Handicapped travel in Washington, DC, can be harrowing unless you know some of the ways to get around ahead of time.
Washington, DC is one of the most popular travel destinations in the US. Yet, for handicapped people, it presents a unique set of challenges, especially for traveling alone. But if you know about these ahead of time, your stay can be very enjoyable.
Call in advance to find out about the accommodations for access, and ask in detail about the surrounding areas. It does no good to have an accessible hotel room, when it is the only place you can go in the neighborhood!
Since it is a historical city, some of the buildings in DC not on the sightseeing lists of most tourists are not retrofitted to accept wheelchairs and scooters; and some of the outlying portions of the city (Georgetown, in particular) seem to have only a passing interest in accommodating them at all. I did see one shop owner try to provide a makeshift ramp for one customer, but in general, the prevailing mood in historical buildings is chilly toward wheels.
Of course, there is plenty of access in any of the buildings built in the last 15-20 years, and almost all of the museums, restaurants, and hotels do fall into this category. One note here, though: Malls and small stores tend to overfill their shops with too much of whatever they sell, making it difficult for larger powerchairs and scooters to have access to aisles without dragging some of the merchandise to the front of the store with them. Many of the staff, however, are helpful in bringing things to you for inspection, but if you are a browsing shopper, as I am, this can turn a quiet afternoon of window shopping into a test of wills, as the cashier believes you should buy something for all of the "trouble" they went through to accommodate you. I sometimes solve the problem by just getting the staff to move every piece of everything that hinders my shopping; but you know your own tolerance for aggravation.
The other problems for handicapped persons in getting around in DC involve actual public transportation from point-to-point. While it is true that the Metrorail system is accessible, it is not easy to ride. There is constant jostling, no matter which way you turn; and if your vehicle does not have very good brakes, there is also the possibility of running into other passengers (since the ridership of Metro has gone up dramatically over the last 3 years, and trains tend to be crowded at almost anytime).
Buses are an alternative, but with their own set of caveats: Considering the fact that the majority of the fleet is aging, and the portion of the group that does have hydraulic lifts tends to be problematic, if you are on a schedule to be some place on time: The buses tend to be late, with little or no replacement for broken-down buses, leaving gaps in the schedules of 15 to 60 minutes or more, likely causing you to miss a transfer connection. Therefore, the chances of getting where you want to be on time are significantly reduced.
The part of this story that shines a ray of hope, however, is that Metro has an information number which - if you have the patience to be put on hold for 10-15 minutes - will connect you, hopefully, to an operator who can tell you which buses to catch, and can provide you with all the Metro services and phone numbers currently offered to handicapped people. And if no lift bus is scheduled at the time you need it, they can schedule one for you, with 24 hours' notice.
That brings us to the other possible mode of getting around: pedestrian. This is really the nicest way to enjoy the best parts of the city, with ample parks, and spectacular views to lose yourself in (as long as you're aware that some of the sidewalks are tilted toward the street!). If you're not the type that must be with a crowd, DC rewards those willing to take the time to appreciate a slower pace - with beautiful details that are generally lost when traveling at workday pace - which is consistent with a city that was originally meant to be seen at horse and carriage speeds.
There are sculptures, for example, that are almost impossible to see - even when you know where they are - when whizzing by on a bus. The same sculpture, however, when seen from the ground, can truly be inspiring! Many famous artists from the past two centuries felt it an honor to work on some of the sculptures in the capital city, and didn't feel a need to draw attention to their names: Remington's Cowboy in front of the Museum of Women, and I. M. Pei's triangular sculpture in front of the Air and Space Museum, just to name a couple.
So, take the precautions you would normally take in an urban area, grab your camera, and prepare for an exciting trip - maybe just a little less hair raising now that you know how to go!
