Accessibility in urban planning is a vitally important feature of any civilized society - everyone, regardless of their mobility, should be able to access and enjoy public facilities. Crappy-designed accessibility for people in wheelchairs, for example, sends a pretty insulting message: "We added this feature because someone told us we had to, but it's not important enough that we put any effort into making sure it actually helps."
Accessibility then becomes purely symbolic, something designed to show that we care, but has no practical purpose. Sadly, disabled people encounter this kind of attitude all too often, and beyond the continuous and ongoing campaigns for wheelchair accessible planning, there is little left to do but laugh at these outrageous design fails collected by Bored Panda.
So scroll down below to see where good intentions can go wrong for yourself, and if you see bad examples of disability-friendly designs in your neighborhood, be sure to report it to your local council or government representative!
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To Invite A Disabled Man To Talk About Accessibility..
For some insight on accessibility matters Bored Panda spoke to Julienne at abilities.com, the resource for the disability community in the USA. Julienne is sadly all too acquainted with businesses making half-hearted attempts to prioritize and provide effective accessibility, even if they do follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design.
"Unfortunately, accessibility is just a burr under the saddle of many business owners," she told us. "It is an expense they don’t think they can afford because they don’t view the wheelchair community as the over $1 Trillion aggregate income market that it is. Their businesses aren’t accessible so they don’t see people in wheelchairs, so they don’t think they are important in their market. A classic Joseph Heller: Catch-22."
If You Aren't Already In A Wheelchair, You Will Be After This
*person in a wheelchair* "Nah, it's fine. Think I'll take the stairs" 😅
Extreme Wheelchairing!
I have ramp access to my house....and at the end of the ramp is a giant step....not as big as above, but still wtf!
So what can be done to improve awareness on the importance of accessibility? How do we get businesses to understand that cutting costs and corners to make inadequate facilities isn't just inconvenient and potentially dangerous, but offensive too?
"People with disabilities and their supporters have to speak up," Julienne continues. "Post it on Yelp, take pictures and post it on the businesses’ social media. Use peer pressure, shame them, and most of all, vote with your wallet. Unfortunately, the winner there is Amazon. They saw the need of people who can’t/don’t want to leave their houses and have exploited it superbly.".
This Crosswalk For The Handicapped
Being Handicapped In Cabo San Lucas Is Apparently An Extreme Sport. (Fb Friend's Vacation Pic)
Julienne believes that the best thing businesses can do is to simply ask a person using a wheelchair to share their experiences, and learn from them. Over 23 years in the wheelchair she has encountered no end of rude and frustrating situations where a little basic understanding would sure go a long way.
"The biggest problem is that they don’t have someone in a wheelchair consulting on the build," Julienne says. "If they had someone in a wheelchair try to bump up a steep grade, for example, and then hold themselves in place with one hand on a wheel while trying to open a heavy door with a handle too high, that swings OUT, they never would have built it that way."
"Put all owners, designers and employees in a wheelchair for a day and let them try it."
Makes sense, doesn't it? Julienne believes that it all starts with the individual’s awareness, so don't be afraid to talk to people with disabilities about their accessibility needs and frustrations. The more we learn to empathize with each other and experience the world in another person's shoes, the better things will be for everyone!
Epic Fail When It Comes To Accessibility
Accessibility Fail
Accessibility Fail
Accessibility Fail
How Is This Supposed To Work??
Possibly someone pointing out that there are no spots reserved for people with disabilities.
Because F**k You For Being In A Wheelchair
The Portuguese Parliament Had To Become Handicap Acessible Due To Having One Deputy On A Wheelchair. This Is The Result
Hospital Which I Work Has These Wheelchairs For The Patients
Accessibility Fail
For Those Who Feel They Aren't Quite Handicapped Enough...
This Handicap Ramp
For Disabled People On Stilts
Accessibility Fail
Extreme Wheelchairing
Wheelchair Friendly
Access For Disabled Wheelchair Users
Design Fail
"Wheelchair Access" For The Brave
It is also a way to increase the wheelchair-bound population, especially if someone is walking along absorbed on the cell phone. Is that an orthopedist next door?
This Wheelchair Ramp
Accessibility Fail
Accessibility Fail
Hats Off To The Genius Who Installed This Disabled Access Ramp
It's Just Up The Stairs
At Least Wheelchairs Can Reach The First Stair
So they’re saved from going up one extra stair? Good job, everyone!
Oh Yeah, You Could Get A Wheelchair In There No Problem
This locker is for disabled people because it is the only one that you can sit in front of. I would imagine this is to suit a particular person's needs. The sign is obviously not only for people who are in actual wheel-chairs, it is an immediately recognizable symbol!
