Frankfurter Straßenverkehrsamt (Frankfurt Department of Transportation, FDT)

” finally lowers new “lowered pavement”… !!!

Everybody who is somewhat familiar with Frankfurt am Main knows that the new tram line 17 that was built in the district of Sachsenhausen is running since January.

During the construction months the big intersection Stresemannallee-Kennedyallee, to which I live close by, became an “adventure playground” for people like me.

From the beginning barrier-free construction was planned, of which in the next few years I should benefit greatly. The city of Frankfurt and the Dept. for Public Transportation is currently investing millions for the accessibility, what is absolutely commendable.

However, back in November I was kind of speechless, when I tried to cross the street with the Rolli and couldn’t make it up the “supposedly” lowered curb of one of those main traffic islands.

On the left side the curb was at least 10 cm high and inclined to about 5 cm, so that the Rolli was on three wheels only and I almost unintentionally had to leave my vehicle.

So I went by the running traffic on the bicycle lane next to the island, which was more like a daring challenge for a wheeler…

On the other side of the same island a “specialist” ever so skillfully sawed off a piece of the curb, which made me fear the sharp edge could cause a flat tire.

I approached the construction workers several times and the engineer in charge called me at home to discuss my complaint. He promised to look into the matter, but nothing happened for weeks.

Once in a while I inquired with the Frankfurt Straßenverkehrsamt (FDT), but as I now know they were not directly responsible for the traffic island.

By the end of February, the curb unfortunately had not automatically lowered itself; I had a dentist appointment and once again needed to use the intersection.

With some reservations I took the bike lane again, when a car went by so awfully close that I felt its side mirror on my jacket.

That was too much!
With a bit of effort I managed to get a competent clerk of the FDT on the phone and explained to her how dangerous the current status is.
Ten days later I was once again at my “favorite” intersection. Much to my surprise the traffic island had been completely revised. Thanks to Mrs. R. from this sit!

Look at the difference, I am delighted.

The piece of curb “lowered by saw” I will submit to the city as a sample, lol … !!!!

Because of somebody’s effort, the other side of the curb was also replaced.

In the last few years I have seen time and time again, that everybody can make a difference. If you see deficiencies speak with the people in charge. Often it is easier to change something than you might think.

Click here on “Eigude Shame” for similar stories.

Translator BW

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Translator BW

One ramp more in Frankfurt!

As a Christmas present from my parents, I had received tickets for a Sunday brunch on the river Main with one of the pleasure boats of the Primusline in Frankfurt.

I hardly need to mention that my parents clarify in advance if I can access the boat in my wheelchair or not.

A couple of weeks ago the time had come, and I stood in my wheelchair next to the old Main bridge in front of a recently renovated, red sandstone stairway, certainly placed under preservation order.

This reminded with its steep “stroller rails” a bit of a ski jump which would involuntarily end up in a backflip of Aaron Fotheringham style. Look at the videos, incredible, a backflip sitting in a wheelchair…!!!

So far the boat went according to the captain around 20 m upfront on the landing place after the passengers had gone on board. There the wheelchair and rollator users could get quite smoothly over the gangway and with only two stairs on the pleasure boat. This is currently not possible due to a construction site. The accessibility of the boat with a heavy electric wheelchair should be clarified upfront.

So now I was standing with my ticket at the top of the stairway and enjoyed the view on the river while the other guests were boarding!!!

The crew was not allowed to carry me down the stairway due to insurance reasons. After a conversation with the owner, why they sold tickets to wheelchair users when an access to the boat was not possible I suddenly got little wings, and I was on deck.

The food was nice, and the 3-hour-trip with the Primusline with my family was enjoyable.

Three weeks later I was again on my way at the waterside of the river Main, and I just thought “STRIKE”…

Almost unbelievable, within around 14 days a ramp had been built!!!!

This ramp is indeed steeper than the favoured 6%, but this wouldn’t have been possible from a constructional point, otherwise with a flatter angle the feet would have gotten wet. Therefore the use at your own risk is advised several times.

