Off Topic - but made me smile

[Andrew Bichard]

This has nothing to do with disney. but I found it amusing.

Some people have brains the size of peanuts!

Over the weekend I took a train ride from London up to York & back to view a wheelchair adapted van (Grand Voyager), which I bought - Mobile at last!!

On the train back I used the wheelchair accessible toilet. According to my wife, a young lad, age ten or so tried to get into the stall a few minutes after me, he couldn't figure out why the door wouldn't open and at one stage was trying to lever it open with his fingers. My wife had to show him the 'engaged' sign.

Anyway, when I come out, he is still there, standing right where I need to back out in my powered wheelchair. Now there isn't a lot of space in a train corridor, so I try to shoo him away so I have space to manoeuvre and turn to get back into the carriage. As I go back & forth, trying to turn in the confined space he is still in the way, first one side of me and then another. He just won't
go away and give me room.

Then he jumps over my legs into the toilet and closes the door, leaving me stuck at right angles across the corridor with my toes wedged against the door. I can't move until he comes out again. Of course, this toilet is the one next to the buffet car, so I am causing a bit of a problem to people trying to get past me. They have to climb over my lap, and then back again ten minutes later
with their food.

I had to laugh!

--
Andrew Bichard

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for sharing. I can just picture it from your description. It is one of those funny-frustrating situations.

Let us know how you like your new van. We have a Town and Country (just a differnt model of the Voyager) and like it very much.

 

[tammyh-oregon]

I guess when you gotta go you gotta go.

glad to hear ya got the van.

 

[mamajoan]

Andrew, God Love Ya! I am happy to hear that even tho you had a hec of a time on the train, you came home with a new van and a smile. Happy Motoring!!!!
Joan

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I haven't actually got the van yet, though I have paid a deposit. I have to go back to collect it in a few weeks time, and have the lock-downs fitted to my wheelchair.

It is an ex showroom demonstrator, last year's model with a lowered floor,already converted for drive from wheelchair. It is left-hand-drive, so not strictly UK specification. Because The driving position is relatevely high, LHD should be no problem though.

Andrew

 

[SueM in MN]

That must be sort of strange to have left hand drive for you, living in a right hand world.
Will you be using manual tiedowns or an automatic tiedown?

We have both and use manual for DD's manual chair and the power for the power chair. We could have the manual chair also use the power tiedown, but the clamp that needs to go on the bottom of the chair would prevent it from folding. It took a little practice to learn just how to position the power chair to engage the lock, but it's really slick now. We can get loaded into the van in just a few minutes.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Sue,

I don't expect much problem with Left Hand Drive. Most every year since I have been able to drive, I have taken vacations in Europe. On varioust trips I have driven through Spain & Portugal, Italy as far south as Rome, and once (before the break up of Jugoslavia) down to Greece and Turkey. I can drive to the Chunnel in about two hours or so, so visit France quite often, sometimes just for shopping or for lunch. It's nearly as good as staying at the Boardwalk and being able to go to Epcot whenever you want!!

Anyway, I am quite used to driving RHD in LHD countries, though my wife is not quite so keen as she has to tell me when to overtake.

I don't know how the lock-downs work. I understand they bolt something under my chair that engages with a pin on the floor. I have asked them to set up my manual too, so I can drive when my Storm is in for repair. I am also asking for spare tie down position that can secure any wheelchair so that I can offer a ride to any wheelchair user, even if they don't have a lock down.

Andrew

 

[JudithM]

Andrew, cute story! Thanks for sharing! Good luck when you get the new van.

 

[mamajoan]

Andrew, I was wondering about traveling with a w/c while in Europe... I have never been to Europe but would love to do it.
However I have been told by a couple of travel agents that Europe is hard to navigate with a w/c.. I was wondering what you thought??? I thought about pmiing you but thought that others would be interested to know about accessibility in Europe.
Thanks so much!
Joan

 

[SueM in MN]

We've had foreign exchange students from France and Belgium (also Albania, Russia and Thailand, but that's not Europe). The French and Belgian women told us that neither of their countries are very wheelchair accessible, even in the big cities. Lots of cobblestone streets, not many curb cuts and most of the shops have steps to get in.
My oldest DD went to Russia last summer and she reported that Russia would be pretty in-accessible too. The apartment building she was staying in had the elevator out more often than working.

