ysabetwordsmith (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2020-10-10 02:11 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2020-10-10 02:11 pm
Entry tags:
Community Building Tip: Car-Free
For my current set of tips, I'm using the list "101 Small Ways You Can Improve Your City.
44. Organize a local car-free day. Every September 22 cities around the world participate in a global Car-Free Day, showcasing the possibilities of a more progressive commute and the advantages of walkable streets and biking infrastructure. Want to be inspired? Check out 14 beautiful car-free cities.
Regrettably, neither of the sites seemed to say anything about accessibility. Now if you're blind, not worrying about getting run over by a car could be a great thing. But for anyone with mobility issues, more often than not "car-free" might as well be "on the Moon." And it's not like we don't have solutions for that, I just didn't see anyone advertising things like palanquins for places where wheelchairs can't easily go. So if you're lobbying for car-free areas, remember to make them accessible to everyone. Even normally able-bodied people can be screwed the moment they break a foot, get pregnant, or have a baby carriage to push.
44. Organize a local car-free day. Every September 22 cities around the world participate in a global Car-Free Day, showcasing the possibilities of a more progressive commute and the advantages of walkable streets and biking infrastructure. Want to be inspired? Check out 14 beautiful car-free cities.
Regrettably, neither of the sites seemed to say anything about accessibility. Now if you're blind, not worrying about getting run over by a car could be a great thing. But for anyone with mobility issues, more often than not "car-free" might as well be "on the Moon." And it's not like we don't have solutions for that, I just didn't see anyone advertising things like palanquins for places where wheelchairs can't easily go. So if you're lobbying for car-free areas, remember to make them accessible to everyone. Even normally able-bodied people can be screwed the moment they break a foot, get pregnant, or have a baby carriage to push.
no subject
That would be me, and I've said as much! (Or "in Narnia". LOL.) XD
Well ...
Re: Well ...
(Hey no brain, we are not writing a fic where disabled people go to Narnia...)
Thank you
Oh, CANDY sales. That's a go-to, even after decades of negative information about the very food they're pushing for charity. Fine, it's an occasional treat..Unless you're on a diet that restricts sugar, fat, carbs, or have religious restrictions, or allergies.
Walk-a-thon for cancer... Yeah, after cancer, I measure my steps PER DAY hoping to get the total back above 500. Hasn't happened yet.
Car-free day? Yeah. I haven't any access to paratransit any longer, so I measure my trips "out" as in how many steps from the front door I've gotten. The grocery store might as well be on Pluto.
It's a very difficult position to be in, because first I feel excluded by the planned project, and THEN I usually get snapped at or worse for pointing out the very real flaws and limitations.
If I were planning a car-free alternative, I'd set up one day, each month, where a driver offers to help two or three other people who NORMALLY don't have cars to run an errand. The grocery. The library. There are enough people to count for the carpool lane, and the timing is convenient to the individuals. Believe you me, waiting for a bus while it's snowing is NOT good for arthritic bones.
Re: Well ...
Besides, the place is full of Talking Beasts. How do they accommodate body differences that make people better or worse at doing certain things? The books only hint at that, but do show mixed groups routinely.
I'm reminded of Zootopia and all the ways their infrastructure accommodated different body shapes. They had some disability fail for other reasons, but the built environment was pretty awesome.
Re: Thank you
Yeah.
Well, if you're tired, I can take a turn. Want to prompt for that some time? Surely T-America has wider options.
>> Oh, CANDY sales. That's a go-to, even after decades of negative information about the very food they're pushing for charity. Fine, it's an occasional treat..Unless you're on a diet that restricts sugar, fat, carbs, or have religious restrictions, or allergies. <<
I'm quite certain T-America would have healthy snack sales. Nuts, fruit leather, spicy puffed rice ... I'd bet on companies like Calorie Max, Jumble Munch, Chicks, and Screamin' Squirrel networking through charities for this purpose.
Plus nonedibles, of course. I sold candles, once; lovely things.
Then there are the individual efforts, probably more common there than here. My grandmother made a quilt that we raffled off to help fund my trip to Mexico. By the time everyone in the extremely extended family had bought in, I think the football captain had about a 1:3 chance of winning that quilt (it had the team mascot appliqued on it) and indeed won. Adorable.
Though I think the most far-out charity drive I've seen was the orgasmathon for some women's cause.
