Check out our recently completed (October 2019) Neighborhood Access Review of the Barber Valley neighborhood in Southeast Boise. This report is a first of its kind, assessing the accessibility of an entire neighborhood by disability. You can read the full report here.
We are working with students at the Boise State University Gaming, Interactive Media, Mobile (GIMM) Lab to develop a digital wayfinding app that works with bluetooth beacons to help people who are blind or low vision navigate using a smartphone. Navigating, especially in buildings, can be difficult for people who are blind or low vision.
In the fall of 2018, cities in the Treasure Valley began granting e-scooter companies the right to operate. This immediately resulted in thousands of new barriers to accessibility on sidewalks, curb ramps, bus stops, and ADA parking spaces across communities. We are opposed to the use of e-scooters on sidewalks and believe city leaders should impose greater fines on e-scooter companies for the barriers they create in the public right of way.
The large number of building and road construction in the Treasure Valley has meant more pedestrian detours through construction zones. Many of these temporary zones are not ADA compliant and are not safe or accessible for pedestrians with disabilities. We continue to pressure highway agencies, like ACHD, to ensure contractors comply with the ADA, and that the agencies are themselves in compliance with accessibility requirements.
Transportations options in the Treasure Valley have exploded, but options for people with disabilities has been left in the dust. There are NO taxis, cabs, or rideshare options that are wheelchair accessible in the Treasure Valley. The bus system, including paratransit, and extremely expensive medical transport services are the only options. We are working to expand accessible options, including requiring cab and taxi companies to provide wheelchair accessible vehicles in their fleets.