Commission hears about wheelchair-on-road photo; transportation staff say sidewalks cleared and coordination improved

A viral photograph that showed a person using a wheelchair in the roadway prompted discussion at the Anchorage Disabilities Commission about sidewalk accessibility and winter maintenance.

Commissioner Bridger said he had received complaints and seen a post showing a person riding a wheelchair in the road because nearby sidewalks were unusable during snowy conditions. "There was a person who rode their wheelchair down the road, because the sidewalks were unusable," Bridger said, describing sidewalk buildup and ice as persistent obstacles for people with mobility impairments.

Sandra McMullen, a municipal travel trainer who works with public transportation, said the widely shared photo was taken on Dowling Road and staff quickly responded to clear the walkway. "That area had been cleared, pretty quickly," she said, and she described more robust coordination this year between municipal departments and the state to keep sidewalks accessible.

Commissioners said the incident underlined the importance of including pedestrian-safety metrics in the needs assessment. One commissioner recommended requesting data on pedestrian deaths for the last two years, including whether victims were people with disabilities, to determine if disabled residents are disproportionately affected.

The commission did not take formal action on the sidewalk matter during the meeting but agreed to include sidewalk accessibility and pedestrian-safety questions in the planned needs-assessment pre-work and to follow up with transportation staff on clearance protocols and interagency coordination.