>>Walk-a-thon for cancer... Yeah, after cancer, I measure my steps PER DAY hoping to get the total back above 500. Hasn't happened yet.<<
0_o People can't figure out how a decimal point works? Or a gauge? You just change the value per unit of distance based on the participant's current capacity. In your case, a totally reasonable pledge would be $0.01 per step. A good showing would net between 4-5 dollars per backer.
Seriously, if someone as bad at math as I am can beat every charity on this, they are doing a pathetic job. Pathetic.
Mob bookie: "If you creeps were in my Family, I'd send you to clean toilets with a toothbrush for keeping book so shamefully bad. Go away." *sets up competing event, wins more news coverage and more money*
>> Car-free day? Yeah. I haven't any access to paratransit any longer, so I measure my trips "out" as in how many steps from the front door I've gotten. The grocery store might as well be on Pluto. <<
>_< L-America sucks presidential dick.
>> It's a very difficult position to be in, because first I feel excluded by the planned project, and THEN I usually get snapped at or worse for pointing out the very real flaws and limitations. <<
If they snap at you instead of thanking you for pointing out a fixable flaw, then they aren't serious. They might claim to be doing it "for charity" but they're only in it for strokes. Serious inclusionists will go, "Oh gosh, I didn't even think of that! How embarrassing, I'm terribly sorry. Do you have any suggestions for fixing it, or should I find a diversity consultant?" You can really see who wants to have an inclusive event, and who just wants to show off. If you're annoyed, simply point out that discrepancy, because there are some highly inclusive groups and most of them got that way precisely by fixing problems as illuminated.
Engineers, now, they're like Fix-It Felix. They'll run off to grab a wrench and fix an accessibility problem right there.
>>If I were planning a car-free alternative, I'd set up one day, each month, where a driver offers to help two or three other people who NORMALLY don't have cars to run an errand. The grocery. The library. There are enough people to count for the carpool lane, and the timing is convenient to the individuals. Believe you me, waiting for a bus while it's snowing is NOT good for arthritic bones.<<
Good plan.
T-America has everything from government services to local charities to intentional neighboring to cover that. Me, I'm tribal. When I was in college, I had a car because I commuted. So I was The Car for between one and two dozen friends who didn't have any. If they needed to go to a store, an appointment, etc. outside of walking/bus area, I drove them. The core of the group had a house, and they provided crash space for whoever needed it. One semester I was stuck with a night class so I spent every Tuesday night on their couch. It worked.
Re: Thank you
THAT kind of inclusion is one of the reasons that I'd run to T-America if I had the chance.
Re: Thank you
Absolutely. I feel the same way about your fiction, or the rare times I see an expert talking about (and usually getting ignored) the things I've been saying.
>> Different in the details, different suggested solutions, but the core idea is, "Hey, you're forgetting this whole group of people!" <<
I'd be interested in hearing your solutions too, in case I'm ever in a position to deploy them. My first approach to inclusion is usually "How do you want to do this?" but having a list of "Would any of these accommodations help?" is also handy. Not everyone can think of solutions off the top of their head.
>> THAT kind of inclusion is one of the reasons that I'd run to T-America if I had the chance. <<
Yeah, me too. I covet their introvert parties, especially at big events like weddings.
no subject
(Anonymous) 2020-10-10 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)At minimum, you'd need to be able to disconnect from the chair, transfer or skip any medical devices, and sit/balance decently well, [tho a specialised palanquin or saddle with seatbaks or straps might work.]
You may also need a way to transfer the chair from A to B as well - easyish with a foldable manual, difficulty-up-to-fiendish with a mechanical.
Referenced from:
A relative (funtionally quadraligic, mechanical chair, and I think an extra breathing gadget) was on a trip, and the group was going to a restaurant on a boat. "Yes, we are wheelchair accesable!" by which they meant 'we can carry the person across the gangplank, and then carry the folded chair across as well.' Relative and their subgroup ate elsewhere, large group stayed.
I've also seen a scenario where transporting a wheelchair/mechanical scooter amounted to 'find some strong men to shove it in a van (no ramp) then do the same in reverse at the destination.' In that case, the person could transfer theirself and sit in regular seats, assuming they [seats] were the right height.
Be sure to plan for other limitations:
Factor in that carrying people/extra gear is /hard/ - soldiers carry about on avg. 30 pounds, I've heard of hunter-gatherers carrying up to about 70 pounds. (Respectivly, the weight of a three-year-old and a ten-year old.) A couch potato from civilization, an older person or a child won't be able to carry that much weight any distance (i.e. on a hiking trail, or up a long flight of stairs).
