On the surface it would seem that rideshare services like Lyft would make accessible transportation more available to people with disabilities. But that’s definitely not the case in the San Francisco area, and DRA Legal is trying to do something about it. More specifically they filed a class action lawsuit against Lyft last month, in an effort to compel the company to provide wheelchair-accessible services in the San Francisco area. Continue reading
Grand Canyon Maswik Lodge Renovation Project Breaks Ground
Great news – Xanterra broke ground this month on their massive $30 million renovation project at Maswik Lodge in the Grand Canyon. They will totally demolish and replace the five buildings that comprise Maswik South, and repair and replace the infrastructure around them. Continue reading
Excellent Route 66 Guide
As a self-defined Route 66 junkie, I’m thrilled to see more guidebooks on the Mother Road. Some are better than others, and that’s certainly the case with Amy Bizzarri’s, The Best Hits on Route 66. If nothing else this well-illustrated guide gets you in the mood for a road trip; but beyond that, it’s filled with useful information on a plethora of roadside attractions along the way. Continue reading
New Wheelchair-Accessible European River Cruise Ship Unveiled
There’s a new accessible river cruise ship in town and her name is MS Viola. Not to be confused with AmaWaterways AmaViola, this Phoenix Reisen ship was recently gutted and refitted to be wheelchair accessible. Even better, Phoenix Reisen — a Germany-based travel agency — is working in conjunction with Malteser Hilfsdienst and Runa Reisen to offer a seamless travel experience to wheelchair-users and slow walkers. Continue reading
Jetstar in Hot Water Again
Ian Smith had an unfortunate end to his Fiji cruise last month, when Jetstar refused to let him travel back to his home in New South Wales from Melbourne. And although Smith is a wheelchair-user, that wasn’t the reason for the denied boarding.
O’Hare Airport Boasts New Ultra Accessible Restroom
Accessible restroom sign
Chicago’s O’Hare airport has been getting some bad press lately, with the recent United wheelchair incident; however there’s also some good access news coming out of the Windy City’s popular airport. Continue reading
New Grand Canyon Access Resource Now Available
Just in time for the 100th birthday of Grand Canyon National Park, I’ve released my newest accessible travel title — Barrier-Free Travel; The Grand Canyon for Wheelers and Slow Walkers (www.barrierfreegrandcanyon.com). Not only does this helpful resource include Grand Canyon access information for wheelchair-users and slow walkers, but it also features a comprehensive access guide to Arizona’s Interstate 40 and Route 66.
Hong Kong Airlines Denies Passage to Solo Wheelchair Passenger
Early this month Hong Kong Airlines denied passage to a wheelchair-user who was traveling alone. Twenty-two year old Shen Chengqing was scheduled to travel from Hong Kong to Tianjin, but airport staff refused to check her in when they discovered she was traveling solo. According to Chengqing, she notified the reservation agent that she used a wheelchair when she bought her ticket.
So what happened? Continue reading
E-Scooter Companies Called to Task for Alleged ADA Violation
Bird Scooters
E-scooters are all the rage these day. These compact electric scooters are popping up all over it seems; and startup companies like Bird, Lime and Razor now offer affordable rentals through shared ride smart phone apps. It sounds like a win-win proposition, doesn’t it?
Well, not exactly. Continue reading
Wheelchair-User Forced to Crawl off United Flight
I absolutely hate writing posts like this, mostly because in this day and age things like this just shouldn’t happen. The Air Carrier Access Act was passed in 1986, yet I continue to get reports of gross access failures of US airlines. Continue reading