Three Unexpected Accessibility Travel Discoveries

AUDIO VERSION

By Linda Bartram

Walking around Athens, I was surprised to discover guidance tactile walking surface indicators (TWSI) everywhere we went.  Even the sidewalks on small side streets (many of which were not in very good condition) had tactile grooves to guide my way.  One of the challenges of going sighted guide is you just don’t have enough hands.  With these tactile grooves, I could walk independently, using my white cane in one hand and towing my suitcase with the other.  And the guidance TWSI in the metro was brilliant!  They were very easy to follow and led to the gates, elevators, escalators and stairs, with decision points easy to distinguish from the guidance track.  I had experienced these in Vienna a few years earlier and now expect to see them incorporated into all future Sky Train expansions in Vancouver.

Another surprise was the discovery that British pound notes now have a similar tactile identification system to the one we have on Canadian currency.  The five-pound note had no tactile symbol, the ten (if my memory is correct) had one tactile symbol and the twenty had two.  The British notes also varied in size from one another, the five being the smallest.  The euros used in Greece also varied in size, but without the tactile markings were not as easy to identify unless you had a five, ten and twenty to compare.

The last accessibility surprise was British Rail’s assistance system.  They have call buttons when you enter the station (usually near the elevator) to request assistance.  BritRail staff provided guiding assistance and managed our luggage.  They escorted us through the gate, to our seats on the train, stowing our luggage on the way.  Upon arrival, we were met at the door of our train car and guided to the exit and taxis.  If you had a bit of a wait, the larger stations had enclosed, dedicated and staffed accessibility areas which were quiet and gently air conditioned.  A welcome relief from the heat wave we experienced while in London!  A BritRail pass and travel assistance is definitely the way to travel around England and Scotland. 

In my last post, I’ll write about the described and tactile tours I enjoyed during my travels.