WHEELCHAIR SAFETY -- UNCARING CITY

I have injured myself twice this year, on wheelchair ramps missing or blocked. Both times were in the City of San Jose.

In January, I drove my wheelchair off a curb where I thought there was a ramp. Oakridge Mall contends I was crossing a loading dock. I say I was using the sidewalk on the immediate outside of the mall and it looked like a driveway to me. I think that the representatives at Oakridge treated me in an extremely snotty manner. I think they believe they do not have to upgrade the wheelchair access in an area built in the 1960s, even if they expanded the mall several times since then. I think they even changed their map on Google to show a safe wheelchair route to Bank of American, which does not exist. They refused to even consider my injury claim.

But why didn't the City of San Jose building inspectors REQUIRE that Oakridge put in safe wheelchair routes?

Yesterday, I was unable to cross Saratoga at Steven's Creek on the San Jose side. The ramp ended in an asphalt lump which my wheelchair would not cross until I went over it rear wheels first. Thank you, bicycle guy and car who blocked traffic for me. But why didn't the City of San Jose REQUIRE as safe wheelchair ramp?

The answer might be found in city hall. San Jose built the R2- D-dome, but wheelchairs in the City Council chambers have to use the top or the bottom (with help from security). Compare this to the Santa Clara County Board chambers, which is amazingly wheelchair friendly.

And do not get me started on the incredibly stupid state law which prevents demand notices for access violations. The mislead legislators say they are protecting small business. Instead they are allowing huge businesses to IGNORE WHEELCHAIR SAFETY.