Most of the people I know with limited ability are my size or bigger, and moving them any great distane without a car is pretty much going to require either a car, a wheeled conveyance + decent road, or a h*** of a lot of help. (A litter might require 8-10 people, the number may go up if the trip is long as there are other issues.)
The point of my rambling, is that (for example) a blanket 'no wheels on the beach/trail, no exceptions' might cause avoidable hassle; and that should be considered when applying the rule.
Re: Thank you
(Anonymous) 2020-10-10 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)(Someone also wanted to borrow my car to take a driving test once. I said no because insurance, plus short notice.)
I've also gotten 'Hey, can you take me grocery shopping after class*?
*class for adults that I volunteer at
Of course, if I am driving and you know where you are going I insist on intelligible directions of some sort.
Mobility Impairment
Mobility impairment is not compatible with "car-free" or "bikes only" events.
They regularly close streets to vehicle traffic where I live, making walk or bike the only way to access certain areas for an entire weekend. If they do it near my neighborhood, I am almost literally trapped in my house.
They try to emphasize bike and walk, but don't have enough benches to sit on, and those that are there are made "anti-homeless" and uncomfortable for anyone bigger than a size 12 to sit on. They have those damned rent-a-scooters, and enough people4 ride the and bicycles on the goddamn sidewalk that even trying to walk very far means getting run over on the sidewalk. They, and the rental bikes, are supposedly "accessible", but in reality only work for people who have normal balance.
I'd like my city to be greener, but not at the expense of my mobility.
Re: Mobility Impairment
In my observation, it really depends on how an event is arranged -- how big it is, how the travel paths are laid out, the texture of the ground, etc. And most of all: did they hire an inclusivity consultant and/or talk to folks from the local disability group(s) to get experienced input on accessibility?
One approach is to call an event's information number well in advance and ask to speak to their accessibility person. They usually won't have one. If they do not, give them a list of suitable consultants. If citizens nag and nag for long enough, usually events will start trying to meet that need. It's not universal yet, but there are a lot more vegetarian and allergen-free food trucks so people can fucking eat.
>> They regularly close streets to vehicle traffic where I live, making walk or bike the only way to access certain areas for an entire weekend. If they do it near my neighborhood, I am almost literally trapped in my house.<<
That is completely unacceptable. Quite possibly, it is also illegal under ADA standards. You and other disabled people in your area could band together and challenge them on that basis -- and even if they don't change, humiliate them in public. Make the event synonymous in people's minds with imprisonment of people with disabilities, the elderly, etc.
>> They try to emphasize bike and walk, but don't have enough benches to sit on, and those that are there are made "anti-homeless" and uncomfortable for anyone bigger than a size 12 to sit on. <<
That's troublesome, but straightforward to fix: add more benches and make sure they suit people's needs. If the city refuses, then shame them. SHAAAAAAME. Large people can take pictures of themselves not fitting the benches. People who can't walk far can unroll a green streamer from their house as far as they go, then have a friend run a red streamer from there to the nearest bench. Calculate the distances between benches and compare that to how far people can typically go with various limitations, including post-surgery medical advice. Post to YouTube or other public venues. SHAAAAAAAAME.
>> They have those damned rent-a-scooters, and enough people4 ride the and bicycles on the goddamn sidewalk that even trying to walk very far means getting run over on the sidewalk. <<
That is a harder problem to fix because of poor infrastructure design. In order to work, shared-use paths must be at least 8' wide and preferably 10-12' wide. A typical 3-4' sidewalk is nowhere near enough unless traffic is very low, and even then you can't get two wide vehicles (scooters, wheelchairs, strollers) past each other without going off the pavement. And many older sidewalks are more like 18-24" instead. 0_o They should be routing HPV traffic through the streets if cars are banned, not on the sidewalks. Though for long-term solutions, bike lanes or wider shared-use paths are better.
Plus of course, shared-use paths require that people A) know how to share them and B) are willing to share them. These are not guaranteed in this society, but they can be built up if enough people want to.
>> They, and the rental bikes, are supposedly "accessible", but in reality only work for people who have normal balance. <<
A responsible event makes sure that everyone can attend and also that it does not place undue burden on uninterested bystanders.
The easiest solution is often front/back travel differentiation. Even in carless parts of town, restaurants and stores need deliveries; nobody can hand-carry pallets of goods. So that's usually handled by routing the delivery trucks through a different street (e.g. side streets, alleys) than the front-facing carless promenade for pedestrians. The same route can then be used for wheelchair vans or other ADA vehicles.
