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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..

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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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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!

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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

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??

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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

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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

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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...

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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

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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

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

From this day on these creations will be known as "Wheeeeeeeelchair ramps".

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

I can see a lot of these bad ramp designs are in Russia. When I was there there were no ramps anywhere. So now they are adding them. However, not considering the extreme gradient of some of the stairs and making adjustments when needed.

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

When businesses do this, they should have to demonstrate how someone would use the ramp before they get city approval.

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

i couldn't look any further... just so disappointed of humans. ! ok ... but takes more than one person to be that dump to build this stuff ! whats wrong with us ?

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#23

"Wheelchair Access" For The Brave

"Wheelchair Access" For The Brave

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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

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kjorn avatar
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

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#27

Hats Off To The Genius Who Installed This Disabled Access Ramp

Hats Off To The Genius Who Installed This Disabled Access Ramp

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#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.