Wheelchair Ordinance Approved By Macon City Council
NewsCentral Staff
Story Created:
Jan 28, 2013 at 11:18 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jan 29, 2013 at 12:53 AM EDT
There may be some new rules of the road when it comes to wheelchairs.
Macon City Council Member, Frank Tompkins, presented an ordinance on Monday to add traffic regulations to people who operate the assisting devices. It would make those who use wheelchairs follow the same laws as pedestrians in regards to city sidewalks and roadways or risk getting fined. The ordinance adds that when there isn't a sidewalk, the wheelchair user can be on the roadway but the person must travel in the same direction as traffic and not in the middle of the road. The city currently does not have any laws in this regard but Tompkins wants that to change.
"This has to do with Georgia law, state law as far as traffic is concerning and we're treating people in these assisted devices just as pedestrians,” Frank Tompkins said. “Just as you and I would. We can't J-Walk."
The ordinance also calls for establishing a program to provide low and moderate income users with wheelchair assisted devices such as flags and reflectors. Tompkins will be looking further into the possibility of setting up recharging stations in the city to aid electronic wheelchair users.
Most Popular