Award-Winning Advocate Pushes for Accessibility and Safety in North Carolina
In a commendable effort to improve accessibility and safety for pedestrians and cyclists, Steven Hardy-Braz from Farmville has been recognized with the prestigious Safety Champion Award from the NC Vision Zero Safety Awards. His relentless advocacy aligns closely with the goals of the NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program, aiming to enhance public safety across the state.
Farmville Mayor Alex Joyner, who nominated Hardy-Braz for the award, reflected on his impactful contributions to the community. Joyner remarked, “Truly his work speaks for itself. All you have to do is just put it on paper and get it in front of someone. And he’s just such a great member to have here in our community.”
With a background in psychology spanning 40 years, Hardy-Braz’s commitment to accessibility was ignited during his work with deaf individuals. His experience at Fort Bragg, assisting injured soldiers, underscored the significance of accessible environments, as he explained, “They may have an accessible home, but they couldn’t go anywhere. They couldn’t go see friends or church or shop or do anything independently because the sidewalks were missing ramps or there wasn’t transportation.”
His advocacy took a personal turn after a cycling accident in 2021, which left him reliant on mobility devices. Hardy-Braz’s firsthand experience with inaccessibility led to his arrest for “willfully impeding traffic” while waiting for a bus at a stop that lacked a curb cut. Reflecting on the incident, he said, “Bus stops are a huge inaccessible issue, which led to my arrest and being jailed in Greenville, which was not pleasant. But if that’s the cost of what this awareness and advocacy takes, then I guess I had to take one for the team.”
Hardy-Braz continues to highlight the urgency of accessibility, noting that even the sidewalk leading to the Pitt County jail booking door was inaccessible. He emphasized, “Any one of us is a car crash or a medical situation away from having a significant disability ourselves and we need it,” advocating for environments that allow everyone to “age in place” and remain productive community members.
Hardy-Braz cites a federal civil rights law signed by Richard Nixon over 50 years ago, advocating that equal access should have been a standard since 1973. “Section 504 of the Rehab Act of 1973 mandated that these would be accessible,” he said, questioning the prolonged delay in compliance.
Focusing on Farmville and surrounding areas, his advocacy often involves legal action against non-compliant towns. Mayor Joyner acknowledges Hardy-Braz’s influence in prompting Farmville to appoint its first ADA coordinator, stating, “Because of him is why the town of Farmville is actually moving to become ADA compliant and getting our very first ADA coordinator that is being contracted out.”
Despite facing criticism for his assertive methods, Mayor Joyner views Hardy-Braz’s contributions as invaluable, saying, “It has put him in a negative light,” but acknowledging his role in driving change. Hardy-Braz himself was surprised by the NC Vision Zero Safety Champion Award, especially given his contentious interactions with the NCDOT, stating, “It’s a great honor because to me, it feels like some of my professional peers are recognizing that I’m doing something that’s a little different.”
