One is that the patios themselves are often inaccessible for people who have mobility issues, vision loss or hearing loss. David Lepofsky, chair of the AODA Alliance in Toronto, says he once had to step into traffic to get past a sidewalk patio. Businesses are losing customers, advocate saysIn New Brunswick, where disability rates are higher than the national level, accessibility standards for sidewalk patios are inadequate, says Haley Flaro, executive director of Ability New Brunswick. In Fredericton, where Flaro lives, the city lists two accessibility requirements on its application for sidewalk patios . "There are times I can't get by [sidewalk patios].

Source: CBC News August 07, 2021 08:02 UTC