This also works for most temporary events which tend to be either lines or small squares. As long as the perimeter-to-area ratio is good, disabled folks can simply be delivered to their destination or hopped along the outer perimeter. This is best handled with event planning, because if you make too big of a blob, the center is difficult or impossible for disabled people to reach. Same with large areas of grass instead of pavement; if you put stuff in the middle, it's out of reach. Plus big blobs are also a pain in the ass for emergency services, residents or irrelevant businesses stuck in the middle, and so on. Poor event planning ruins everyone's day. 0_o Hire a consultant who knows how to avoid that.
If they do not, pan the hell out of the event with details of what they fucked up and how a competent planner could have done it better. Send the complaints to event planners in the area and point out that they could easily do better. Band together with other people bothered by the bad planning -- there is strength in numbers.
Another option is to provide complimentary service to disabled folks. Are there pedicabs, horse and buggies, trainlets, or other alternative conveyances? Make them free and give disabled people first dibs on seating. Can't remember if it's Indiana or Illinois, but one of our state fairs has a trainlet that loops around the perimeter and is Extremely Useful. I think that one's on a track but the little electric ones are getting more popular. What about housebound folks, are any of the vendors willing to do door-to-door presentations? It's not common anymore, but it used to be.
Solutions exist, and while not every solution may work for every person or event, it is usually possible to find a combination that will be acceptable. If people care to. If they don't? SHAAAAAME.
Yes, all this takes work. Not everyone has the energy for that, especially disabled folks. But that's what organizations are for. They can find people with the energy for activism to rag on the authorities until they give in and behave decently. People with less energy can support the organization in other ways. Strength in numbers, again. There are already many national groups from the ACLU to condition-based organizations, but some folks prefer to start a local group to pester their city council. It's easier to go to town meetings if you actually live there, and your local group will care about local events that a state or national group may not.
Plus of course, if you get your town in good shape, you can advertise it and attract more people there. Bloomington, Indiana did that -- it was the first place I ever heard chirping stoplights for vision-impaired folks, very clever.
>>I'd like my city to be greener, but not at the expense of my mobility.<<
That is a valid complaint. While it is essential for species survival that humans quit cooking off the atmosphere, it is not decent to abuse disabled people in the process. There are many interventions, such as planting trees or producing things locally instead of shipping long-distance, that reduce the carbon footprint without impairing anyone's access to public life.
Re: Mobility Impairment
(Anonymous) 2020-10-11 03:47 am (UTC)(link)Like how animals depending on oxmosis for oxygenation/hydration/etc are limited in size. Circulatory systems for the win!
Thoughts
True, but this depends greatly on your equipment. Adaptive saddles are available for a variety of conditions, some even somewhat adjustable, meaning that they enable most people who can sit up to ride. (Now, describing to the Talking Horse and the dwarven crafter why you want, say, a high back and a saddlehorn on the side of the saddle might be a bit complicated...)
A palanquin is exceptional because the platform can be equipped either for seated or recumbent travel. If someone can't sit up, or can only sit up partway, this is a much nicer way to travel than on an exposed stretcher -- palanquins customarily have curtains you can close for privacy. Imagine being able to recline in privacy while someone narrates the booths as they pass. You want to shop at the art booth, so your porters put the palanquin on its legs, open the curtains, and direct the vendor to attend you. If you want sustenance, menus can be fetched for your delectation and someone sent to obtain your order. \o/ We used to have these options, and then most places quit. But a few less-developed nations still have them.
>> At minimum, you'd need to be able to disconnect from the chair, transfer or skip any medical devices, and sit/balance decently well, [tho a specialised palanquin or saddle with seatbaks or straps might work.] <<
I agree that medical hardware greatly complicates matters. If you have attachments that connect to the wheelchair, then any substitute conveyance must also support them in order to be feasible. In this case I recommend a professional accessibility consultant.
>>You may also need a way to transfer the chair from A to B as well - easyish with a foldable manual, difficulty-up-to-fiendish with a mechanical.<<
Often true. Transferability varies, though. Some sporty wheelchairs are a bitch to get in and out of, while some electrics have extremely convenient foldaway arms, dropdown backs, etc.
Note another feature of highly accessible places: transfer boards! You see these little plank seatlets in playground equipment, bathrooms, changing rooms, etc. that are designed for easy shifting from wheelchair to somewhere else. I tell people to watch for those as visible clues to inclusivity.
