Wheelchair users
Wheel Life column - December 02, 2000
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

Don't call people "cripples." It is also out of fashion to describe people simply as "handicapped." Most people prefer being described in positive terms. It is best to describe people's specific mobility constraints and abilities, such as "people with limited mobility," or "wheelchair users." The rest of us are "temporarily abled," since must of us will be physically disabled sometime during our life.

Those are some of the lessons we learned recently when our 11-year-old son Graham had his foot in a cast, due to a minor injury. Although he could walk with crutches, this was slow and difficult, so we rented a wheelchair ($6 a day for the most basic model) for a weekend. It was an excellent learning experience for us all.

A preteen can have a lot of fun with a wheelchair, especially going down a steady incline (of course, our 8-year-old enjoyed riding it too). But it can also be hard work. Our wheelchair user appreciated getting a push, especially when going uphill or over rough surfaces, but only when HE asked. Lesson: no unsolicited help to people with disabilities.

Sitting in a wheelchair puts you at belly-button height to most other people. Lesson: sit down and maintain eye contact when conversing with somebody in a wheelchair.

We really appreciated the many public facilities that are accessible to wheelchairs, including sidewalks, shops, museums and especially the Elsie King Trail at Francis King Park, which allows wheelchair users to enjoy a forest stroll. Lesson: many destinations and experiences we take for granted, such as visiting wilderness, can be difficult for people with mobility constraints.

We also found many barriers, some of which we would not normally notice. Just one street crossing that lacks a suitable curbcut is a major barrier. A six-inch curb may as well be a six-foot cliff when you are pushing yourself in a wheelchair. The result is islands of accessibility. People with disabilities can travel within an area, but may have trouble getting from one area to another. Lesson: an accessible transport network is only as good as its weakest link.

We had relatively little problem getting around town, since Graham could hobble short distances (including up-and-down stairs, and in-and-out of cars), and he had two parents and a brother to give a push when needed. But other wheelchair users are less lucky.

There is a huge range of personal mobility constraints and needs, ranging from mild to severe. Modern designers try to provide "universal access," meaning that facilities accommodate the widest range of possible users. A facility designed to handle wheelchair users is also suitable for people who have trouble with stairs, pushing a stroller, or pulling a handcart.

People with disabilities and cyclists share many concerns. We want streets and paths that are well maintained, without cracks that can catch a wheel. We value having curb cuts and ramps, and wide, smooth surface recreational paths separated from motor vehicle traffic.

Wheelchair design has evolved considerably in the last few years by incorporating components similar to those used on high-quality bicycles, including frames built of exotic metals, and lightweight wheels. A state-of-the-art wheelchair deserves as much admiration as you would give the latest racing bike.

It's also important that cyclists be considerate to wheelchair users. In particular, slow down and leave plenty of shy distance when passing somebody who is physically disabled, and avoid blocking pathways when you park a bike. A wheelchair requires extra width.

Universal access is particularly important in this region. People with limited mobility travel here from all over Canada, to take advantage of our mild climate (imagine being in a wheelchair in Winnipeg during winter). It's worth making an extra effort to insure that our community is as accessible and convenient as possible to people with mobility constrains.

We found a wealth of useful resources for accessible planning. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs' Office For DisABILITY Issues has excellent resources. For information see their website at www.marh.gov.bc.ca/ACCESS. The STEPS project at the University of Victoria School of Nursing provides information on ways to make pedestrian facilities safer for people who have difficulty walking. For information call 721-7966.