A recent injury to my foot limited my movement during the Christmas holidays, and several thoughts came to mind. How would it feel to be a wheelchair user, should life take an unfortunate turn?

With a couple of calls and a Facebook post, I found a few people who either wanted to give away one that a deceased relative had used, or were willing to lend me one. Thanks to all of you who offered.

Ackiel, a young man from my neighbourhood, was hired. His job entailed ensuring that I got out of the car safely and helping move the wheelchair whenever there was difficulty.

We parked on Morton Street, and it took at least five minutes to get out of the car and into the wheelchair. The options were either getting into the chair on the roadside, or possibly bending a wheel trying to manoeuvre the chair in the limited space between the drain and the road.

[caption id="attachment_1132459" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Angelo Marcelle uses the roadway as the sidewalks were not accessible by wheelchair at several locations in Tunapuna. - Photo by Angelo Marcelle[/caption]

On getting into the chair, it was impossible to wheel it onto a pavement – because there was none. I had to pass close to cars parked on either side of the street until I reached the Eastern Main Road (EMR). I'm guessing the signs stating which side to park didn't matter that day.

The aim was to access the Tunapuna Magistrates Court on the opposite side of the road. It didn't take long for a vehicle to allow me to use the zebra crossing, but on reaching the other side, getting onto the sidewalk was impossible. There wasn't a ramp bridging the road and the pavement.

This is where Ackiel came into play. He was also taking the images of the journey.

Without going into the compound of the courthouse, I could see that it was easy to get to the offices on the ground floor. However, if you had to get to the first floor, you'd have to use the elevator. There were no ramps. What was a person in a wheelchair to do if an emergency broke out while he or she was on the first floor, and the elevators couldn't be used?

Afterwards, I discovered avoiding the sidewalk, with its sunken manhole covers and damaged sections, would force you to use a very busy EMR. That and businesses that encroach on the sidewalk with permanent structures. Using the sidewalk, even with an aide, was an impossible task and had to be abandoned.

[caption id="attachment_1132458" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Members of the Spiritual Baptist faith say a prayer for Angelo Marcelle at the entrance of the Tunapuna Market. - Photo by Angelo Marcelle[/caption]

Both the Tunapuna Fire Station and the Tunapuna Police Station were accessible, with the latter having a ramp. As I arrived at the intersection of the EMR and Pasea Road, waiting for the traffic lights to change, because there wasn't the option of a pedestrian-crossing light, a man made a joke: "Not because yuh on wheels yuh have to wait on the green light." I found it somewhat humorous – but someone who has to use a wheelchair