MAMDANI WILL REBUILD THE BQE TO LAST UNTIL 2080

DESPITE CALLS TO TEAR IT DOWN

All I can think of is tens of thousands of people with disabilities virtually trapped because of terrible sidewalks, crosswalks, curbramps in NYC.

I thought Mamdani is the mayor of the marginalized. 

This action makes him more like the lobbyist for the more than trillion dollar per year auto industry.

$4 billion in pedestrian/wheelchair mobility is game changing. 

Spent on an expressway = failure.

https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/08/24/mamdani-bqe-plan-august-2026?utm_source=streetsblog-nyc.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=the-triple-cantilever-is-here-to-stay

PRAISE FOR CONEY ISLAND BOARDWALK WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

HOPE THE $1 BILLION REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT WILL ADD SHADED SPACES AND ENHANCE INCLUSION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

The Coney Island Boardwalk is fully wheelchair accessible.

It features a wide wooden/concrete boardwalk with a gentle slope (under 3% grade) and plenty of passing space.

Wheelchair-accessible public restrooms on the Coney Island Riegelmann Boardwalk are located at Stillwell Avenue, West 16th Street and West 22nd Street.

Temporary mobility mats are laid out at major access points including Stillwell Avenue, West 5th, West 8th, West 22nd, West 29th, West 32nd, West 33rd Streets, and Ocean Parkway.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS THE MOST DURABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO BUILD

PLUS, PEOPLE LOVE IT. THEY PICK RAMPS OVER STEPS BY A HUGE MARGIN

The end of the line — Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station.

It has ramps & steps.

90% use the ramp.

Proof positive that Universal Design works even for those who are not disabled.

So why can’t more stations have ramps?

KUDOS TO HOTEL EDISON TIMES SQUARE NEW YORK

FOR HAVING A LINK DEDICATED TO ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES

Hotel Edison is an Art Deco gem in the heart of New York’s Theater District. 

Thomas Edison turned on the lights when the 26-story, 1000 guest room hotel opened in 1931.

It now has 810 guest rooms, with 23 designed for accessibility.

Trivia note: scenes from The Godfather & Birdman were filmed there.

Here’s the link to details on access at the historic property that turns 100 in five years:

https://www.edisonhotelnyc.com/accessibility?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20139307422&gbraid=0AAAAADO5I2SIqJWQ583JGDq31VGqO1a86&gclid=CjwKCAjwmozTBhAeEiwAkEGZzmuXr5jMWUNiF9A3386IZHZES_L001gak8yIKncyh8fOYpw78lrRHxoC0vgQAvD_BwE 

UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS THE MOST DURABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND COST EFFICIENT WAY TO BUILD – ESPECIALLY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR

THOSE THAT RESIST IT DO SO AT THEIR OWN (ANTIQUATED) PERIL

The end of the line — Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station.

It has ramps & steps.

90% use the ramp.

Proof positive that Universal Design works even for those who are not disabled. So why can’t more stations have ramps?

NEW YORK MAYOR MAMDANI, PLEASE DO THE MAXIMUM FOR ACCESSIBILITY

HUNDREDS OF CURB RAMPS AND CROSSWALKS 

ARE NOT WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY

This is one of many shamefully neglected crosswalks at Madison Avenue and East 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan.

Shoddy layers of pavement and potholes create tripping hazards for pedestrians and mobility barriers for wheelchair users.

A SECRET PARK AT THE SOUTHERN TIP OF MANHATTAN

A+ ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AT THE ELEVATED ACRE

The Elevated Acre is a hidden, one-acre public park in Manhattan's Financial District, located above street level at 55 Water Street, accessible for pedestrians via an escalator.

It offers a quiet escape with panoramic views of the East River & Brooklyn Bridge

The Elevated Acre features mostly wheelchair accessible terrain with a lawn, amphitheater, benches + raised boardwalk.

ADA access is via the 55 Water Street lobby.

Use the building's elevators to travel to the acre.

I CELEBRATED AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY IN CONEY ISLAND

ON AN INCLUSIVE, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE RIDE

Deno's Wonder Wheel one minute before 11 a.m. opening July 4, 2026.

The famous Coney Island attraction is fully wheelchair accessible via stationary cars with level boarding.

A tunnel from the Coney Island Boardwalk to the historic Deno’s Wonder Wheel provides an accessible route to the $10 per ride Brooklyn landmark.

DISABILITY VISIBILITY PROJECT – PHOTO IMAGE NUMBER 100

CONEY ISLAND JULY 4, 2026

Disability Visibility July 4, 2026 at the original Nathan’s hot dogs Coney Island. Celebrating diversity as part of our nation’s 250th.

Annual hot dog eating contest took place right around the corner.

DISABILITY VISIBILITY PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT

WHEELCHAIR USERS IN DIVERSE PLACES ALL OVER THE WORLD

Disability Visibility Project: The High Line New York. 