>>A relative (funtionally quadraligic, mechanical chair, and I think an extra breathing gadget) was on a trip, and the group was going to a restaurant on a boat. "Yes, we are wheelchair accesable!" by which they meant 'we can carry the person across the gangplank, and then carry the folded chair across as well.' Relative and their subgroup ate elsewhere, large group stayed.<<
Gyah. Not good as the sole option.
It can work as one of several options though. There's a big outdoor amphitheater in Bluehill with stone seats, and it's old so no ramps. Mobility-impaired folks have two options: 1) first dibs on the top/back row so they don't have to deal with the stairs at all or 2) ride the hoist down and sit in the front below the stairs. It is much the same as most indoor theaters, aside from the hoist used to deposit heavy equipment in the performance area.
>>I've also seen a scenario where transporting a wheelchair/mechanical scooter amounted to 'find some strong men to shove it in a van (no ramp) then do the same in reverse at the destination.' In that case, the person could transfer theirself and sit in regular seats, assuming they [seats] were the right height.<<
One or more big strong bodies can resolve a lot of limitations! These should be freely available at events, resorts, parks, etc. to maximize accessibility. You also want at least one geek, a good toolkit, and a box of scraps. These additions will solve a lot of challenges that brute force alone will not. This is one of the few positions truly suited to the unique talents of a musclegeek. :D
>> Factor in that carrying people/extra gear is /hard/ - soldiers carry about on avg. 30 pounds, I've heard of hunter-gatherers carrying up to about 70 pounds. (Respectivly, the weight of a three-year-old and a ten-year old.) <<
Soldiers and Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan routinely carry between 60 and 100 pounds of gear including body armor, weapons and batteries. The heavy loads shouldered over months of duty contribute to the chronic pain suffered by soldiers like Spc. Joseph Chroniger, who deployed to Iraq in 2007.
Many jobs require workers to lift 50 pounds, and anyone who can't is effectively disabled and not allowed into those jobs. Factory, retail, construction, and warehouse work are most notorious for this but some restaurants do it too.
>> A couch potato from civilization, an older person or a child won't be able to carry that much weight any distance (i.e. on a hiking trail, or up a long flight of stairs). <<
That's what porters are for! Many developing nations still have them.
L-America has dwindled to a few tattered remnants like bellhops at hotels. Who are surprised when we summon a cart, load and unload it ourselves often filling the whole thing with gear, and then tip the bellhop generously for fetching and pushing the cart itself.
>> Most of the people I know with limited ability are my size or bigger, and moving them any great distane without a car is pretty much going to require either a car, a wheeled conveyance + decent road, or a h*** of a lot of help. (A litter might require 8-10 people, the number may go up if the trip is long as there are other issues.) <<
On a long trip, you need at least 2 extra bearers; and for a heavy load, you need a complete second team; so they can swap out. In a midladen palanquin it doesn't matter who swaps, but in an offset load you put the fresh bearers on the heavier handles, unless you're swapping the whole team at once.
>>The point of my rambling, is that (for example) a blanket 'no wheels on the beach/trail, no exceptions' might cause avoidable hassle; and that should be considered when applying the rule.<<
Prevailingly true, but consider the nature of the trail. Some types of trail really can't handle wheel traffic. They may be too rugged for most travelers to wheel over (as opposed to Simon, who hauls ass over large tree roots and then has Tolli heave the chair over fallen trees) or too fragile such that wheels would damage the trail where shoes do not.
This is why many beaches and parks have a boardwalk and/or beach chairs with special wheels that people can borrow. The amphibious kind with PVC framing and balloon wheels can even go from sand to surf.
Solutions exist, and humans are nothing if not ingenious with tools. It just takes noticing and caring to put those solutions into practice.
Re: Mobility Impairment
Some examples:
A classic "ribbon" layout with a long event between a park (closed to traffic) and what look like parking garages or lots. You simply put the vehicle traffic on the paved side and foot traffic on the grass side, and everyone can reach most or all the stuff with minimal cross-traffic. That site is super well designed for inclusivity, and aside from the hardscaping that also shows in all the dingbats for everything from ADA seating to water stations. \o/
More or less a cross shape cutting a big blob into little blobs, accessible if function and ADA vehicles can use the roads.
Lobes break up the blob, but the middle trails may not be as accessible.
What the fuck were they even thinking?
