'It's dangerous.' Bellmore man who uses wheelchair says broken sidewalks are a big safety hazard
David Kay has multiple sclerosis and uses an electric wheelchair. He says the broken and damaged sidewalks on Newbridge Road and surrounding streets make it almost impossible for him to get around.
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Sidewalks are supposed to help people travel safely next to a roadway.
But a Bellmore man who needs a wheelchair to get around tells News 12 some local sidewalks are a navigational nightmare.
David Kay has multiple sclerosis and uses an electric wheelchair.
He says the broken and damaged sidewalks on Newbridge Road and surrounding streets make it almost impossible for him to get around.
"There's bumps, there's potholes, there's driveways that I can't get around," Kay said. "It's not only dangerous for somebody who's handicapped, it is dangerous for the elderly and students."
It often forces him to go out into the street.
"I've almost gotten hit a couple of times," Kay said.
Sometimes his electric wheelchair even breaks down as a result. His electric wheelchair broke down on Friday as Kay was traveling home from an appointment for our interview.
"Whenever I hit too large of a bump, something dislodges, something disconnects," he said. "My son had to come and try to fix it. It's not working right now."
News 12 reached out to state, county and local officials to see who maintains sidewalks.
The stretch of road where Kay says the damaged is located is a county road. A spokesperson for Nassau County said they only maintain the road and it's the property owner's responsibility to maintain the sidewalks.
