Wheelchair Snow-Chains

Hello from snowy Salisbury!

We had about 4 inches (20 cm) yesterday and so as soon as the snow stopped falling I took the opportunity while the snow was dry and powdery to sweep a path across to my car from the front door. One advantage of using a wheelchair is that though it is cold and slippery trying to get about in this weather, one is more stable on four wheels than on two legs!

On reflection, perhaps the choice of my 'indoor slicks' on my wheelchair was a bit daft, I did end up in a few places wheel-spinning on the icy courtyard and thought I might get stuck in the snow! However, I finally cleared a path to my car and the sun has dried up the path so I'm able to get out to the car now and have just managed to clear the worst of the snow and ice off.


Not quite so straightforward was the electric security gate onto my courtyard, this needed some serious attention to de-ice the runners and get it working again. Fortunately I don’t have to go into the office today and can work from home, I am VERY tempted to take my Mini Cooper out for a jaunt in the snow but I think that can wait until tomorrow when I have a good and valid reason to make a journey.


I have hooked out my 'treaded' tyres for this RGK wheelchair, they ought to give a bit more grip when I go out today or tomorrow. One tip- when I have had very deep snow to contend with (back in the late 1970s) I bound thick nylon chord around my wheelchair tyres (sort of ad-hoc wheelchair snow-chains), this worked surprisingly well, if this weather keeps up I may have to resort to that again!

Disabled Parking and the UK

For those outside the UK there are some specifics to deal with.

• In the UK (and the EU) there is a Blue Badge scheme for people with the requisite level of dissability, this applies to the person not a specific vehicle (unliek int he USA where they have 'Handicapped' number plates- note your European Blue Badge does not cover you in the USA)
• See (http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/bluebadge/)
• the Blue Badge scheme works throughout the UK and Europe but with significant differences within adn between each country
• In the UK (excluding certain areas outside London and excluding Westminster within London) the general rules are:
• Badge holders may park on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours in England and Wales except where there is a ban on loading or unloading, and at a few locations where local schemes apply, such as parts of central London
• Parking Meters- Badge holders may park for free and for as long as they need to unless there is a traffic sign specifying a time limit for holders of disabled parking badges. You must display your Blue Badge.
• Marked Dissabled Parking Bays. Where a time limit is in force, you must also display the special blue parking disc showing your time of arrival. These have a Blue Badge sign (some may still be orange). You may park free and without time limit unless signs say otherwise (check local signs for information).
• Red Lines (London) A vehicle displaying a Blue Badge may stop on single or double red lines, but only to pick up or set down the badge holder. You are not allowed to pick up or set down Blue Badge holders at bus stops on red routes where there is also a wide white line. Parking on red routes is only allowed, if at all, at spaces specifically reserved for Blue Badge holders. You must always check the signs to see what concessions are available.
• Parking in Central London (specifically Westminster) is very difficult. Tehre are a linted number of 'Blue Badge' locations. DO NOT confuse these with spaces that are dedicated Dissabled Spaces for specifically registered vehicles OR for vehicles displaying a Westmisnter Dissabled parking permit, your Blue Badge WILL NOT cover you and you will get fined.
• See (http://bluebadge.direct.gov.uk/index.php?br_wid=1280&br_hgt=800)
• You can get 100% discount fromt he Congestion Charge in London, you need to apply for this so go to (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/6736.aspx)
• As well as the Blue Badge Scheme in England there is a scheme for qualifying people (with the severest level of dissability) to register their vehicle as the class of "Dissabled". This means that the yearly vehicle excist duty (road Tax) is free.
• See (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/MotoringAndTransport/Yourvehicleandlicence/DG_10028003)
• Such registration of a vehicle is needed in SOME UK areas to get relief from parkng charges (for example see my posting on Bridport)

I hope this helps!

UK - Salisbury Cathedral

Date January 2009

Country UK

County Wiltshire

City/Town/Area Salisbury

Location Cathedral

URL http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/

Notes

An unashamed promotion of my home-town this entry! I live and work in Salisbury and since moving here a few years ago I have visited many (though not all) of the places of interest in and around the city. However the cathedral (with the tallest spire in Europe) is an impressive place to visit be your reasons secular or sacred, and the well-known subject of John Constable’s famous painting.

Salisbury is a medieval city and the Cathedral is just over 750 years old. Set in the Close – a walled area closed from late evening until early morning and containing a number of notable houses, most of which are not open to the public and a leading school.


Accessibility
The Cathedral is flat access into the whole ground floor area including (via a short ramp) the choir area. The shop, restaurant and cloisters and the chapter house (where there is one of the few remaining copies of the Magna Carter) are also flat access.


The view of the Cathedral commonly known from Constable’s work is also accessible via the good quality path from Mill Road SSW to Harnham village where it passes the Old George Inn (good views, old pub, nice food and beer and a restaurant. This is reasonably accessible especially the restaurant for a manual or small electric wheelchair, though not for a large electric wheelchair or scooter.

Parking
Parking anywhere in Salisbury is a bit of a nightmare, but then in the 13th Century when it was mainly laid out on its present plan, that was not a consideration. There is limited parking in the Close for people with Blue disabled parking badges (see my blog entry on Parking and travel). Alternatively there is a large public car park 400 metres away.

