Knifesmithgate and the curse of the kerbs !!

[Fly]

Sounds like a film title, sadly it isn't. It's fact.

Yet again the curbs take out another pensioner, thankfully not fatally.
Was stood on the rank talking to Our_Lass. I was aware of an elderly couple crossing the road, next thing there's this awful sounding grunt come thud followed by a low resounding moan of pain 
The old guys laid on the floor face down. I ran to him and immediately realised he needed a paramedic and probably an ambulance, he'd tripped, hit his head on the curb and his nose on the floor.
So basically I'm on the phone to 999, Our_Lass is on tissue and towel duty, blood everywhere, a passing off duty fireman and someone else is helping the old man to his feet, Ian from Mirage E-Fags is bringing out a chair. Someone else is comforting his wife who's looking a little shakey. We had to sit her down, she really wasn't looking very well.
By the time the ambulance arrived, 'Bob' had come round a bit, but still bleeding and shaken and looking battered and bruised.
One ambulance man started his questions to Bob, are you dizzy, sight headaches etc, the other went to Bob's wife who by now was really looking ill. Good move, she literally fainted and passed out as he got to her.
They radioed for further assistance but none was available, so I helped walk Bob to the ambulance with one of the crew, then wheel out the stretcher back to Bob's wife. While the crew were getting her on the stretcher, I went back to the ambulance to keep Bob company. Our_Lass is removing reams of blood stained tissues and towels from the street and Ian has a brush and water to clear up the blood.

So if anybody knows of a Bob and (Agnes?) Hill? Let me know please. I'd like to find out if they are both OK 

@Cllr Slack, any chance of you enquiring as to why they altered the curbs and causeway on the taxi rank on Knifesmithgate, we daily see people trip, and they have an adverse affect when loading wheelchairs, the extended causeway makes it more difficult to load them, not easier.

[Old Cruser]

Trying to think where you mean Fly sorry not good on Chesterfield Street names.
Is it where you normally park up?

I do no the pedestrian zone near Samuals/ Notts building Society isn't too clever for people with sight difficulties.
A couple of years ago my daughter was in town alone and didn't realise there was a slight curb done in the same tiles as the paths, she moved to let a gentleman passed - and over she went!
These days she doesn't go out alone as we have found out she is partially sighted.
However others with a similar condition will have the same problems.
I do hope the elderly couple are both OK bless them - and you and Mags for helping xx

[Pete]

Much as I sympathise with folks who have disablities, we cannot change all aspects of towns and cities that are a problem - like cobblestones and kerbs.

[Fly]

The area in question is supposed to be for the benefit of the disabled. It is/isn't.
When I had an altercation a couple of years ago with a wheelchair customer, I still had to pull the cab forward, effectively blocking off the drop curb for other people whilst I tried to load my customer. I also had personal comments thrown at me for being parked there.
The whole thing is a mess and I want it altering !! Hence my asking of Cllr Slacks voice.

It didn't seem correct for me to take photo's after todays events. I will do tomorrow.
Just so people can see the spacing and double curbs etc.

I do hope Bob and his wife are OK 

[Old Cruser]

Much as I sympathise with folks who have disablities, we cannot change all aspects of towns and cities that are a problem - like cobblestones and kerbs.

I would agree to a certain point with that Pete, but the cobblestones need sorting, did they ever finish the filling in between the cobbles to make them safer. I'm not disabled but have tripped over these.
As for the curbs I mentioned,  at the very least they could have put in a different colour to highlite the curb albeit small.
We have numerous dropped curbs with the cobbled slabs in front of them to people with sight problems know it's a dropped curb - so what's with the small roll curbs colour co-coordinated with the pavement/road 

[Fly]

I see both your and OC's point here Pete. Let's wait for my photo's tomorrow.
As I see it, the disabled side of it is OK, but wrong, ish.
My argument is that it's a stupid set up. Even non disabled people don't see the curbs, and trip on them.
Before the alterations a few years ago, people either fell down 2 steps, or up 2 steps. Both onto flat floors. Ouch.
Mr Hill tripped on the first curd and fell forward, literaly head butting the second curb.

