Wheelchairs occupy central Tbilisi in peaceful protest
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An innovative peaceful protest took place in the centre of Georgia’s capital city today in support of people in wheelchairs.
This morning dozens of wheelchairs occupied car parking spaces around Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Metro station, which was usually jam-packed with cars, leaving only the special disabled parking spaces free.
Wheelchairs occupied car parking spaces leaving only the special disabled parking spaces free. Photo from Tree of Life.
The action protested the nasty habit of Georgian drivers, who frequently parked their cars in the spaces reserved for people in wheelchairs or with other disabilities.
Organisers strategically placed numerous wheelchairs on the parking area to emphasize the fact drivers often violated the rights of people in wheelchairs.
That's how central part of Tbilisi looked like today morning. Photo from Tree of Life.
They said the problem was caused by poor urban planning that did not accommodate for adequate parking throughout the city, and poor management and law enforcement of the company responsible for parking in Tbilisi.
The action was led by Tree of Life – a charity foundation of the Bank of Georgia to raise awareness and support people with disabilities. The event was dedicated to the International Day of People with Disabilities, which was observed each year around the globe on December 3.
Tbilisi locals are fed up with cars illegally parking on footpaths and making it difficult for pedestrians to walk freely and safely along the sidewalks - so have launched an online campaign to stop the frequent parking faux pas.
People with disabilities should be treated with dignity and respect, and Georgia is doing all it can to support these vulnerable people, says the country’s Prime Minister.
Children with disabilities and special needs living in Georgia will receive increased financial aid and special services for the next year.
Parking on narrow sidewalks could soon be banned in Georgia’s capital after Tbilisi Mayor David Narmania ordered experts to solve the city's parking problems.
Hundreds of disabled people living in Georgia’s eastern Kakheti region are able to live safer and in a more comfortable environment with the opening of a new social centre, worth almost $100,000 USD.
Can you survive in Tbilisi for 24 hours without your car?
The Tbilisi Transport Company staff has written 317,980 fines for irregular parking in Tbilisi and violation of certain rules between 10 April 2018 and 27 November of the same year.