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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

unknown Report

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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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#4

This Crosswalk For The Handicapped

This Crosswalk For The Handicapped

Silker3612 Report

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

Thanks, I only needed to get halfway across the road, anyway.

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

REALLY?????? Posts in the way ANNND a hump in the middle of the road? Forrest Gump had more brains!

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

It's to slow them down, we all know how fast they go in their wheelchairs!! :P

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

Agreed about Amazon . That’s the only way I can shop now for 99% of what I need. So I don’t know whether to thank it or curse it.

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

Thats the trick shot crosswalk. You have to bunnyhop over to cross.

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

In my city, the Council "adapted" the streets for people in wheelchairs by cutting the curbs, only the curb, in a 45° angle. It's totally useless! A month ago I saw an elderly man who was trying to "climb" one of these ramps; he fell backward and hit his head really hard on the street. I can still hear the sound of his head banging the stones. The Council hasn't done anything to solve the problem, so more "accidents" are going to happen sooner or later. Nobody cares...

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

The runway's a little short, but with a good strong push from the launch pad, the chair and rider may just hit that center island without landing flat his face. So potentially, cars on either side could have

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

Could have? This guys getting it coming or going. Let's hope the rider is blind or he'd be freaking out.

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

Also, one post needs to be removed. At least from here, it looks like it would be a slight squeeze. Why not remove one post for an extra wide opening. Space is an okay thing to have:)

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

It kinda bugs me that they couldn't color in the lines, too

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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

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

HelenaohneH Report

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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

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#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

javatastisch Report

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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

GeneReddit123 Report

#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

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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.