On a blustery Saturday afternoon, Mineola resident Dan Flynn attempted to wheel his son Tom, who is confined to a wheelchair, over the recently built Mineola Boulevard bridge. Although Flynn was able to complete the task, he admits is was not easy since he feels the bridge is too steep for those in wheelchairs.

After the construction of the new Mineola Boulevard bridge, Flynn thought it looked steep so he attempted to wheel his son's wheelchair over it.

"It's a workout," he said. "It's very difficult and physically taxing."

Flynn said he has been in touch with Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell and also contacted the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association in an attempt to bring attention to the situation.

Flynn not only believes the bridge will be dangerous for the handicapped, he also believes that in winter with snow and ice, the bridge would be dangerous for a pedestrian. "I foresee a lot of problems," he said.

Flynn, an advocate for the handicapped, believes the bridge is just another example of the public use of facilities that are inaccessible for the handicapped. "I found that with most of these projects, people go to the source. They don't go to the handicapped person," he said.

Flynn also pointed out that a county office building where he and his son went to vote during the last election was not equipped with a ramp in the back of the building for the wheelchair. "You have to come along the side about maybe 300 yards and then work all the way to the front of the building and go in," he said.

After inquiring, Flynn said he was told that a ramp for that building had been discussed as far back as 1997.

"It's a vast problem. The country was never in tune to this, but now all of a sudden, they're trying to adapt to it," he said.