Wheelchair user wants change after disabled pedestrian hit

A longtime disability advocate in London is flagging safety concerns after another wheelchair pedestrian was hit by a vehicle in the city.

The individual was struck during rush hour at the corner of Queen St. and Colborne St. on July 22.

Another high profile accident involving a person in a chair happened January 16 when a police cruiser knocked over a woman crossing Adelaide and DundasStreets. In both cases, there were no serious injuries.

Jeff Preston, who uses an electric wheelchair to get around, believesthe risk of getting hit is higher for people like himself.

"We're at different height levels. We're not at a typical eyesight line of drivers," said Preston.

Other Londoners also weighed in on social media after hearing Preston on London Morning Monday:

Preston explains there are other structural reasons that raisethe risk for people who rely on wheelchairs.

"People in wheelchairs often have to make decisions that other pedestrians don't. A prime example being, inaccessible sidewalks due to snow drifting and accumulation mean a lot of people in wheelchairs are left to use the road."

Black chairswith no lights

Ontario helps pay for wheelchairs for people who need them, but right now, the Adaptive Devices Program doesn't fund lights or other reflective gear, Preston said.

"These lights can be extremely expensive and as of right now ADP considers them to be 'a luxury product.' I'm not sure why safety is considered a luxury."

Preston receives his funding through the province'sCentral Equipment Pool for High Technology Wheelchairs. It offers clients new and recycled power wheelchairs. But there's one catch. The wheelchairs are always black.

Preston called that a perfect storm.

"People on CEP are now stuck in all black wheelchairs with no lights and are forced then to drive on the streets during the winter when it gets dark earlier."