Really, studying physics and biology can teach you a LOT about urban design and event planning. Nature uses the same systems because they work. Why reinvent the wheel when you can piggyback on millions of years of evolution? A traditional neighborhood design has kind of a fractal pattern with busy wide streets, medium streets, and slow narrow streets -- as opposed to the stupid and inefficient suburban design.
Re: Mobility Impairment
(Anonymous) 2020-10-11 05:16 am (UTC)(link)Monoculture design?
I mean, if you can leave 'car spacing' down the middle of a street fair you coud have people step back, as demonstrated by these nice protesters:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cwFHZbRZZuQ
Re: Thoughts
(Anonymous) 2020-10-11 06:14 am (UTC)(link)I know such equipment /exists/, but that's about it.
Its more...people can't slap a one-size-fits-solution on thus and say 'yay, fixed!'
>>A palanquin is exceptional because the platform can be equipped either for seated or recumbent travel. <<
I actually did not know this; palanquins are not local to my area and my first mental image is the palanquins Azula and Zuko use in ATLA, which are a sit-upright-no-chair style.
Also, semirelated, I recall the cover of this book* had a picture of a stretcher with a sunshade (designed for longish transport where cars might not be an option.)
*https://www.amazon.com/Where-There-No-Doctor-Handbook/dp/0942364155/ref=asc_df_0942364155/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312425492373&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10869302303791239345&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003787&hvtargid=pla-488339970850&psc=1#immersive-view_1602394071625
>>Transferability varies, though.<<
That is a consideration, but I was also thinking of moving the /equipment/, not just the person.
I think I recall a conversation I once had with someone who drove her wheelchair-bound grandmother around, but was running into problems because the sporty car didn't have a lot of room to put the folded-up wheelchair. And you kind of need the wheelchair to get around at the store...
I myself have tied a folded wheelchair to a bike rack. (Doesn't do much good to drive someone home if their gear stays at the office.)
I know someone else for whom 'spend the night' involves a variety of machines and mechanical contraptions; conveying these via anything but car (or possibly covered wagon) would be nigh-impossible/impractical.
>>It can work as one of several options though. <<
This story taught me two things:
1) Clarify /every single exhausting non-standard requirement/ when you travel. /Do not/ allow yourself to be dismissed or patronized. (Also, a list* is very helpful.)
*List may include door widths, height of the gap under the bed (I am not kidding), layout of handicapped parking (some people need extra space to unload from a wheelchair van with a ramp)...
2) If a customer/client asks about wheelchair-accessable, or nut-free, or whatever /clarify that you ate taliking about the same thing/.
>>These should be freely available at events, resorts, parks, etc. to maximize accessibility. <<
The artsy fair at my college did this as standard; students got volunteer hours for carrying the setup stuff and vendors were very impressed. (I also went around in historical costume one year. Fun times...)
>>Many jobs require workers to lift 50 pounds, ... <<
Lifting once, easy. Lifting repeatedly, or carrying a distance, very hard.
>>L-America has dwindled to a few tattered remnants like bellhops at hotels. <<
I was concerned that 'muscle power' would once again translate to 'Relatives will do it for free. Not my problem.'
I have no expectation that L-America will start hiring hiking porters.* (To be fair, some airports seem to do a decent job, but I suspect their gofers have several different jobs instead of being exclusively porters.)
*Hmm... in-a-group porters might be a good job for immigrants who don't speak much of the local language. You wouldn't neccesarily need to be chatty, just strong and decently up-to-date on local 'polite deference to the customer' ettiquite. If you can get one person who us decently billingual (teenager at first job, maybe?) all the better!
>>Prevailingly true, but consider the nature of the trail. <<
Just as you can't assume everyone on the trail can walk, or walk for long distances, one shouldn't assume that every trail can be wheeled on.
Mindful consideration of your specific circumstances is needed!
How much damage will wheels or motor vehicles cause? What are the safety issues, both for and aginst? How many people who want to use the trail will be unable to with XYZ restrictions? Is there any way to reduce that last number without increasing damage or reducing safety?
Then pick the most workable solution, which could be anything from vehicle tours to video walks to palanquins. :)
Re: Thoughts
Saddle with a high back and belt in tooled leather
Basically a wheelchair seat turned into a saddle
Dressage jumping saddle with thigh stirrups, because who says missing legs mean you can't climb on a giant animal and fly over walls
And of course if you can't spread your legs very far, you will want a good old-fashioned sidesaddle
I'm rather intrigued by clever adaptive equipment.
