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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!

#1

To Invite A Disabled Man To Talk About Accessibility..

To Invite A Disabled Man To Talk About Accessibility..

bebesiege Report

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."

#2

If You Aren't Already In A Wheelchair, You Will Be After This

If You Aren't Already In A Wheelchair, You Will Be After This

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jonvintage85 avatar
Cactuar Jon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*person in a wheelchair* "Nah, it's fine. Think I'll take the stairs" 😅

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#3

Extreme Wheelchairing!

Extreme Wheelchairing!

OlivierDeCarglass Report

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Lauren Caswell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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!

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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.".

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#5

Being Handicapped In Cabo San Lucas Is Apparently An Extreme Sport. (Fb Friend's Vacation Pic)

Being Handicapped In Cabo San Lucas Is Apparently An Extreme Sport. (Fb Friend's Vacation Pic)

Just_some_n00b Report

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miluge2001 avatar
Pan Da
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well they did put the plant to slow you down ... so ...

jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They're just missing the big net at the bottom to catch you.

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Kathi Keegan Chang
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pan Da-- at least there's a sense of humor here, but NOT for the disable. Still, glad you posted it!

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Kim Bush
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From the condition of the carpet it's not somewhere I'd want to be in the first place

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Kanga9ine
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I say put a pool at the bottom and have the speaker deliver his talk underwater. Throw in a few fish and sell drink in pineapples with little umbrellas. And the weight of the chair would keep the guy from floating away.

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Kanga9ine
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I say get you miracles where you can. The plant could have been a big cactus or two.

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Taffy Lindley
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah that explains it, Mexico. Sad Fact, they are not strictly beholden to building regulations. Stateside that would be a fine and would be fixed asap... Mexico, better ask the Cartels for help fixing that; response will be quicker

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Gemma Lees
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know that it's the PC term in the US, but "handicapped" is used as an insult in the UK and I'm not used to seeing it written down so much! Reminds me of the other day when an older lady used "r******d" in relation to my son. My teeth itched!

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Master Markus
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just asking - what would you say here instead? I guess in this sentence it would be just "having to use a wheelchair". From what I've heard "wheelchair user" is the least offensive term.

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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!

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#7

Accessibility Fail

Accessibility Fail

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Foxxy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At first I thought, what’s the problem this is a lift. Then I saw the step. 🤦‍♀️

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#10

How Is This Supposed To Work??

How Is This Supposed To Work??

reddit.com Report

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Possibly someone pointing out that there are no spots reserved for people with disabilities.

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#11

Because F**k You For Being In A Wheelchair

Because F**k You For Being In A Wheelchair

loveableterror Report

#12

The Portuguese Parliament Had To Become Handicap Acessible Due To Having One Deputy On A Wheelchair. This Is The Result

The Portuguese Parliament Had To Become Handicap Acessible Due To Having One Deputy On A Wheelchair. This Is The Result

imgur.com Report

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Hans
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Had To Become Handicap Acessible" any building of an authority, and any building with a public function (such as hotels, bathrooms, libraries etc.) should be handicap accessible. Otherwise it prevents handicapped people from participating in a regular life!

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#13

Hospital Which I Work Has These Wheelchairs For The Patients

Hospital Which I Work Has These Wheelchairs For The Patients

gui_kiddi Report

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Troux
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This seems incredibly resourceful. Where is this? That model would be $4,500 not covered by insurance in the US.

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#14

Accessibility Fail

Accessibility Fail

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troux avatar
Troux
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, the rail guy flew in to protect people from the ramp guy.

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#15

For Those Who Feel They Aren't Quite Handicapped Enough...

For Those Who Feel They Aren't Quite Handicapped Enough...

OctopussSevenTwo Report

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Rissie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's with these wheelchair slides? Are people really that stupid? Or just lazy?

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#20

Wheelchair Friendly

Wheelchair Friendly

Kotejichizu Report

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Anne
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is where code meets regulation.. Code says you have to have a banister.. regulation says you need a ramp.

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#21

Access For Disabled Wheelchair Users

Access For Disabled Wheelchair Users

4Kmemento Report

#23

"Wheelchair Access" For The Brave

"Wheelchair Access" For The Brave

dtrford Report

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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?

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#24

This Wheelchair Ramp

This Wheelchair Ramp

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#25

Accessibility Fail

Accessibility Fail

andraseits Report

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Kjorn
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we can see 2 cup… so people just pee outside and let their cups outside the bathroom

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#26

Accessibility Fail

Accessibility Fail

BaptouB Report

#27

Hats Off To The Genius Who Installed This Disabled Access Ramp

Hats Off To The Genius Who Installed This Disabled Access Ramp

sdalferth Report

#29

At Least Wheelchairs Can Reach The First Stair

At Least Wheelchairs Can Reach The First Stair

Juju1990 Report

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So they’re saved from going up one extra stair? Good job, everyone!

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#30

Oh Yeah, You Could Get A Wheelchair In There No Problem

Oh Yeah, You Could Get A Wheelchair In There No Problem

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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!

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Note: this post originally had 81 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.