#MakeWayDay
By Brendan Grehan
TODAY, Thursday, September 26 is Project EDWARD (European Day Without A Road Death) and Make Way Day, and South Dublin County Council are calling on road users to consider how they can play their part in improving road safety.
The key objective with Project Edward is that there should be no road deaths across the county, Ireland and Europe today.
Mary promoting the Make Way Day campaign to alert the public to the needs of disabled people
The day encourages road users to consider how their own decision-making can have significant consequences for themselves and those around them.
Make Way Day is a campaign that brings disabled people and the wider community together to consider the needs of disabled people in the public spaces.
If we consider a typical residential street on a bin collection day?
Trying to negotiate a stream of cars parked on the footpath, littered with poorly placed wheelie bins is a challenge for any person and may result in a person’s journey being impeded or force them onto the road.
Make Way Day reminds citizens to be more thoughtful as to where they place their bins, and park their car.
It can go a long way in improving conditions within public spaces for disabled people and for those that choose to walk, scoot or cycle.
Ally Menary, Road Safety Officer with SDCC told The Echo: “The council is fully aware of its obligations to promote safety for all road users; however, a greater priority has to be placed on protecting pedestrians and cyclists.
Simple and considerate measures such as not parking on the footpath or cycle lane can go a long way to improving the safety of pedestrians and cyclists as part of Project EDWARD and beyond.”
Sélina Bonnie, Disability Liaison, Access and Equality Officer with SDCC describes Make Way Day as “a day of action” which will highlight the difficulties and dangers that wheelie bins, vehicles and other obstacles create for disabled people.
Ms Bonnie added: “Every day disabled people find themselves having to risk their safety by going out onto busy roads to avoid barriers on pavements. It is extremely relevant that Make Way Day 2019 is falling on the same day as Project EDWARD”.
SDCC is calling on road users to share their insights and images of every day obstacles using the social media handles #PROJECTEDWARD and #MakeWayDay.