Now even the tables of the café on the landing place are accessible.

The welded ramp is with non-slip grating and two stable hand rails built very well according to my understanding.
The locksmith has probably gone through an additional nightshift.

I would like to personally thank the responsible people how fast they reacted and arranged the building of the ramp… Chapeau!!!

I can only point out again and again, if you notice a deficit, contact the responsible people constructively. Surprisingly you get feedback quite often, and with regard to the following measures: Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose… But this should not discourage you, if sometimes nothing happens – therefore maybe next time!

Look at the following examples:

Disabled parking place in underground parking lot

Improvement labelling disabled parking place

Curb removal

Assistance bulky luggage Frankfurt airport

Passing prohibited for wheelchair users

Polling place ramp – failed… well, it’s the thought that counts…

Translator BL

One ramp more in Frankfurt!

As a Christmas present from my parents, I had received tickets for a Sunday brunch on the river Main with one of the pleasure boats of the Primusline in Frankfurt.

I hardly need to mention that my parents clarify in advance if I can access the boat in my wheelchair or not.

A couple of weeks ago the time had come, and I stood in my wheelchair next to the old Main bridge in front of a recently renovated, red sandstone stairway, certainly placed under preservation order.

This reminded with its steep “stroller rails” a bit of a ski jump which would involuntarily end up in a backflip of Aaron Fotheringham style. Look at the videos, incredible, a backflip sitting in a wheelchair…!!!

So far the boat went according to the captain around 20 m upfront on the landing place after the passengers had gone on board. There the wheelchair and rollator users could get quite smoothly over the gangway and with only two stairs on the pleasure boat. This is currently not possible due to a construction site. The accessibility of the boat with a heavy electric wheelchair should be clarified upfront.

So now I was standing with my ticket at the top of the stairway and enjoyed the view on the river while the other guests were boarding!!!

The crew was not allowed to carry me down the stairway due to insurance reasons. After a conversation with the owner, why they sold tickets to wheelchair users when an access to the boat was not possible I suddenly got little wings, and I was on deck.

The food was nice, and the 3-hour-trip with the Primusline with my family was enjoyable.

Three weeks later I was again on my way at the waterside of the river Main, and I just thought “STRIKE”…

Almost unbelievable, within around 14 days a ramp had been built!!!!

This ramp is indeed steeper than the favoured 6%, but this wouldn’t have been possible from a constructional point, otherwise with a flatter angle the feet would have gotten wet. Therefore the use at your own risk is advised several times.

Now even the tables of the café on the landing place are accessible.

The welded ramp is with non-slip grating and two stable hand rails built very well according to my understanding.
The locksmith has probably gone through an additional nightshift.

I would like to personally thank the responsible people how fast they reacted and arranged the building of the ramp… Chapeau!!!

I can only point out again and again, if you notice a deficit, contact the responsible people constructively. Surprisingly you get feedback quite often, and with regard to the following measures: Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose… But this should not discourage you, if sometimes nothing happens – therefore maybe next time!

Look at the following examples:

Disabled parking place in underground parking lot

Improvement labelling disabled parking place

Curb removal

Assistance bulky luggage Frankfurt airport

Passing prohibited for wheelchair users

Polling place ramp – failed… well, it’s the thought that counts…

Translator BL

Wheelchair Ramp Occupier

I have currently started to write a few new blogposts.

But these have to wait to be published, because what happened yesterday has to be told…

When I bought a flat back in 2005 still as pedestrian together with my wife and a friendly bank, a parking place directly opposite the entrance was included for a little surcharge as well.

Awesome… Our own parking place in Frankfurt!!!

Unfortunately the parking place is too narrow for me to transfer from the wheelchair into the car, so that I have applied for and got a disabled parking place in the street (see older blogposts).

I have a lot of visitors like physiotherapists, friends and other people who are helping me with various things.

They probably only come that often to use my parking place…

I have a good relationship with all my neighbours.

One of them owns a couple of taxis which are sometimes parked in our courtyard or street a little unconventionally during driver change, especially when he has new drivers.

