Welcome to the accessible travel news roundup, published on Fridays, which highlights interesting stories that are worth sharing, but not suited for dedicated, long-form coverage on this website.
Accessible travel and industry news from around the web:
- Lawmakers Call the Lack of Accessibility on Public Transit a "National Embarrassment" — A cross-party select committee on transportation in the United Kingdom said that "too great a burden is placed on individual disabled people" because the country has failed to make public transport fully accessible. Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said that "It's clear that accessibility has been an afterthought in developing transport services." Ruth Cadbury MP, chair of the committee, said the lack of equal access is a "national embarrassment." Now the question arises — after statements such as these from members across party lines, will any action be taken?
- "Brutal" Cuts Coming to Pittsburgh Public Transit — Many cities in the United States are on the verge of a fiscal cliff as costs rise, population growth stagnates and funding sources evaporate. While public comment is being accepted from Pittsburgh residents, the transit service cuts are likely to move forward — when public transit services are rolled back, disabled residents and travelers suffer.
- How Chicago's City Buses Got Wheelchair Lifts Before the ADA Became Law — This PBS story examines the important work of American Disabled for Accessible Public Transit (ADAPT), and their 1985 complaint that led the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to install wheelchair lifts on buses before the ADA was the law of the land. Their advocacy came long before I became disabled, but it continues to inspire me today.
- Wheelchair user trapped in 4th floor hotel room due to broken elevator was freed after 42 days — I stay in a lot of hotels and prefer rooms on a high floor, but this woman's plight may have me rethink that. Her circumstances were unique since she lives at the extended stay hotel, but after a day of being trapped, I would have called the fire department and demanded the hotel honor my reservation elsewhere.
- Appeals Court Upholds Rule Requiring Air Canada to Dispatch Larger Aircraft for Passengers with Power Wheelchairs — I previously covered a ruling by the Canadian Transportation Agency that mandated Air Canada to swap larger aircraft onto routes, if necessary, so that passengers' larger wheelchairs could be accommodated. The ruling was challenged in court and was recently upheld by an appeals court. I would love to see such a rule make its way to the United States, where many airlines' regional aircraft are not entirely suitable for transporting large wheelchairs without increasing their risk of being damaged.
- Intriguing conversation about wheelchair accessibility in Washington, D.C. with an immigrant — Is the United States more accessible than other countries? It depends on your definition of accessibility, your individual access needs and perhaps even the attitudes of the people you encounter. This was an interesting read, and it reveals that we have to think holistically about accessibility.
