American Expatriate Costa Rica

Sidewalks need to be improved!

René Montiel, a journalist, wanted to join the invitation to the Car-Free Day CR, 2016 that will take place on September 22nd. To get ready, he decided to start looking for alternative ways to get to work: by bus or walking.

With the latter, Montiel wasn’t so lucky: acording to him, the conditions of public areas are not the best to move around the city.

I wanted to join the initiative, but walking on the sidewalks, I realized that even for a person who doesn’t have mobility problems, it is complicated, but for a person under other conditions, the problem gets worse. you can go and complain to the municipality, but you can make changes, little things from the house,

declared Montiel, who wanted to document his experience in a video.

The Ombudsman admitted that people always file complaints about that matter, but the problem won’t disappear and citizenship must understand that to repair sidewalks is authorities’ duty and citizens must benefit from it.

Pregnant women, people with reduced mobility, children and elderly people are the most affecte ones. Hazel Díaz, director of Administrative Management, explained that planning is required, because the situation won’t change if sidewalks are seen just as accesories.

Authorities recommend people try to find solutions in administrative institutions. When there is not a satisfactory answer, the last recommendation is to go to the Constitutional Court or the Ombudsman.

crhoy.com