The Coalition of Activists for Inclusion in Quebec (RAPLIQ) invites you to a rally to denounce the inaccessibility of many terraces on Mont-Royal Avenue.
With the spring that has been rather discreet since its arrival, many Montrealers are impatiently waiting to have a good meal or a drink on one of the beautiful terraces that liven up several streets of the metropolis. However, for several of them, access to the terraces is difficult or even impossible. The majority of the terraces on rue Mont-Royal are inaccessible to people using a mobility aid such as a wheelchair and are difficult to access for people with reduced mobility. The RAPLIQ denounces this situation which it considers unacceptable. “The idea of designing terraces that are not accessible in 2011 is a testament to the isolation that people with disabilities continue to experience and to a certain indifference on the part of political decision-makers and traders”, deplores Laurence Parent, RAPLIQ vice-president.
The boroughs are responsible for granting permits to occupy the public domain to merchants wishing to operate a terrace. It is therefore the boroughs that must ensure that only merchants operating accessible terraces will have the right to occupy the public domain. It’s not complicated to design an accessible terrace. This is to install it directly on the sidewalk or to provide a ramp if the terrace is raised, ” says Linda Gauthier, president of RAPLIQ.
The RAPLIQ organized the first edition of the Accessibility Days on Mont-Royal Avenue and Masson Street last September. All participants understood the importance of removing barriers so that everyone could enter the various businesses open to the public. We are often told that if a place is not accessible, it is because in time we did not think about accessibility. The inaccessible terraces are very recent constructions, however! Can the City of Montreal really claim to make universal accessibility one of these priorities when several boroughs have allowed the appearance of dozens of new inaccessible terraces? ” Asks Éric Laliberté, administrator of the RAPLIQ.
RAPLIQ members are convinced that it is possible to make Montreal a truly accessible city. Come join us on the sidewalk! View more photos of inaccessible and accessible terraces on Flickr.
Dates: Sunday, May 15, 2011
Time: 10 a.m.
Places: On the sidewalk at the corner of Mont-Royal and Saint-Hubert
Contact us if you have any questions!
| Linda Gauthier |
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| RAPLIQ President Telephone: (514) 656-1664 or 690-8204 Email: [email protected] |