San Francisco, CA -

“If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair…” and be prepared for a city with steep hills. Growing up in the East Bay Area about 30 minutes from San Francisco, I have experienced this city pre and post spinal cord injury and know the challenges of exploring it. Even when I was not in a chair, getting around the city by foot was an extreme workout.  Now that I am in a manual wheelchair the natural hilly terrain is like climbing a mountain.  However, there are ways of conquering this great west coast city with a little planning.

Whenever I go travel to a city, I rather use as little transportation as possible because I like to wander around a city and maybe even get lost. This way, I see more than what I have planned. In San Francisco, it is best to have a general destination in mind and then explore the surroundings as much as you are able to. The landscape around many popular attractions is generally flat; it’s just getting from one attraction to the next where you are likely to run into hilly obstacles.

For one, there are handicapped parking spots available if you are driving but finding open ones can be a challenge in itself. In California if you can find a meter spot and display a handicapped placard then parking is free. However, pay attention to any restrictions such as restricted days because you will be ticketed if not towed. If no open parking meter is available then there are public parking garages but this method gets expensive quickly, so if you are on a budget then keep circling the area for an open meter. Because of these difficulties, it’s recommended that you don’t drive while in San Francisco.

San Francisco has the best public transportation system in California. There are the familiar bus and taxi services that provide wheelchair accommodations but better yet there is the Bay Area Rapid Transport (BART) and Municipal Transportation Agency (MUNI). MUNI includes buses, under and above ground streetcars, and trolleys. Using these two transportation services can get you almost anywhere in the city, epically to the most desired areas. You may have to walk a few blocks but it is better that way because you’ll see more of the city. Furthermore, both of these transportation services are totally wheelchair accessible.

BART is fantastic to get you to general areas of San Francisco as well as other cities in the Bay Area. Every station has accessible elevators to get you to the loading platform which are flat and make for an easy transfer right onto BART. In other words, there are no ramps or anything like that to slow down the boarding process.  In all the BART cars there designated spaces just for the handicapped for your comfort if you want to stay in your wheelchair. The problem with BART is that the ticket scanners are not accessible by design, so each time you stop at a station instead of running your ticket through the stand like everyone else you have to find an information booth and have an employee do it for you. Although this inconvenience is annoying, it does not take much time to deal with so bear with the process.

Sometimes BART will take you right where you want to go but sometimes it won’t. In many cases MUNI is the best solution and many stations are connected in the place that BART is just on a different floor or can be seen above ground on the streets of San Francisco. The price to ride MUNI as of 2010 is 0.75 cents for disabled riders compared to $2 for able-bodies. One, three or seven day passes are available and a good idea. When using the aboveground streetcar it’s important that you tell the conductor you are on board and where you are going. The conductor needs to know this because it changes how the streetcar lets people off. If there is a wheelchair bound guest on board there is a special platform the train can pull right up to but cannot back up so if the conductor is unaware or gets notice too late then you’ll have to wait for the next station which could be much further out of your way.

Here are a few examples on how to use the BART and MUNI system. If you are looking to go to Pac Bell Park where the Giants play, then MUNI is your best option. If you are an A’s fan, on the other hand, BART drops you right off at the coliseum in Oakland. BART also has a direct connection to the San Francisco and Oakland airports.  The piers are a very popular attraction and include Pier 39, the Ferry Building, Fisherman’s Warf, and Alcatraz to name a few. They all run along the Embarcadero which is actually a BART stop near the Ferry Building. The Embarcadero goes for miles though and is an enjoyable stroll if that’s what you want to do. However, if you are in a hurry to get down to the Fisherman’s Wharf, for example, which is near the end then you should take aboveground MUNI streetcar. If going to see a Broadway play at the historic Orpheum Theater then the underground light rail MUNI system is your best mode of transportation. My last example would be to take BART to the Powell station if looking to do a little shopping. Right at Powell there is a large four story indoor mall and just a few blocks away is Union Square a very popular area with lots of shopping, restaurants, and attractions.

For more information on accessible BART services, including how to get discounted tickets visit them online. At the bottom of the page you will find language translation options.

Information regarding updates, fees, and what MUNI stations are accessible, visit them online. There is also helpful information regarding the bus system on this website.

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Boston, MA –

It is certainly possible for someone in a manual wheelchair to travel the streets of Boston without taking any form of public transportation; however it all depends on one’s stamina and endurance because there are slight inclines and well, using a manual wheelchair regardless takes some muscle.

However, the subway in Boston, known as “The T,” is a great system if you want or need to take a break. It’s important to plan out your journey before hand though because not every stop is wheelchair accessible; many are but pick up a public transportation map at any station or information booth found around the city.

For those who are disabled there is a reduced fare and you should ask a ticket attendant for help if you cannot find this discounted option. For the stations that are accessible there are usually elevators and special ticket gates for your comfort. Furthermore, some of the smaller stations around the city that are accessible might have ramps, like the one shown below close to the Museum of Fine Art, Boston.

Wheelchair Guide: Boston, MA