Internationally acclaimed linear green space created from a former elevated railway. 

It features multiple elevators and ramps for wheelchair access.

ARCHITECTS THAT WANT TO HIDE WHEELCHAIR RAMPS TO THE SIDE

OR BACK OF BUILDINGS ARE BIGOTED ABLEISTS. PERIOD.

Wheelchair ramps are an abomination.

They ruin the façade.

Fire escapes.

So sculptural, they enhance the façade.

If the same architect makes both of these statements, they hate disabled people.

Only ableists reject access ramps.

BARELY 25% OF NEW YORK’S ESSENTIAL SUBWAY TRAINS

ARE ACCESSED BY ELEVATORS – FIX THIS MAYOR MAMDANI

The MTA's 2025-2029 Capital Plan commits nearly $7.1 billion to station accessibility.

This phase of the plan will make 60 additional stations newly ADA-accessible while modernizing dozens of older elevators.

Long overdue.

The MTA is not under the New York mayor’s office, but its high profile progressive Mayor Mamdani MUST ensure this work does not fall behind.

FAULTY CURB RAMPS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE

THEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO INCLUSIVE MOBILITY WITH DIGNITY

Too much patchwork, narrow & dangerous curb ramp in one of the busiest places in Manhattan.

E. Union Square & E. 16 St. — next to the Union Square subway station, the 4th busiest in all of New York.

Mayor Mamdani must make wheelchair access a priority.

IS SEGREGATION EVER A GOOD THING? THE ANSWER IS NO

DISABLED AND NON DISABLED PATRONS SHOULD SHARE THE SAME MAINSTREAMED, INCLUSIVE ENTRANCE TO A MUSEUM

Reflection in twin pools/fountains in front of The Metropolitan Museum of Art along Fifth Avenue.

MET has a ground level wheelchair accessible entrance.

But wish it would stop using the stairs as a segregated entrance.

THE HIGH LINE NYC GETS THUMBS UP FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

PATH OF TRAVEL IS LEVEL, GENTLY GRADED, UNOBSTRUCTED & OVERALL OUTSTANDING & RAMPED/ELEVATOR ACCESS IS GOOD

The High Line has five public elevators for barrier-free access.

This one is at 14th Street and 10th Avenue.

At any given time, at least one elevator is out of service.

Check https://thehighline.org/elevator-status

“THAT SILLY WHEELCHAIR USER IS PLAYING IN THE STREET/BIKE LANE”

NO, THEY ARE THERE BECAUSE THE SIDEWALK IS NOT SAFE

99 times out of 100, when a wheelchair user takes the bike lane instead of the sidewalk—risking injury from cyclists/adjacent traffic—

the sidewalk is buckled, blocked or otherwise obstructed.

LES— Chrystie & Stanton. 

Sure hope NYC Mayor Mamdani's campaign to go to bat for the marginalized includes  millions of disabled constituents.

ALL MOBILITY DEVICES ARE COOL

WHEELCHAIRS = FREEDOM, NOT LIMITATION

Industrial Designer Kazuo Kawasaki's goal was to create a wheelchair that felt as good, and looked as cool, as the newest pair of sneakers.

The Carna, on display at MOMA, is colorful & has high–tech style.

Since it had to be light and easy to carry, an improvement over most collapsible wheelchairs, Kawasaki used a titanium frame, with aluminum honeycomb–core wheels and rubber seat and tires.

ADDING WHEELCHAIR ACCESS TO YOUR BUSINESS

PROVIDES A HUGE RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Missed opportunity for barrier-free access into Decor Art Gallery on 3rd Ave. & 37 St.

If the southern wall were removed, there would be plenty of space for a gentle ramp to go down the 2 small steps to the commercial space.

NEW YORK IS ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST WALKABLE AND TRANSIT RICH CITIES

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THOUSANDS OF BLOCKADES TO WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

Nightmare scenario for people with disabilities in the Lower East Side.

Poorly maintained landscaping = flood zone around tree.

Coupled with unregulated overturned trash bin plus mountain of recycling = no wheelchair access.

Ludlow at Houston.

 

PEOPLE DESERVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC PLACES AND SPACES

IF A GIANT FACILITY CAN RETROFIT FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESS, SURELY A POSTAGE STAMP SIZED PARK COULD MAKE THIS A FUNDING PRIORITY

Greenacre Park is a privately owned, publicly accessible "vest-pocket" park in Midtown Manhattan.

The urban oasis features a 25-foot waterfall that masks city noise.

It has a small cafe on East 51st St. between 2nd-3rd Aves.

Sadly, it does not have ramped access to the lower waterfall viewing area.

The elevated seating, under a canopy, that serves the café also is not accessible.

Though it was built before the ADA in 1971, surely this landmarked park could do some simple fundraising to become inclusive to all locals and visitors.