>> Its more...people can't slap a one-size-fits-solution on thus and say 'yay, fixed!' <<
True of many people, alas.
>> I actually did not know this; palanquins are not local to my area and my first mental image is the palanquins Azula and Zuko use in ATLA, which are a sit-upright-no-chair style.<<
They are not common in my area either. However, various styles exist...
Basically a chair in a wheelless carriage, carried by 2 porters
An open chair version for weddings, looks like all the groomsmen are trying to get a hand on those poles
Bride and groom sitting together, looks like 8 porters
Larger chairless version for sitting with your legs straight, looks like 6 porters
Queen Hetepheres' Sedan Chair
A flat bed palanquin without the usual cushions or curtains so you can see its structure
This child has stretched out and fallen asleep amidst a fancy religious procession
I was surprised to see how solid they were. Mostly I had seen palanquins with curtains like this.
They're just a lot more fun and festive than a wheelchair or the stretcher on the back of a golf cart ambulance, you know?
>>Also, semirelated, I recall the cover of this book* had a picture of a stretcher with a sunshade (designed for longish transport where cars might not be an option.)<<
Very clever.
>>That is a consideration, but I was also thinking of moving the /equipment/, not just the person.<<
Also true. In that case, consider a cart, a carry pole, or a pack animal. A wheelbarrow works if you have the 2-wheel version, but a 1-wheel version is tippy. I've also seen people hauled in a wheelbarrow or garden cart.
>>I think I recall a conversation I once had with someone who drove her wheelchair-bound grandmother around, but was running into problems because the sporty car didn't have a lot of room to put the folded-up wheelchair. <<
Yeah, that's challenging.
>> And you kind of need the wheelchair to get around at the store... <<
Depends on the store or other facility. Wal-Mart and Sam's Club have electric wheelchairs for shoppers with a basket attached. I think they have some manuals too. Medical facilities usually have some. It's becoming more common for beaches to have outdoor ones, but that varies. Adaptive dance studios or sport centers usually have sport wheelchairs. So if transporting the chair is bothersome, check around -- you can save hassle by going places that have their own wheelchairs to borrow.
>>I myself have tied a folded wheelchair to a bike rack. (Doesn't do much good to drive someone home if their gear stays at the office.) <<
Good solution.
>>I know someone else for whom 'spend the night' involves a variety of machines and mechanical contraptions; conveying these via anything but car (or possibly covered wagon) would be nigh-impossible/impractical.<<
Yeah, that would be very limiting.
Re: Thoughts
Good idea.
>> /Do not/ allow yourself to be dismissed or patronized. <<
Good luck with that. Nobody's obligated to help you, and if you annoy them may simply hang up.
>> (Also, a list* is very helpful.)
*List may include door widths, height of the gap under the bed (I am not kidding), layout of handicapped parking (some people need extra space to unload from a wheelchair van with a ramp)... <<
I have offered to carry a yardstick through my house to check clearance width. The door just has one wide step and then step up to the threshold, so getting even an electric wheelchair up is no trouble as long as we have a couple other folks to help pop the wheels up and push.
But I generally just ask, "What accommodations do you need?" Most common one has been either a chair or limiting the stand-up time in rituals, which is easily done.
>>The artsy fair at my college did this as standard; students got volunteer hours for carrying the setup stuff and vendors were very impressed. (I also went around in historical costume one year. Fun times...) <<
That is so awesome.
>>Lifting once, easy. Lifting repeatedly, or carrying a distance, very hard.<<
It means lifting easily, like lifting 50-pound bags of flour to stock a shelf. O_O
>>I was concerned that 'muscle power' would once again translate to 'Relatives will do it for free. Not my problem.'<<
Friends or relatives often do such things, but there is no guarantee they will be abled either. Frex, retirees often travel in groups and may not have enough muscle for heaving a chair over obstacles. Preferably, an event should have porters available.
>> *Hmm... in-a-group porters might be a good job for immigrants who don't speak much of the local language. You wouldn't neccesarily need to be chatty, just strong and decently up-to-date on local 'polite deference to the customer' ettiquite. If you can get one person who us decently billingual (teenager at first job, maybe?) all the better!<<
Brilliant, and saved for future reference. It would suit the Rutledge thread very well.
>>Just as you can't assume everyone on the trail can walk, or walk for long distances, one shouldn't assume that every trail can be wheeled on.
