Liz Casey hates bricks, too

Posted by Liz Casey,

Liz Casey of Roslindale has had multiple sclerosis for over 25 years, first walking with a cane and now using a power wheelchair. She is a former Boston Public School teacher and has always been a community activist working on issues of social justice.

Brick sidewalks make me want to turn the other way I'm always looking for an alternate route, and sometimes decide to ride in the street because brick is so unsettling to my body. This is dangerous and infuriating-- "sidewalk vanity" trumps "physical safety".

I love going to Newbury Street or Charles Street in the good weather. But I rattle along in my usually smooth wheelchair, arching into spasms. Ten feet of sidewalk-- stop -- get a "lean over" from my aide -- 15 feet of sidewalk-- stop --get uprighted. What a pain in the neck! And the butt! And the arms! And let's not forget the bladder-- what joy!

The city needs to start putting people before beauty. Bricks are attractive, but people are more important! Let's have bricks as accents on the side rather than putting people in wheelchairs on the side.