So apparently yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. There was an interesting story about it by NBC Philadelphia where the investigator lived a few hours of her day in a wheel chair. Even the most ADA compliant bathroom seemed difficult for her to maneuver in. This makes me think more about all the ADA bathrooms I've ever worked on, and there have been many. I suddenly feel more for wheelchair-bound people trying to turn around in that little circle that we invisibly put on the floor while in the design process.
For some reason this also makes me think about the fit cities initiative in Manhattan. Fit City 5 convened in May. Many groups are focusing on trying to make the city more conducive to walking, exercise and non-motorized transportation such as biking. The tie-in for me was seeing that reporter trying to cross City Avenue in a wheelchair. If Fit City came to Philadelphia, I think that would be a good thing. There are a lot of good things going on here, but with respect to design we need to think more about being a more walkable city and a more wheelchair accessible city.
I like those city buses that lower themselves so the disabled can get on and off. It might be a huge pain for somebody in a hurry, but for a person in a wheelchair, I can see how important that is. In a city where public transportation still needs work, I'm really glad to see that bus sink to an accessible level. Now lets think about crosswalks and more bike lanes with clearer rules and etiquette for drivers who interact with bikers and so on. We have a lot to do before becoming ideal for not just Americans with disabilities but also anybody who wants to get around without a car.
For some reason this also makes me think about the fit cities initiative in Manhattan. Fit City 5 convened in May. Many groups are focusing on trying to make the city more conducive to walking, exercise and non-motorized transportation such as biking. The tie-in for me was seeing that reporter trying to cross City Avenue in a wheelchair. If Fit City came to Philadelphia, I think that would be a good thing. There are a lot of good things going on here, but with respect to design we need to think more about being a more walkable city and a more wheelchair accessible city.
I like those city buses that lower themselves so the disabled can get on and off. It might be a huge pain for somebody in a hurry, but for a person in a wheelchair, I can see how important that is. In a city where public transportation still needs work, I'm really glad to see that bus sink to an accessible level. Now lets think about crosswalks and more bike lanes with clearer rules and etiquette for drivers who interact with bikers and so on. We have a lot to do before becoming ideal for not just Americans with disabilities but also anybody who wants to get around without a car.
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