With just under a year to go before the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, campaigners are worried would-be spectators using wheelchairs could feel left out of the Games as only a small number of metro stations are accessible without using stairs.
  • JJROKCZ@lemmy.worldEnglish
    123·
    1 year ago

    I’ve been to Europe many times and I’ve yet to see a city as remotely accessible as the average American city. I get why everything can’t be refitted for the disabled but god help you if you’re a wheelchair bound European

    • Fushuan [he/him]@lemm.eeEnglish
      103·
      1 year ago

      a city as remotely accessible as the average American city

      You mean, once you get out of your car? Also it’s quite funny how literally the other commenter mentions NYC.

      • mookulator@mander.xyzEnglish
        8·
        1 year ago

        Even accounting for how car-centric US cities are, I agree with that commenter. Yeah it may be hard to get downtown from outlying neighborhoods without a car, but sidewalks have ramps and building have access. Hell, the parking lots have designated parking spaces. Not true at all in most European cities

        Edit: I guess it’s worth a little more nuance than just limping all European cities in the same category. The wealthier northern cities have definitely caught up a bit (though they all still have buildings that are completely inaccessible). The real problems are the southern cities like Rome, Madrid, Athens, Lisbon etc.

      • JJROKCZ@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        1 year ago

        NYC is so old it’s essentially a European city since it was built pre-car and pre-caring about the disabled. In most American cities less than 300 years old you’ll see ada ramps, lifts, doors, accessible sidewalk crossings, etc.

        Yes America is too car centric, 100% agree on that but we’re doing leaps and bounds better on disability access than Europe. Also, we have handicap parking spots so lifts have room to move disabled in/out of cars with plenty of room