In Thailand We Prioritize Accessibility For The Disabled
This Shop Sells Wheelchairs.
Accessibility Fail
I can’t help but notice what appears to be a wheelchair on its side just to the right of the steps...
Accessibility
Wheelchair Accessible Bathrooms With Stairs
I Suppose It's A Ramp - Sort Of.
Suicide Ramp
Accessibility Fail
Wheelchair Accessible Washrooms Are Located On The Second Floor. Just A Quick Trip Up The Escalator
Design Fail
This is the grave for the disabled people who went YOLO and tried some of the ramps shown in the other pictures.
Accessibility Fail
Accessibility Fail
This Wheelchair Ramp
Making Communities Accessible To Those In Wheelchairs
It is mindblowing to see they take the time to add these ramps yet are unable to see what idiots they are for missing the point.
This Handicapped Restroom Is Not Easy To Get Into In A Wheelchair
I could get in there, if that damn door handle wasn't that high! Though the door seems like a heavyweight door, which makes it a little bit more difficult. But still doable (for me). But the heavy door in combination with the step up makes it a little more challenging. That door handle would be the main problem for me. Plus.. not everyone in a wheelchair can use a heavyweight door.. or go up such a step.
Was Told To Post This Here: A Ramp For Disabled People That Ends In A Puddle
To be fair it looks they've realised their existing path is not accessible to everyone and tried to be more inclusive. It wouldn't surprise me if the metal ramp is a temporary measure. (By stating "temporary", I do, of course, mean a council's version of the word temporary, which could be anywhere between 2 months and 20 years.)
Found This In My City
This Wheelchair Entrance In A Park
This Wheelchair Ramp. If You Think It Is A Joke... No... It Is Not A Joke.
Accessibility Fail
The further down I go, the more I wander... JUST HOW FREAKING DULL ARE THESE ARCHITECTS? Although in defense of this one, if that below it is sand, it might have been half way in it when they made it. Maybe...
A Wheelchair Access Button On Top Of Staircase
This Recently Installed Wheelchair Accessible Route In My Neighborhood.
City officials should have to try all of this in a manual wheelchair before it gets signed off on
Accessibility Fail
didn't see the whole Picture.. "well, this one works out actually".. *scrolls down*.. "ohh"..
Wheelchair Service Reception, Up A Flight Of Stairs.
I think it is pointing to another door further round the building, this is just a fire exit
This Wheelchair Ramp In Pakistan
My Friend On A Wheelchair Took This Photo
This Wheelchair Ramp That Ends In A Wall
Disabled People Have To Learn How To Bunny Hop With Wheelchairs In Lithuania
Yes, A Disabled Access And... Oh Crap... (Exceter College, Oxford, England)
Ramps Of Death
How Are You Supposed To Get Up That First Bit In A Wheelchair
Wheelchair Ramp To A Staircase In A Mall In Haugesund, Norway
Sncf (France)
This Wheelchair Ramp In Spain
This Handicap "Accessable" Ramp
Accessibility Fail
Compared to some others, this one isn't really that bad. Sure, the slope is still too steep, but it's obviously an improvised solution made by someone who doesn't know what the slope should have been.
Most picures are hillarious, but the back story of them is grim. Typically, they reflect the attempt to meet some regulations rather than the willingness to include all people.
It mainly boils down to one thing - they never actually consult a disabled person or test it. Ramps must have grab rails and must be at a shallow angle. Anything 40 degrees or more is likely to be unusable. My mobility scooter cuts out if it goes that steep. My manual wheelchair would struggle to go safely up and down. Electric wheelchairs will likely suffer the same angle problem my scooter does. Steep angles are also no good for people who can walk but are not able to use stairs.
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These are just ridiculous and so dangerous. I can’t believe that there is so little consideration for people with disabilities.
I agree, it is degrading, makes me utterly furious!
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Most picures are hillarious, but the back story of them is grim. Typically, they reflect the attempt to meet some regulations rather than the willingness to include all people.
It mainly boils down to one thing - they never actually consult a disabled person or test it. Ramps must have grab rails and must be at a shallow angle. Anything 40 degrees or more is likely to be unusable. My mobility scooter cuts out if it goes that steep. My manual wheelchair would struggle to go safely up and down. Electric wheelchairs will likely suffer the same angle problem my scooter does. Steep angles are also no good for people who can walk but are not able to use stairs.
Load More Replies... These are just ridiculous and so dangerous. I can’t believe that there is so little consideration for people with disabilities.
I agree, it is degrading, makes me utterly furious!
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