Last week at least three times such a beige vehicle was standing on my labelled parking place (see lifter picture), and this even when I had a visitor on Sunday morning, when you don’t know anyway where to park your car!!!

When I met my neighbour on the same day I told him in round terms to tell his drivers that I don’t want to see one of his taxis on my parking place any more.

Yesterday on Friday I descended with my

platform lifter

from my flat in the 1st floor and wanted to leave the house on my Flower Ramp (see older blogposts).

My low blood pressure was healed promptly.

I don’t tend to hyperventilate, but yesterday it was almost the case.

After about 2 minutes and the photo I had calmed down again a little and rang at my
Wheelchair Ramp Occupier:

REMOVE THE TAXI IMMEDIATELY!!!

I should mention as well that no car was parking on my parking place.

Translator BL

What is an absolute “must” just before Christmas?

Of course a visit to the premises of the nearest post office. Because a queue down to the street needs to be anticipated winter clothing is advisable. It was unbelievable, but after a bit of honking even the second handicapped parking space was free and I had the pole position, see Opel Astra on the left.

I even was a bit disappointed, no queue in the cold, and I was so heavily dressed…!!!

After 20 minutes I was outside again, ran over nobody’s feet and didn’t exchange any business cards, that was quicker than in the summer!!!

It would have been almost a perfect mail collection day if they didn’t have had this stoned construction engineer who designed the ramp without barriers, but not without joints (in the meaning of gaps). This drip moulding has a great design

It is quite special if you get stuck in a gully hole on a

stroller-and-wheelchair ramp

and hence break your second leg.

Do I have to present a petition for “jointless drip mouldings on wheelchair ramps” to the German Bundestag (parliament)???

Translator BL

Today some innovative ideas of my city Frankfurt/Main!!!

Gully cover

in road construction usually are built kindly with “slots” in travel direction. In this case so that the wheeler can drive into the slots with his front tyres and doesn’t roll away when he is waiting for the lift. Unfortunately it was forgotten to illuminate the “waiting gully”, but this will certainly be realized in the next few days.

We wheelers are happy about every piece of cobble stone. It is better for us than some medication. The jolting supports the digestion at its best.

Thus especially commendable is this

“New Disabled Parking Place”

It was designed according to the latest findings from the handicap area. Please note the joints between the stones which probably were not closed on purpose so that the wheelchair doesn’t roll away when getting out of the car. After getting out you keep “standing” safely next to the car. The different heights of the stones facilitate the car-floor-transfer, because the wheelchair is standing ergonomically on 3 wheels. Especially commendable is that the curbs are on grade neither to the street nor to the pavement, so that curb jumping can be practiced.

The width of the joints exactly match the size of the wheelchair tyres, somebody really took great efforts.

Thank you road traffic department Frankfurt, I am proud of you!!!

Translator BL

As wheelchair user you are happy about each lowered curb which is not blocked by a parking car.

The city of Frankfurt/Main has its own ideas about the construction of this curb lowering.

At the riverside with the museums the street and pavement were re-built quite costly.

The rain channel of the street now consists of three rows of cobble stone.

Looks nice, but nothing more. I usually call such spots

“Wheeler’s death”.

You descend the anyway rather high lowered curb, the front tyres get stuck in the joints of the cobble stones, and you empty yourself like a pushcart onto the street.

Thank you Frankfurt!

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The perspective is a bit misleading, but this is a lowered curb with wheelchair catching device.

This new

gully cover

has probably been sponsored by the shoemaker who has his shop in 20 meters distance. The 30 broken heels per day will help him easily through the economic crisis.

(Mörfelder Landstraße / Stresemannallee Frankfurt a.M.)

Now in the winter when the gully cover is covered with snow the profit doubles.

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This extremely steep

“lowered curb “

is representatively next to the main entrance of the youth hostel. It has 600 beds and a special wheelchair apartment.

It makes immediately a great impression on each wheelchair using tourist if you need help already at the first curb when you are heading to town. The other side of the street is equally “wheelchair friendly”.

Thank you Frankfurt!

Translator BL