Semenenko: wheelchair invalids have motion problems in Volgograd

Volgograd is not fit for normal life of invalids. This statement was made by wheelchair invalid Oleg Semenenko in his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"I live not far from the city, in a suburb," Oleg Vasilievich Semenenko said. "I try to pursue active lifestyle. As far as possible, I go in for sports, and I visit the library. I have to often visit my mother in Volgograd. For healthy people - it's quite easy, but you can't imagine how we - wheel chair invalids - suffer."

Oleg Semenenko enumerates his most "hardly passable" stages of his travel to the city. According to his story, he cannot use a fixed-route taxi: "Wheelchair and myself should be squeezed into the taxi van in parts. And who will do it? The driver has no interest; and passengers are deep in their own problems."

Therefore, the wheelchair invalid has to wait for a bus, which appears extremely seldom. According to his story, no suburban bus is properly adapted for transportation of such invalids. Same is in the city. There, trams and trolleybuses have recently appeared equipped for transportation of wheelchair invalids, but they are very seldom on routes.

"All the public transport, not one or two trolleybuses or trams, should be equipped with respective appliances. This requirement should be fixed legislatively; and public transport without such tools should not be admitted to the routes," Oleg Vasilievich has stated.

He has an "Oka" car, which he received from the state; but he cannot use it often, as any malfunction on road can result in "spending the night on a highway."

The second problem in Volgograd is that houses are not adapted for wheelchair invalids.

"My mother lives in the fifth floor of a six-storied house. There's no elevator there," said Oleg Semenenko. "It's good if my brother is at home with her. He then brings me upstairs in his arms. If not, a real rock-climbing begins."

According to Oleg, wheelchair invalids are facing same problems all over the city. "Very few shops have a track near the stairs (a ramp, - comment of the "Caucasian Knot"). Supermarkets are good in this aspect. Almost all of them have such ramps," he has noted. Otherwise, we can't get into a shop or institution. Recently with my mother's friend we went to city's department for public health. There, they should have surely had a ramp for invalids to get in. But not, they don't!"