Valerie AuroraIt’s weird to me when people frame calls for bike-friendly infrastructure as in conflict with disability accommodation. Make a city good for biking requires lots of smooth curbless bike paths that are perfect for mobility scooters, much better than trying to use your scooter on the road or the sidewalk. I see people zipping around on their mobility scooters everywhere in Amsterdam. They also have these tiny little cars for people with disabilities that are allowed to use all bike infrastructure
Bike-friendly infrastructure goes hand in hand with public transit, which can and should be wheelchair accessible, much more than taxis or private cars. And then e-bikes add a whole class of people who can’t comfortably ride a regular bike but aren’t ready to use a mobility scooter to the group of people who can zip around the city independently. I’ve seen so many disability accommodations on bikes here, even bikes driven by arm power as well as recumbent and tricycle bikes.
And then for people for whom taxis or private cars are still the best option, guess what! The roads aren’t clogged with a bunch of people going very slowly, being angry with each other, and transporting giant useless hunks of metal everywhere. Unload your wheelchair or mobility scooter near one of the many curb cuts without a huge line of cars honking behind you. Bike-friendly infrastructure is disability-friendly infrastructure; most apparent conflict comes from car-first infrastructure.
Just saw 3 mobility scooters on the bike path on my 10 minute bike ride, including one used by a minor with their guardian walking beside them. There’s lots more to do for disability access but excellent bike infrastructure is an important step
Nazani@vaurora Let's take weather into account, too. In theory, I could use an ability-adapted bike to get to the grocery store or appointments 20 miles away, but would it be safe for me to be outside for an hour + in very hot or cold weather? No.
Dazzling Urbanite