Mindful consideration of your specific circumstances is needed!<<
Well reasoned.
>>How much damage will wheels or motor vehicles cause? What are the safety issues, both for and aginst? How many people who want to use the trail will be unable to with XYZ restrictions? Is there any way to reduce that last number without increasing damage or reducing safety?<<
Especially, consider these issues in building new trails. Can you make plenty of mileage accessible, without reducing everyone to wide paved paths? A variety of challenge levels is desirable.
>> Then pick the most workable solution, which could be anything from vehicle tours to video walks to palanquins. :) <<
Yeah, virtual tours are VERY popular in Terramagne. We've seen Haruko jogging with a headcam, for instance. It's also common for a sighted, immobile person to pair with a blind, mobile person -- the blind person goes places while wearing a camera, the immobile person gets to see exciting things without dragging their body around and they can describe things so the blind person enjoys more and has an easy time navigating. Win-win!
Re: Mobility Impairment
¿¿¿"Preferred" and "VIP" and "Staff" and "Vendor Sponsor" parking, but no Handicapped parking???
Re: Thoughts
(Anonymous) 2020-10-11 06:46 pm (UTC)(link)>>Good luck with that. Nobody's obligated to help you, and if you annoy them may simply hang up.<<
As a former customer service associate, I have two ideas that might mitigate (but not neccesarily eliminate) the issue:
1) Be nice to the person. Stay calm, thank them for their patience, explain that you know this may be a complicated or unusual request. If they are nice or helpful, compliment them on that.
Even if most of the people are unhelpful jerks, the one nice one might know who you should call to complain, or what competitors might have better services - and they're more likely to tell you that stuff if you are 'Annoyed but polite' vs yelling 'You're all scam artists! Angrish!'.
(A couple of times, I've ephasized those customer service surveys when a customer complains about a policy and I agree with them.)
2) Call or visit at a slow time when possible. And you can ask, too: "I need to ask about [topic], and it might take awhile. Is now a good time? No? When should I call back and who should I ask for?" (CSAs may get blamed for ignoring customers event to attend aanother customer, so a half-hour phone call is best done at non-rush times.)
I mean, it still might not work, but from the other side of the counter, it maybe ups the odds?
And I'm pretty sure that some of the akwardness is the person going '****, I don't know what to do, or how to find out what I should do' in their internal monologue.
>>That is so awesome.<<
We never had to carry people, but the middle-aged to older vendors apprecited the help with tents, handmade wooden furniture, and the like.
And I got talking to some interesting people. One former student told me how they'd taken over a campus building for three days to protest sexist rules (curfews & no pants, I think.) The guys in the protest added a demand to be able to buy beer on campus. LOL.
>>Friends or relatives often do such things, but there is no guarantee they will be abled either. <<
Exactly! Plus it is kind of exhausting (and aggravating) to have to lug several hundred pounds of gear on a /family vacation/.
>>Frex, retirees often travel in groups and may not have enough muscle for heaving a chair over obstacles. <<
My surviving grandparent and I traveled together when I was in my late teens. I was dubbed a 'good traveling companion,' as I carried the luggage, don't argue about the scheduling, and keept an eye out for other odds and ends (loose cobblestones, stampeding schoolchildren) that may require assistance.
>>Brilliant, and saved for future reference. It would suit the Rutledge thread very well.<<
Thank you! I look forward to reading it!
I think you already have a wilderness parks idea in one story...
...and I imagine if it works it could actually be a very common pattern in T-America, especially as they have more multilingual people.
This could actually be generalized to any 'labor' group - store, stockers, moving crews, construction crews, cleaning services...
Even a gravedigging crew! (I knew someone whose job was to dig graves, set up for funerals, & occasionally get signatures. Honestly, more 'politely hovering in the background' than actual talking.) Have 2-3 people on the 'cemetary crew' for maintenence and stuff, and as long as someone (maybe even the offsite boss, or paperwork person) can translate, you're good.
Re: Mobility Impairment
Based on your further observations, they may have been thinking "Let's keep the crips out." >_<
I stumbled across one store where absolutely every garment had some weird, aggravating feature like scratchy fabric, lace panels, fashion seams, etc. How do you keep freaks out? Make products they can't stand to touch. I'm not even sure it was deliberate, but it was very thorough. Most places only have a high percentage, not totality.
Re: Mobility Impairment
Good luck getting from there to the bathrooms.
they also misspelled parking in the "Handicapped Parkiing Area" of the map legend.