Hey, I'm a powerchair-user in Los Angeles. Access here is good, but not perfect.
Perhaps the biggest problem is, this is a big, spread-out place. For instance, from Anaheim, where you say you'll be staying, to Hollywood or downtown LA is a distance that could easily take an hour or even two! That said, many if not most taxi companies can supply a wheelchair-accessible cab. (Not all cabs wheelchair accessible.) Sometimes it's a matter of timing. When I fly into LAX airport, for example, I can usually grab an accessible taxi in about 10 min. or less with no advance warning. On the other hand, I was once downtown and, after waiting an hour for an accessible cab I thought I had reserved in advance, ended up giving up and boarding a bus. Most, if not all, LA-area buses are wheelchair accessible. You might have to insist that your chair get securely tied down, however; some drivers can be awfully casual about that. The trains are newish and all accessible, but don't go everywhere. Again, the distance problem. Trains go into Hollywood and downtown LA, but not to the beach, for instance. Not yet, anyway. The train system is still being constructed. Because LA is so spread out, it is truly a car-based metropolis. So if you've got the physical and financial resources, you might consider renting an accessible van. They can run to $100 a day or more, but they do provide a great deal of freedom. Probably the best local van conversion/repair/rental place is Mobility Works/Advanced Mobility in Van Nuys, 818-780-1788. Unfortunately, one activity might be off-limits: the NBA. Players and management are still negotiating, but so far the entire season is locked down. To see Kobe play, you might be better off going to Italy. Best of luck! Have fun! Shoot me an e-mail if I can answer any more specific questions. Best, Ben -----Original Message----- From: Philip Wells [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2011 7:24 PM To: Quad-List Subject: [QUAD-L] Suggestions For Getting Around In LA Hi List Members In early November I'm coming to LA, California from New Zealand. My family & myself will be staying at a hotel in Anaheim. I'd like to find out what my best option is for getting around. I'm a C5 Quad with a powerchair and I'm unable to independently transfer. What is the service like with wheelchair hoist equipped Taxis, can they be booked the day before & be reliable ? Is there a bus service that can take wheelchair users ? What is the Subway rail service like for us wheelers ? I'm looking at getting to have a look around Hollywood, and maybe going to a NBA game at the Staples centre. Hoping we have some members here with LA experience. Best Philip D Wells 280 Paora Road RD 37 Okato Taranaki New Zealand 4381 [email protected]