Believe me, I thought the old fella had cracked his skull, he might have. I don't know !!

[Old Cruser]

I'll be interested to see the photo's Fly as not too sure what you mean about the loading of w/chair users, but know about the steps?

I don't think we should change the cobbles as some do,  but TBH it plays havoc with anyone who uses a wheelchair and suffers with back problems and I am thinking other medical conditions.

My daughter does de-tours to miss them where ever possible, they are part of our town so alternative routes should be provided.

[eabbus]

Well done for helping fly, I know exactly where you mean opposite oxfam where they have extended the pavement out from what used to be two steps up to the original walkway underneath the vic centre.
The raised platform style bus stops aren't any help either although again I can see why they did it, but they raised them all so high that drivers can no longer go over the pavement slightly to get close enough to have any benefit, they literally just wreck the front corners of the buses and passengers end up contending with a gap. 
All the buses now lower and also have fold out ramps anyway now, also can't understand why unserved bus stops were 'upgraded' unless it was a funding thing.

[Big Dave]

I stay out of the town centre because I sometimes find the cobbles difficult to walk on. I'm not considered disabled but arthritis means I can't always lift my knees easily to cope with varying ground levels. Much of the time I'm OK but now and again I simply can't do it without discomfort or pain so the cobbles are a real hazard. If it's a 'one-up' like a kerb and I'm on a bad day, I force myself to do it but the cobbles - and any other undulating surface - can be a real no-no.

[Old Cruser]

Part of my moving and handling training is also pushing wheelchairs and being pushed in a wheelchair.
I can tell you it's quite scary being in the hands of a wheelchair pusher!!

You are right in what you say about the cobbles Dave, they play havoc with my daughters back which is why she has found alternative flat paved routes around that area.

[Fly]

Here you can see a similiar spot to where Bob tripped, the kerb, and what his head hit, stone step.
We've also had people fall off the step onto the causeway, or into taxis, or off the kerb between the taxis.



This horrendous causeway runs the entire length of the rank.



As you can see, if they did away with the causeway, it wouldn't affect disability aspects, this could be easily modified to cover the height of the bottom stone step.



Here's my mate John. This shot shows how difficult it is to get a wheelchair lined up with ramps. The rain gulley and stone step are in the way.



Before this stupid causeway was put in, ramps would reach straight onto the solid floor under the veranda. Not like this.



Imagine wheeling someone out of a cab backwards, hope the eyes in the back of your head see the step, or you're both over.



That's why the last time I attempted to put a wheelchair passenger into a cab, I drove it forwards to the drop kerb for better clearance, and got abuse for blocking the kerb !!

Sorry for the edits. It's kerb not curb LOL

[Old Cruser]

I don't see why that drop kerb can't be used for pick up drop off ony for wheelchair users, it doesn't take that long to get them in and secure down.
The gulley will be terrible for the wheelchairs with small front wheels.

I don't see why modifying it  would be such a big problem - mind you if they take advice from the same body of people as the Market Hall Toilets anything could happen!!!

[Fly]

I've just emailed Toby Perkins. I gave him a direct link to this thread, told him it was probably easier to do that than explain the problem us taxi drivers are facing. Yes we've coped for a few years now, but hearing Bob fall and having to deal with it has really hit a nerve and set me off on one.
Down side is, I don't live in Chesterfield and political correctness may stop Toby from dealing with my issue.
Perhaps someone who lives in Chezzy would like to email him and reiterate this subject, he then might deal with you direct.
His email address: toby.perkins.mp@parliament.uk

[Old Cruser]

I can't see why he can't deal with this through yourself as a professional taxi driver Fly.
You will know better than most the dangers and pit falls of this area.

[Fly]

He isn't my MP. Dennis Skinner is.
As much as I like Toby's quick replies to emails, he's bound by parliamentary rules to pass me onto my own MP.
I know, bit silly as I pay CBC for my taxi badge :-)