Ternitzer Christoph Zottl fights for accessibility in everyday life!

Ternitzer Christoph Zottl fights for accessibility in everyday life!

Rohrbach, Österreich - Christoph Zottl, an almost blind man, fights for the safety of visually impaired in Ternitz!

In the dangerous streets of Ternitz, where drivers are often too fast, the 41-year-old tirelessly works for improvements. Zottl, who can only recognize objects with a high contrast, has already initiated decisive changes, including the introduction of an acoustic traffic light system at the pedestrian crossing at the height of the station. "A car would have caught me there," he reports. This experience led to the stimulation of the acoustic camps, which now ensures more security.

Watschinger Steg: Need for improvement

Another project that drives Zottl is the Watschinger Steg, which was rebuilt in 2017. A blind control system should be installed here, but the implementation leaves something to be desired. "The control system was only glued on and is susceptible to damage," criticizes Zottl. The lack of adhesive tapes at the steps are also a big shortcoming. Building director Michael Schechl is aware of the problems and works on a more permanent solution.

Another risk is the crossing of the street in Rohrbach. Zottl is annoyed by the lack of a crosswalk at a dangerous point where drivers are often rapid. Despite a traffic count that showed that the frequency for a protection path was not sufficient, a small additional board was attached to the bus stop to draw attention to the situation.

Hope for barrier-free pedestrian underpass

The future could look better: Zottl hopes for a barrier-free pedestrian underpass at the Pottschacher Bahnhof. "There is no official schedule yet, but hope remains," he says optimistically. Zottl's commitment shows how important it is to focus on the needs of people with disabilities and to make the city safer.