I guess there are some advantages to tearing down pretty old buildings in the US instead of saving them.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Joan,

Of all the European countries I have visited recently, none are up to North American standards. The UK now has the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act – like your ADA) and is therefore better than the rest of Europe. I have never visited Scandinavia, nor Germany for many years so cannot comment on access there. I would guess that Ireland would be on a par with the UK, though I have never visited there. When I last visited Greece, I had full mobility. I love it there, especially Crete and the islands, but they are the least accessible places I can think of. BTW, many of the power wheelchairs on sale in the UK are of Scandinavian design, which leads me to suspect they must be ‘disability’ aware with good access.

You would definitely have no problem with London provided you choose your hotel carefully. Provided you pick a modern hotel you should have an elevator to your room and full ‘disabled’ access bathroom. Some of the older (cheaper) hotels near to, but not quite in, the central tourist areas might have a flight of six to eight steps up to the front door. London Black taxicabs are now all required to be wheelchair accessible by law so transport is no problem. All the Museums & Art Galleries are accessible. Many of the theatres are in older buildings with variable access – you would need to check before buying tickets.

All the big stores in central London and elsewhere re fully accessible too. Smaller shops, especially outside of London might have steps. You will have no trouble getting into ‘chain’ restaurants, but the smaller restaurants, which often serve much more interesting food might be less accessible, though if you can cope with steps you will have less problem than me. Some restaurants claim to be ‘fully accessible yet don’t have accessible restrooms.

Touring England, Scotland and Wales should also be easy so long as you phone ahead to check your hotel has accessible rooms. Most of the major tourist sites are accessible, especially those owned by The National Trust’ and English Heritage.

I have never had problems travelling in France with my wheelchair, though you will probably need to book rooms in modern Hotels owned by the major hotel chains. This will exclude you from all the charming little local hotels that are less likely to be accessible. A few years back I had a very enjoyable three weeks touring France and Switzerland in my car and using my manual chair. France is not as good as the UK, but manageable.

If you base yourself in London, you can even take the Eurostar train direct to Central Paris or even DLP. Acces to Museums is good also (the Louvre and Centre Georges Pompideux (sp?) have excellent access. You can even get a wheelchair onto the Bateaux Mouches and up the Tour d’Eiffel.

The Eurostar stops right at the entrance to DLP (I am told) so it’s just like having the WDW monorail right from London to MK and MGM, but one that travels at 186 MPH. The line continues south to Avignon and Bordeaux with connections all over Europe.

Sue,

I can confirm the problem with cobbled streets. I once had a real fun time in the main square in Brussels trying to ride the cobbles.

I once visited Montecello, one of your older buildings - They had managed to provide ramped access throughout the first floor without spoiling the building, so it can be done!

Andrew

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the nice report, Andrew. I'm glad to hear things are more accessible thatn I thought.
In the US, you would find the smaller towns are not as accessible. The town where my mother lives has wheelchari cut outs for the side walks and new buildings are accessible, although the charming small town shops are not. It's the same in the town where my in-laws live. There are laws about accessibility for any new construction or renovation, but enforcement depends on the local building inspector. A few years ago we went to the pool near my in-laws house to go swimming. I knew it didn't have zero entry or anything like that, but when I asked about a chenging room that was large enough to take my DD's wheelchair in, the clerk replied "We don't don't have one. We've never had anyone with a wheelchair go swimming. Why would they want a changing room?" I told her that maybe the reason no one had, was that they had no place to change. The most frustrating thing was when I mentioned it to my MIL, she didn't see anything wrong with the clerk's logic. She was certain that if the town had needed to put one in, they would have. But, since no one in a wheelchair form the town went swimming, she could see that they didn't need one.

We've got a ways to go.

 

[mamajoan]

Andrew you are amazing!! Thank you for the info. I am going to have dh read all of it---TWICE! I am so excited to know that I will be able to go to Europe some day. I am sitting here with a HUGE grin on my face just thinking about it.

I had friends who just came back from Ireland. It does NOT sound accessible at all. That is ok. I think I can get my w/c into a pub!! That is important.

DIS MEET IN EUROPE!!! MAYBE IN 2004!!!
Sounds Fabulous!
Joan

 

[Andrew Bichard]

MamaJoan,

New information on a web site I have just discovered.

It is the BBC site, in a section relating to the Holiday Program (A British TV travel show) on the 'disable traveller' page. Lots of useful links.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/holiday/disabled_traveller/

Andrew

 

[mamajoan]

Andrew, this is a Great website. I put it on my favorites list right away!

Thank you for being so very very helpful

Joan