why is accessibility to Le Havre so difficult?

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Today, in Le Havre, people with reduced mobility (PRM) struggle to get around without difficulty: dilapidated sidewalks, abandoned trash cans, endless work, etc.

In order to understand these accessibility difficultiesthe writing of 76actu followed, for a day, Madeline, a 36-year-old from Le Havre, who uses a wheelchair every day. His findings were then raised with Florence Thibaudeau Rainotdeputy mayor, responsible for social affairs, solidarity and health and Philippe Touinlindelegated municipal councilor, responsible for people with disabilities.

Reportage.

Being PMR in Le Havre is not always easy

To start the day, Madeline takes us on her daily journeys: rue Collard, cours de la République or rue de Fontenoy, in the lower town. We can see that the work carried out within the city, the scaffolding which, for months, takes up the entire width of the sidewalks, the bicycles hung anywhere, the trash cans abandoned in the middle of the passage, or even the droppings Uncollected canines make it complicated, or sometimes impossible, to take certain routes.

This occasionally leads, for the young woman, to cancellation of certain appointments medically important or even resignation to go out alone.

For Florence Thibaudeau Rainot, this situation seems unacceptable:

Today, it's unbearable to think that because you have a disability, you have to stay at home.

However, the observation is there.

The difficulty of Perret architecture

The first difficulty in Le Havre regarding accessibility lies in the architecture desired by Auguste Perret to rebuild the city after the war. His goal was to rebuild quickly with lower costs. The buildings are therefore not not suitable for PRMssome not having an elevator in particular. It is impossible for the city to modify certain buildings with regard to UNESCO classification.

Today, we are “picking up the broken pieces,” says the elected official, and this prevents us from adapting a certain number of housing and infrastructures in view of the plans drawn up at the time.

But then, what is the city doing to overcome these problems? Firstly, the accessibility plan for roads and public spaces in the city of Le Havre takes into account the specificities of this architecture to adapt certain structures and equipment to PRMs.

Also, the “Study and works” department of the Roads and Mobility department of the Urban Community works in collaboration with associations of people with disabilities on access issues.

Thus, several actions are put in place.

Actions in favor of accessibility

First, the employees of the Lia network are trained for two years to know how to act in the face of all types of disabilities, whether sensory, physical or cognitive.

Also, 92% of traffic and pedestrian lights are equipped a sound device through which blind people can, using a box operating on the national network, be alerted of the status of the fire.

The municipality has 356 accessible bus stops PMR and each year, between 30 and 40 parking spaces are marked as reserved places.

Concerning establishments open to the public, the Jehan-de-Grouchy school group is undergoing work until 2026 to make the premises fully accessible. The Théophile-Gauthier school now has an elevator and is also undergoing accessibility work. For cultural venues, the Conservatory replaced its reception desk and replaced its parking access doors with automatic doors.

Note that the city of Le Havre releases nearly 500,000 euros per year to make bus platforms accessible and two million euros per year to carry out road development work.

But for Madeline, “it’s good but it doesn’t go far enough.”

Good but could do better

An observation shared by several associations which initially welcome the efforts allocated to People with Reduced Mobility.

For example, in transport, users can benefit from proximity to drivers who are informed of their situation. The Mobifil service [un système de transport à la demande, NDLR] is also borrowed a lot. However, PRMs must regularly look for alternative routes to get where they want due to lack of accessibility.

On the side of the Le Havre League [une association qui œuvre en faveur du handicap, NDLR] :

Our audience, even if it wants to be like everyone else, remains different.

And in everyday life?

In addition to roads and certain municipal buildings, accessibility is not always there. It is still difficult for some companies to see that new so-called “accessible” housing with a two-centimeter step can remain an obstacle for certain types of disabilities. The same goes for the width of the door frames which, even if it complies with the regulations, is not adapted to the new models of electric wheelchairs.

Another point: bars and restaurants. If certain establishments have, for example, set up bell systems so that a guardrail is unfolded, everything is not yet adapted. Some nightclubs organize slots specially reserved for PRMs. If the initiative is very appreciated, the difference remains underlined since these accessible slots take place in the afternoon and not at night like other users.

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