Jens Heise writes:
I am a 54-year-old paraplegic who has enjoyed doing a circuit of the Korsman Bird Sanctuary (2.5km) in my wheelchair for the past 15 years.
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In order to make progress, I need to negotiate the often steep and varying camber of The Drive, which often leads me to drive in the middle of the road where it is level.
This brings me into conflict with motorists who carry more speed and weight.
I have already been ratted out by a driver in a shiny Merc, who rolled down his electric window as he was passing me and slowed down enough for me to hear him blurt out: “What are you doing in the middle of the road?”
I replied as he sped away: “It’s about the camber. I can explain it to you.”
As I uttered the last phrase, he sped away, and so my plea fell on deaf ears.
Drivers are generally courteous; however, there are the regular pundits who seem to speed up when they see numerous pedestrians. It is akin to speeding up when the rains fall.
Lately, there are often 20 persons or more in the mornings doing their circuit around Korsman; some walk in a clockwise direction, some take their dogs for a walk, some walk, some jog and then there are the cyclists.
With all these persons, cyclists and canines passing each other in the same or opposite directions, we have the complication of vehicle traffic whistling past at various speeds which leads to danger zones and the risk of collisions.
The sanctuary has been transformed over the last years. A fence has been placed around it and the best progression would be for a walkway to be constructed between the fence and The Drive.
A walkway would be safer for pedestrians, wheelchair users, pram-pushers and the elderly as they will not be required to walk on the road.
The condition of The Drive itself gets my rating of 4/10 in that it is crumbling and falling apart.
READ:
Sewage poses threat to Korsman Bird Sanctuary
Two people I know tripped and fell on the uneven road surface; the one fractured her shoulder, the other sprained her ankle.
One bad injury caused by the poor condition of the road could lead to a sizeable claim for damages.
Plans for a walkway are in place.
Let the relevant authorities kindly apply their minds and finances to upgrading this heritage site and help turn this into a world heritage site.
I particularly like to watch the Goliath heron that often perches in the dead tree after his morning fishing.
I believe he has his family nearby.
Presently, there are plenty of flamingos.
I would like to observe them, as well as the abundance of birdlife, from up close and get out of harm’s way by staying off the road.
This sanctuary can put Benoni on the world map and could be a place for the elderly, disabled persons and young ones where they can go for an outing to view the birdlife and do some exercise.
Editor’s note:
The City Times has asked the Ekurhuleni metro about their plans to re-tar the road.
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