The Top 10 Wheelchair Accessible Cities of the US
Handicap Accessible Cities in the United States
Freedom of access and opportunity is a right protected by law for all Americans. However, unfortunately it is still just a dream for some citizens. An absence of wheelchair accessible options in services, travel, businesses, and more limits the freedom of wheelchair users, but their need is being seen. Many cities are moving to make opportunities open to all. United Access is proud to offer wheelchair accessible vehicle rentals to make travel even easier.
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation has compiled a list of the top 10 wheelchair accessible cities in the United States.
The list is based on a specific set of criteria to help determine the true accessibility and livability of a city for wheelchair users. Every disability manifests in different ways for different people, so no two wheelchair users needs and experiences are the same. While every city has more to do to improve accessibility, the criteria measured for this ranking were:
- Climate (extreme temperatures and annual snowfall)
- Air Quality
- Number of Physicians
- Number of Rehab Centers
- Number of Rehab Specialists
- Wheelchair Accessible Transit
- Number of Disabled Living in the Area, and Their Employment Rate
- Medicaid Availability
- Age of the City (older cities are harder to renovate)
The Top 10 Wheelchair Accessible Cities, as ranked by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation:
Lubbock, Texas
Home to a new Citibus bus system specifically designed to be accessible to full-sized wheelchairs and a consistently warm climate score big for wheelchair users here.
Orlando, Florida
A vast healthcare system, warm climate, and Lynx wheelchair accessible bus system place Orlando in a place to be proud of.
Winston-Salem, Virginia
The Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and Novant Health facilities carry this city to the 8th place position. Healthcare is king in Winston-Salem.
Birmingham, Alabama
The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority has nearly 2 dozen paratransit buses in operation. This paired with the University of Alabama in Birmingham and HealthSouth's medical resources make Birmingham a jewel of the South.
Chicago, Illinois
Despite the colder climate, the Windy City ranks high for making 90 of all 145 rail stations ADA compliant, and the Healthy Community Mapping System that the University of Illinois is creating for the city to track the actual accessibility of buildings, fitness centers, sidewalks, and stores is a big boon.
Portland, Oregon
Transportation is king in Portland. The city's buses, MAX light rail trains and streetcars all accommodate wheelchairs, but the TriMet transportation system's Lift service provides riders more than 250 minibusses and more than a dozen cars to take them around the city.
Denver, Colorado
All transportation options in the Mile-High City give wheelchair users priority seating. The Access-a-Ride program offers to take wheelchair users anywhere within a three-quarter mile radius of the transit system as well.
Reno, Nevada
Very little precipitation hits this city, making overall travel easier for all. Reno also gives disabled riders of public transportation a discount on each and every ride.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
With 3 major hospitals in tow, mild winters, and the city's 100% ADA compliant ABQ Ride bus and bus rapid transit services, this city is hard to contend with for wheelchair accessibility.
Seattle, Washington
Harborview Medical Center, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center, University of Washington Medical Center and the VA all call Seattle home, and all 5 are made wheelchair accessible by Sound Transit's bus and light rail lines. Paratransit van service supplements this service as well. Metro Transit, meanwhile, offers a shared ride program, a map of accessible downtown routes and reduced fares.