Toilets
There are wheelchair accessible toilets in the restaurant and in the cloisters. Both would take a small electric wheelchair or a manual one but netiehr would accommodate a very large electric wheelchair or scooter.


Accommodation
I live here however, there are a number of hotels in Salisbury many have some accessible rooms.

Other/General
There is a trip up to the spire and into the roof of the cathedral but it is not accessible and one needs to be pretty fit to do the tour. It is however very worthwhile if you can manage it.


There are a lot of first-rate music events at the Cathedral and they do make provision for people with wheelchairs. Unfortunately for the very popular events (like the candle-lit Advent services) the area reserved for wheelchair users and their companions does not have the best of views and the ushers at these events tend to be elderly volunteers who may not fully understand your needs.

It is therefore worthwhile getting there early for any events and also checking before the event with the cathedral or whoever is selling the tickets about seating arrangements.


My Overall Accessibility Rating
9 out of a possible 10

USA - Lauray Caverns Virginia

Date August 2009

Country USA

State/County Virginia

City/Town/Area Lauray Caverns

Location Lauray, Virginia
URL http://www.luraycaverns.com/

 

Cliff in Lauray Caverns

Notes
This is a near unique find anywhere in the world. Over a mile and a half of caves that are accessible with a wheelchair. The are truly breathtaking and I had assumed since my accident that I would never go into such a place again until I visited them when out in Virginia visiting one of my sons.


I called them to check the situation:


“Hi I am thinking of visiting you but I am a wheelchair user, I know it’s unlikely but are the caverns accessible?”


“Yep”


Said in a tone that suggested it were inconceivable that they might not be!


Luray Caverns is located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, just 90 minutes from Washington, DC, 10 minutes from the central entrance to Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park, and 15 minutes from I-81 at New Market, Virginia.


Accessibility
You arrive in the visitor centre and then descend by wheelchair list into the caves. I used my manual wheelchair and a small electric one would fit but large electric wheelchairs or buggies might not- you can check and they are VERY helpful.


Some of the ramps in the caves are very steep and you may need a little pushing help. The paths are concrete and generally dry.


Parking
Ample, free and on site


Toilets
Lots of accessible toilets around but above ground only.


Accommodation
We did not stay over


Other/General
It was 38 C and 90% humidity when we went and the cool of the caves was very welcome.


My Overall Accessibility Rating
10 out of a possible 10

USA - Taliesin West

Date November 2009

Country USA

State Arizona

City/Town/Area Phoenix- Scottsdale

Location Taliesin West (Frank Lloyds Wright’s place)

URL http://www.franklloydwright.org/fllwf_web_091104/Home.html

Arizona Desert from the Highway

Notes
A fantastic place, what FLW lacked in implementation skills he more than made up for with creativity. The guide we had was excellent and this is one not to be missed, you do have to book in advance and allow plenty of time for the trip.

Accessibility

The building complex is generally single storey and the guided tour was straight forwards in a manual wheelchair. Some of the doors can be a little narrow (I estimate about 28 inches) and there a few steel short ramps.



Parking

Parking is on site and close to the site, get the map to find it though it can be a little intricate to get to the entrance

Toilets

There are accessible toilets on site but they are a little small to access for anything larger than a manual wheelchair or small electric one (tight turn in the gent’s).


Accommodation
We did not stay over.

 Other/General

There is NO CAFÉ at the site so get your caffeine fix in before you go and if it’s summer take plenty to drink.

My Overall Accessibility Rating

8 out of a possible 10

UK- Bridport West Bay

Date January 2nd 2010
Country UK- England
County Dorset
City/Town/Area Bridport- West Bay
Location At the harbour and various at West Bay
URL None

View from the end of

the West Harbour Wall

Notes
West Bay Bridport is a delightful place. Rather quirky and not ruined by commercialisation. Definitely a village by the sea but one with a working port and that does not have the air of a museum piece.

Accessibility
The area is pretty flat (unless you want to venture onto the steep coastal footpath!) with good paths and to the west about ½ mile seafront that takes you to just below the cliffs. The harbour also has good access and is flat and mostly smooth and I had no problem in my manual wheelchair.

Parking
There is plenty of parking however please note the Dorset CC regulations provide only for free disabled parking if the Vehicle registration class is “disabled”. This is a perverse action on the part of the County Council since it benefits only those who have a vehicle with such a registration class (i.e. those better-off and with the means to run the vehicle), whereas those without the means or who choose not to own a car are financially penalised.

Toilets
There are several sets of public toilets though when I went neither of the disabled access toilets were locked and in one case they were the only ones working.

Accommodation
We did not stay over but were there for the day and a picnic, however, we did have coffee in one of the many cafés and restaurants most of which seem to be accessible.

Other/General

The beach to the West is shingle and for a heavy-duty or outdoor wheelchair would probably be reasonably accessible (there is an access ramp to the West of the harbour down on to the beach). The beach to the East is sand and quite steep

My Overall Accessibility Rating

6 out of a possible 10