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Successful collaboration with
city administration
Collaboration led to a telephone hotline
to identify sidewalks needing repair in the municipality
of Prince George in British Columbia. A community based
advisory committee was set up to identify priority areas
for falls prevention initiatives. Unsafe sidewalks were
identified as a priority.
A representative of the committee contacted
a supportive city councillor. He was referred to a city
engineer with a personal interest in safe environments.
The engineer had already set up a data bank to gather
data about problem spots (location, use, dangerous for
whom, problem reported, etc.).
However the engineer did not have the
people power to go out and inspect every sidewalk, curb
and other potential problem. Citizens, including older
adults and veterans, were out and about and very aware
of problem sites.
The municipality agreed to have a 'hotline'
to take incoming calls identifying problem sites. The
information would go directly to the engineering department
and be placed on the data base.
Within 48 hours the spot would be inspected.
If it was an "easy fix" it would be repaired
immediately. If not, it would be put into the work plan
based on the repair criteria priority list.
Although this group had funding to advertise
the hotline during a pilot phase, maintaining the service
beyond the pilot will require fundraising for advertising.
Nonetheless, the program is well underway and has led
to significant improvements in outdoor safety for the
region of Prince George.
Tom MacLeod, Prince George
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