Hi. I'm a wheelchair user. It's only reasonably recently that the buses here had a restraint system that can lock my chair in place added, before that I needed to hold on to a bar next to me, which destroyed my shoulders.
Uber decimated the taxi industry, the pandemic finished them off, and now taxis need to be sent from one town over, and those drivers don't accept my government subsidy card.
At my fittest, I could push my chair about 10km per day.
I live in London which has all-but banned cars in the city centre (they're not banned, but there is an expensive congestion charge which means that in practice most traffic in the centre is buses, taxis, or very wealthy people).
However, there is an exception for anyone with a "blue badge" holder (for those with disabilities which prevent easy mobility - wheelchair users and others). These people not only get free car access to the city centre (which now has a lot less traffic because nobody else is driving there), but also get to park in places that most people are not allowed to, etc.
You are a wheelchair user, yes, but you don't really address the parent. The parent is saying that we should make society more accomodating, which you acknowledge with mention of restraint systems on public transport. I take it that's what they're asking, so you don't "need" a car, but have viable options everywhere.
10k is a respectfull number on an ordinary wheel chair. I know two wheel chair users who use an armbicycle, like an extra motor assisted handcrank that is attached on their wheelchair. They easily do about 15km per day (considering they have no car and live 8km from work).
That you need a car is not a given but as you say a result from stupid decisions you can't control.
Sounds like well designed transit and taxis would serve you to some extent. As would microcars or an electric third wheel.
None of these things prevent you from having a car, and driving in areas that prioritise them is safer, faster, and more pleasant for the people that need cars.
Car dependency does eliminate transport for all of the people with disabities that prevent them from driving though.
And this should make you angry. No one should be reliant on a car. Everyone should have access to a robust public transportation system. Even if that means you personally get a subsidized van to take you where you need to go. Subsidized so it costs the same as a bus ride.
voltagex_|3 years ago
Uber decimated the taxi industry, the pandemic finished them off, and now taxis need to be sent from one town over, and those drivers don't accept my government subsidy card.
At my fittest, I could push my chair about 10km per day.
I need a car.
nicoburns|3 years ago
However, there is an exception for anyone with a "blue badge" holder (for those with disabilities which prevent easy mobility - wheelchair users and others). These people not only get free car access to the city centre (which now has a lot less traffic because nobody else is driving there), but also get to park in places that most people are not allowed to, etc.
davisoneee|3 years ago
adrianN|3 years ago
pastage|3 years ago
That you need a car is not a given but as you say a result from stupid decisions you can't control.
Schroedingersat|3 years ago
None of these things prevent you from having a car, and driving in areas that prioritise them is safer, faster, and more pleasant for the people that need cars.
Car dependency does eliminate transport for all of the people with disabities that prevent them from driving though.
Broken_Hippo|3 years ago
And this should make you angry. No one should be reliant on a car. Everyone should have access to a robust public transportation system. Even if that means you personally get a subsidized van to take you where you need to go. Subsidized so it costs the same as a bus ride.