DISABLED TRAVELLERS: tell me about your travel problems & experiences!?

Hello everyone,

I'm a final year design student & I'm doing my thesis on accessibility issues on public transport systems. I'm looking for any kind of insight you can give me on what its like to travel by public transport if you have a disability.

I'm especially interested in the opinions of wheelchair users who travel by train, but I'd love to hear travel stories, problems and experiences (good AND bad!) that you've had.

I'm trying to get an idea of the problems faced by everyday users of transport systems...buses, trains, trams, even taxis, so that i can (hopefully) design a solution!

Thanks for your help!

Claire

Van services, like SuperShuttle, that do not use equipment that is friendly to mobility impaired. They use regular vans that do not have low floors. I have to bend over to far to get past the seats and it hurts my back.

I don't believe there is a solution that will not include all the problems encounterd without going to a complete redesign of a vehicle.

Front wheel drive in a regular van with a low flat floor would be a start. Wider body to give more room between seats. Individual seats not benches or paired seats. Longer so there is enough storage for luggage. Seats 12 plus the driver and tour guide.
Dual rear tires for load carring capacity. But make them so they are in tandem not side by side. (Like the old GMC Motorhome used to be) This way the wheel well does not intrude into the passenger compartment.

I guess I just described a GMC Motorhome with heavy duty suspension and seating for 12 and luggage.

Your vehicle has allready been invented thirty years ago and no one has brought back the design because they didn't like doing a complete vehicle just to serve the mobility impaired.

I am disabled and use a cane for mobility. Some of my cocerns are as follows:
Parking Permits- they are abused beyond comprehension! A simple fix would be to color code them , require doctor recertification every 3 months, and then police would be able to identify abuse on routine patrol and issue citations accordingly!(So many people once rehabilitated just continue using the permit for years on end! Nothing in place to surrender the permit! Should be like license plates and at the end of the doctors certification it should be mandatory in all 50 states to surrender the permit or face suspension of registration, drivers license, and receive fines accordingly! (One's that bite!)
Public areas- there are still millions of places in this country that are inaccessible to the disabled even though laws have been in effect for many years. Government needs to identify these and deal with them in order to gain compliance.
NO RESPECT- this is the big one for me! I have been knocked to the ground numerous times by people that just have no respect what-so-ever! It's unimaginable until you step into a disabled persons shoes for the day!
Rairoads- they are the biggest violators I've encountered. They have no means of boarding a train other than a "foot stool" placed at the door of a rail car. NO lifts or other means available! I travel on Amtrak frequently and have encountered it numerous times!
Parking Permit Abuse- Other family members constantly use the disabled permit parking in designated areas for the disabled. Now, when a truely disabled person comes along there is nothing available! Just go to Walmart on the weekend and see for yourself. There won't be a spot anywhere yet when you get in the store where are the disabled people?
I hope I have shed some light on my frustrations with the system and give my thanks to you for being kind enough to step up to the plate and take a stance! I can assure you it is well appreciated!