs with drifting towards the gutters. The inconsistency of the brick sidewalk triggers spasms every time that I travel the sidewalks. This situation is similar to being a kernel of corn in a corn-popper.

Needless to say, I can’t carry anything on my lap, or in my hands when I travel Huntington Ave. No more coffee or doughnuts from Dunkin’ Donuts!

This entire situation is much more that just a nuisance; it forces me to ask for assistance with daily activities/routines much more than I should have to. I also know that it is inevitable that I am going to fall off the sidewalk, sooner or later!

Below, a sample image of said bricks on Huntington Ave.:

Click for larger image of uneven bricks on Huntington Ave.

Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board Regulations require that no change of level be greater than 1/4 inch without beveling. This violation exhibits a change of level of 3/8 inch, enough to visibly vibrate and jar a wheelchair, or throw a cane user to the ground.