I am a wheelchair user, fighting for accessibility and transportation rights for disabled Americans. I write blogs and create social media posts to showcase living with a disability. I have been an advocate for transportation rights by contacting local politicians. I have many ideas to solve the transportation issues in the United States. Making transportation more wheelchair-friendly is a must to end ableist discrimination. I think that our nation’s transportation needs by the year 2030 will be based on accessibility for disabled communities.
Wheelchair Accessibility on the Light Rail
Accommodations on light rails dedicated to wheelchair users would make accessing the train easier and safer. The light rail in Charlotte doesn’t have many areas for wheelchairs that keep disabled people out of the aisles. Having spaces to lock down the wheelchair is a matter of safety and keeps wheelchairs from flipping or moving during transit.
Accessible Taxi Cabs and Ubers
There needs to be more wheelchair-accessible Ubers and taxis that allow for safe travel and no hassle. At UNCC, there is a taxi service with accessible ramps dedicated to getting disabled students to class quickly. This should be implemented in every major city in the United States and be sustainable by 2030.
Wheelchair Accommodations on Airplanes and Buses
Airplanes are hard for disabled people, as transferring out of your wheelchair can be nerve-wracking. Designated places on planes can allow disabled people to stay in their power wheelchairs and be locked in with metal straps.
Public buses need to have more lifts for wheelchairs that are strong enough to get people on. At my college, every bus is outfitted with a lift that comes out of the entrance. This is an example for other buses to follow.
Accessibility on Trains
Public trains are a prime example of making ample space for wheelchairs to keep the chair stable during the ride. Making the bathrooms wider is a must, so that wheelchair users can get onto the toilets easily and would cut down on potential falls or injuries.
There are many ways to make transportation more accessible for disabled communities. We aren’t asking much, but we want to be respected and have equal transportation rights. We need to take the first step in the fight for a brighter future. Disability should be ordinary because what we lack in physical ability we make up for in heart as we overcome.
About Bryson Foster: Bryson lives in North Carolina. He advocates and raises funds for the development of treatments for muscular dystrophy. He loves sports and cheers for his favorite basketball team, the North Carolina Tar Heels. Click here to learn more about Bryson.
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