♿ Top 10 cities friendly to tourists with disabilities

Understanding of the importance of a barrier-free environment for people with disabilities is gaining momentum every year. Countries around the world are trying to become more and more comfortable for life and tourism. The Valuable 500 organization conducted a study and compiled a ranking of cities recognized as the “most accessible” for people with disabilities.

Criteria for assessing cities:

• Availability of availability information. A tourist needs to know in advance whether the city has everything necessary for barrier-free living and travel.
• Safety and recognition (close familiarity with the area). This point is important for both people with disabilities and elderly travelers. The absence of cultural differences and language barriers, clear signs and directions encourage many survey participants to travel to the cities of their country.
• Accessible infrastructure such as sidewalks, curbs, tactile pavement with surface indicators, functional lifts.
• Discounts for disabled people or other benefits, such as free entry for yourself and an accompanying person, skipping queues for both domestic and foreigners.
• Treating people with disabilities with respect and understanding the needs. Empathy and kindness cannot remove physical barriers, but they greatly reduce them. For example, Disneyland has a very developed inclusivity, not only in terms of architecture, but also in attitude, which attracts tourists with disabilities to these entertainment centers.

So let's look at the cities that are best suited for people with disabilities.

1 Amsterdam, Netherlands

Here, equal treatment is considered so important that it is enshrined in law.

In the most cycling city in the world, you can rent an adapted bicycle, including one with a wheelchair. Almost all public transport is available and has an online trip planner. And museums conduct special audio and tactile tours.

However, old buildings , metro trains and trams may be difficult to reach. A specially equipped taxi car must be ordered at least 24 hours in advance.

The cobblestone streets will create difficulties for wheelchair users and the visually impaired. 

Additionally, practical resources on travel information for people with disabilities are difficult to find. 

2 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

The authorities of this city do not act from altruistic motives. It is beneficial for them to invest in a barrier-free environment and attract money to the budget.

Hotels in the city are equipped with all kinds of lifts, such as ceiling lifts or for swimming pools, additional wheelchairs and scooters. And even plans have been developed to evacuate people with disabilities. What can we say about the comfort of the rooms? There are also excellent pedestrian roads and budget transport.

The casino offers its visitors to play using Braille or cards with large pictures, and if manual dexterity fails, then robotic machines will help.

Vegas also has attractions, including a Ferris wheel and a cable car.

However, some popular tourist attractions, such as the Bellagio Fountains, are difficult to access by wheelchair. Ubiquitous carpeting and crowds of people can also be a major obstacle.

Questions also arise due to the lack of information about the accessibility of the city for people with disabilities.

3 London, UK

Local authorities have made a lot of efforts to remove architectural barriers and make the city attractive for tourism.

There is enough information available to people with disabilities to plan their holidays and excursions.

London has good sidewalks and pedestrian paths, equipped with visual and audio signals.

Transport is equipped, except for the metro – only a third of stations have stepless access. Also, the authorities have directed all efforts to improve the famous black cabs, which are technically suitable for wheelchair users, but are not entirely comfortable.

Hearing induction loops and guide dogs are available throughout.

And thanks to the 2012 Paralympic Games, which took place in London, there are no problems finding a suitable hotel.

4 New York, USA

Throughout the city, especially in Manhattan, there are Link-NYC kiosks with free Wi-Fi, charging, hearing loops, Braille and more.

There are many specialized rooms in hotels. Museums and attractions tend to be inclusive, too. New York City gets the highest marks for providing accessible information that allows people with disabilities to plan their trip and avoid disappointment or worse.

All buses and ferries, as well as most land trains and stations, are wheelchair accessible. And in New York you can order a shared ride in an adapted taxi.

On the downside: most metro stations are not suitable for people with disabilities.

5 Orlando, Florida, USA

Orlando attracts tourists with its theme parks, which are accessible not only to wheelchair users, but also to visitors with low vision or hearing, cognitive and sensory impairments.

Among the intangible advantages: in Orlando, people with disabilities will not have to stand in lines. And hotels, transport and entertainment offer more and more inclusive services every year.

6 Paris, France

One of the world's most visited cities is hard at work improving the accessibility of its infrastructure and transport ahead of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

The transport situation is very similar to that in London and New York. Entrance to the Louvre, as well as to almost any other museum, is free for people with disabilities and their accompanying persons. You won't have to stand in line. And, remarkably, you can climb over the protective barrier and place yourself right in front of the Mona Lisa.

Information about places accessible to people with disabilities is constantly updated with new locations. The guide to Paris can be downloaded and printed. Special logos are placed at the entrance to establishments that promote the development of a barrier-free environment.

7 Shanghai, China

Clear signage and adapted public transport are what tourists who find themselves in Shanghai note. On the one hand, this is true, metro stations are adapted for people with disabilities, but on the other hand, it is quite difficult to find street lifts. Only 11% of bus routes provide barrier-free transport. Despite good sidewalks and curbs in the city center, wheelchair access to many stores and restaurants is limited.

Most attractions and museums also try to offer accessible facilities, but like the metro, there are few lifts.

There is no information to help you plan your trip to Shanghai. There are not so many adapted hotels either. 

Although the city was included in the list of the most inclusive cities, wheelchair users may face insurmountable difficulties here.

8 Singapore

This city-state is one of the few that has introduced a barrier-free environment scheme not only for wheelchair users, but also for people with vision loss, hearing loss and others. For example, the elderly and disabled are given a card that gives them extra time to cross the road. 

Sidewalks and curbs in Singapore are in excellent condition. About 95% of Singapore's walkways and bus stops are accessible to wheelchair users, the elderly and travelers with sensory impairments.

In terms of rapid transit, all stations have wheelchair accessible toilets and wide access doorways, clear and tactile signage, visual and audible indicators in elevators, on platforms and on trains. Flashing red lights also warn hearing-impaired users when train doors are closing.

Cons: Availability information could use some work.

9 Sydney, Australia

Sydney has plenty of accessible accommodation for people with a disability, close to attractions, shops and restaurants. Most establishments are wheelchair accessible, but many still have problems with toilet access.

Public transport is constantly updated and improved.

The “Legible Sydney” project has been developed for blind and visually impaired residents and visitors of the city. Connecting Sydney's central streets, this wayfinding system uses more than 2,100 tactile and Braille road signs, pedestrian-friendly maps and signposts.

The only reason this city is at the bottom of the list is because Australia is too far away.

10 Tokyo, Japan

Tactile ground indicators were invented in Japan, so it's no surprise that they're ubiquitous here.

The main streets of the city are well equipped with curbs. Smaller streets often have no sidewalk, so people in wheelchairs share the roads with cars and bicycles. Access to shops and restaurants can be problematic: space constraints in Tokyo mean shops are often cramped.

As for the culture of behavior, a traveler with a disability, if necessary, will be personally escorted to the desired platform by railway and metro employees!

It is better to choose accommodation and order a taxi in advance. Otherwise, attractions and picturesque parks with sakura and bamboos are available for visiting.