A Guidebook for Disabled Travelers

Enjoying a street entertainer on Fisherman's Wharf - photos by Charles Pannell

In a new article up on GoNOMAD, an excerpt from a new guidebook by Candy Harrington, entitled 101 Accessible Vacations: Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkerstalks about how to travel and get around in San Francisco if you’re disabled. Harrington lists a number of activities, places to go, and how to get around. Here’s a short clip.

Several taxi companies, including Yellow Cab and Town Taxi, have taxi vans with ramp access and wheelchair tie-downs. The fares are the same for accessible taxis as for standard taxis, but they can be difficult to find on the street. The best course of action is to call the taxi company directly or have your hotel doorman get one for your.

BART operates an underground train system which runs along Market Sreet and serves the downtown tourist area. It also connects to several other BART lines and stops at the International Terminal at the San Francisco International Airport.

All BART stations are accessible by elevator, however it’s not uncommon for elevators to be out of service. Plan ahead, check with the BART elevator hotline and always have an alternate route or stop in mind, just in case of an elevator breakdown.

Additionally, San Francisco Muni operates a bus and train system. The trains feature roll-on access and the buses have lifts, kneelers and wheelchair tie-downs. A free Muni Access Guide, which details accessible services throughout the system, is available from the Muni Accessible Services office.

Of course you have to make some choices and decisions when visiting San Francisco, as it’s literally impossible to see everything. Fisherman’s Wharf tops my must-see list, as it offers a wide variety of food options, lots of street entertainment and the best people-watching west of the Mississippi. You’ll find plenty of curb-cuts, accessible parking and level access throughout the wharf area.

You can read the entire article at GoNOMAD.com