I HAVE sympathy for the genuinely disabled and am pleased they have the use of the various 'buggies' which are a part of Boston life these days, but I believe the actions of a few are the cause of much of the criticism which they come in for.
Apart from the fact that many using these buggies appear quite agile once they have abandoned their vehicles at shop doorways or in the middle of pavements after speeding through the precinct scattering pedestrians left, right and centre, some of t
heir antics cause much concern.
A couple of weeks ago I was stopped at the traffic lights at the Tawney Street/Bargate junction while pedestrians walked across. Just as the 'green man' light went out a gentleman in one of these buggies came speeding across from the pavement but then proceeded to go on to the road.
As I rounded the corner he was in the middle of the road and then went to the right hand side lane of the roundabout as if to go down John Adams Way – but then at the last second, without any signals, proceeded to go over Bargate Bridge at the same speed.
If a vehicle had overtaken him to turn right the gentleman would probably now still be in Pilgrim Hospital.
Last Wednesday I was walking up Bank Street towards the Market Place and had just passed the bollard in the middle of the road denying entry when I heard a car revving its engine. I turned to see what was happening and was met by the sight of a car negotiating its way between the bollard and the wall of County Hall so it could come up the street; it was a disabled driver, but this time in a car!
I am amazed to find that buggy drivers apparently don't need to take a test before they start to drive, don't need insurance and don't need a licence. Presumably, if they are in an accident involving injury to the other party, then its tough luck as far as claiming for treatment is concerned.
I
t is also of concern that some – note, some – of these drivers appear to go at the maximum speed on pavements but decide to reduce their speed to the minimum when they go on the road!
May I appeal to all of them to take note of road safety rules if they decide to ride on the road, or if they decide the pavement is for them to understand that pedestrians have as much right as they do to be there?
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