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Can I get there from here?

© Michelle Struik

Recently in my column at Suite 101 I provided you with some travel tips hopefully helping you reach your summer vacation spot in one piece! Today I thought I help you further along on your summer goal of a disabled friendly holiday by sharing yet another travel website that could prove valuable to your holiday plans.

If you're visiting family you may not experience problems visiting the city of your choice. However if you are visiting a new city with no friend's or family around you might run into a traveler's dilemma. How to get from Point A to Point B when you've left your trusty car at home????

Will you use public transit, taxi's or rent a vehicle at your destination's end? If you are an able-bodied person these options are relatively easy. However if you are a disabled traveler using a mobility aid such as crutches, canes, or wheelchairs, it can take on a whole new meaning! Do wheelchair accessible taxi's exist in your destination city? Are there hand control rental vehicle's locally available? Answering these questions before leaving your home base can make the difference between a fun holiday and a nightmare. Imagine reaching the airport of the distant city only to find that every taxi in that city is not wheelchair friendly.

So, before you make any travel plans check out your destination at the Project Action Accessible Traveler's Database. This database take's the mystery out of local transportation dilemmas. You'll be able to search out those important details such as airport/hotel shuttles, public transit and even find those ever elusive wheelchair accessible taxi and vehicle rentals, all before leaving your home base. In some cases they even provide 800 number services to some of these facilities so you can pre-book your requirements before leaving home. Leaving one less detail up to chance on your holiday. Careful planning of such an important detail such as local transportation can make a significant difference in your holiday enjoyment. Also do check with local Motor Vehicle offices, ask if your home state/province issued Handicapped Parking Placard is good for your destination, many states/provinces have reciprocal agreements between them where they will "honor" other state/provinces placards. If your local Motor Vehicle office cannot answer the question then place a phone call to a Motor Vehicle office located at your destination. Don't assume what works at home will work everywhere or you might find that specially sought after hand-controlled rental car might be ticketed and towed when you get back to it.

The copyright of the article Can I get there from here? in Disabilities is owned by Michelle Struik. Permission to republish Can I get there from here? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.