John Klein is pushing for changes that address accessibility barriers faced by residents with disabilities
A decade after having a head injury, cyclist John Klein is continuing to push for improved accessibility, including expanded paratransit services and safer cycling infrastructure across the city.
Klein works at the University of Regina (U of R) as an IT support specialist and said that he started advocating for better infrastructure after the pothole incident that had occurred when he and his friend were driving home.
A life changing moment
“We were driving back from the airport one night, and the car made a horrible jolt as we went over a huge pothole.” he said. He added that he also had a head injury in the past which meant he had to rely on busses and being driven around.
The pothole was so massive that it could easily have thrown a cyclist off their bike, Klein explained. He added that since the incident, he has been working as an advocate in his spare time and even tried running for city council.
From personal experience to public advocacy
Klein’s efforts toward advocating safer streets and a safer city started in 2012 before he tried running for city council.
“I’ve run a transit petition where I am trying to get additional transit services, including more paratransit vehicles for Regina,” he said.
In addition to his petition, Klein has also created a petition to improve cycling lanes around the U of R campus and the city.
In terms of accessibility needs, Klein thinks that the city is inaccessible for people who are trying to get around with physical limitations.
Klein highlighted the importance of advocating for better and accessible infrastructure given that anyone could end up in a situation where they might end up needing accommodations for physical accessibility.
“Without advocating for [change] before you’re in that position, you’re really doing yourself a disservice aside from everybody else,” he said.
Klein added that he thinks that the people in charge who make decisions on how the world is going to be built don’t necessarily think about how everybody is going to get around.
We need people who are willing to make changes before accidents occur rather than after they have happened,” – Leslie Perry, student, U of R
Student perspective on accessibility
“We need people who are willing to make changes before accidents occur rather than after they have happened,” said Leslie Perry, second-year film student, U of R. Perry, who has been a wheelchair user since she was five, said people don’t often think about accessibility unless it affects them personally.
“It’s frustrating to say that [although] these issues of getting around have always existed, people unfortunately are more reactive than proactive in these situations.” Perry expressed that in order for a real change to occur, groups of people need to demand it consistently to make it happen.
Conversation before change
When the Carillon asked how the city can make getting around more accessible, Perry said that talking with people who need it is a good start.
“Having a chat with people who are directly affected will help understand what is needed. Talking and being willing to have conversations is always a great starting point.”
Klein, who went from never thinking about physical accessibility accommodations, to becoming an advocate for them said the accident opened his eyes to the issues of accessibility in Regina.
Be it potholes in the road, or petitioning for more paratransit vehicles, Klein has been working to make the city more accessible for everyone.
“If society doesn’t serve everybody’s needs, then people will be left out of society,” said Klein.
