One thing that I’ve definitely noticed in Copenhagen is the difference in accessibility. Although I have seen some modifications to make these very old buildings more accessible, the restroom entrance shown in today’s Wordless Wednesday photos was an extreme example of a lack of access. I didn’t have a tape measure handy, but I think you can get the gist.
Approaching the restroom in this museum, you pass through a room where you are invited to write on a post-it note what makes you happy:
When we passed through the doorway to hang up our coats, I saw the restroom sign and wondered where it could be since it seemed like a dead end:
Here is my foot for scale – the restroom sign is out the door and to my left:
The U.S. Access Board’s ADA Guide includes a helpful animation showing how someone using a wheelchair would maneuver through a doorway. Clearly, it would be impossible to maneuver through the doorway above in a wheelchair. Below is a public restroom near Rosenborg Castle that takes accessibility into account:
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Lori Is the restroom to the left side of the picture from your foot?
Also no wheelchair could make it even that far as the inaccessible step up.
The toilet was behind me in the photo that shows my foot. I was standing in the doorway of the restroom at that point, facing out.
Yes, the step is another issue, along with the steps to get down into the museum.
– Lori
Lori,
Thanks for the lovely pics from overseas. As an American travelling, you bring up some great points by looking at things through the filter of American Culture. While I am enjoying the pics and am a little jealous of your travels, I am brought back to earth remembering that ADA does not apply over there. Keep showing us the world. I am loving it.
Thanks for saying so – I’m glad you like the photos! I’ll have to get back to reality soon, and it’s getting cold here! 😀
– Lori
I just spent 6 weeks in Europe, 4 in Netherlands and 2 in Portugal. Anyone expecting accessibility in Europe is dreaming. Unless it was a recent building or remodel (Rijksmusem comes to mind), buildings and streets (hello Amsterdam) in general are just not accessible. Cobbles, lack of railings near drop-offs to water, you name it. As one of my traveling buddies noted somewhat tartly, goes to speak of the benefits of a national health system where your injuries would be covered regardless of fault. Will have to send you a pic of a crane maneuvering a rather large heavy rebar cage for a transit project next to a pedestrian path with a flimsy chain link fence separating the path from the work. To these tired old eyes the opportunity for mishaps was astonishing. No mollycoddling the public there.
Hi Craig –
One thing I have noticed is the detectable warnings for people who are blind – on the streets and in the Metro. I was just pointing out the canal drop-off yesterday – that was kind of surprising to me, especially after seeing how the Metro is different from most of the US subways I’ve seen. No one can fall or be pushed onto the tracks here.
– Lori