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.

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.

PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY IS THE FUTURE

MORE THAN 1/3 OF AMERICANS CANNOT/DO NOT DRIVE

Bicycle delivery bike parking lot at 11th Street and 1st Avenue in the Lower East Side.

Each of the hundreds of bikes takes a delivery vehicle off the street and reduces pollution and congestion.

The more we emphasize multimodal mobility, the more we can design wide sidewalks to accommodate wheelchair users and other people with disabilities.

The more we reduce car dependency, the more critical mass we’ll have for train, bus and gondola transportation that is fully accessible and inclusive to all.

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.

OPPOSITION TO WHEELCHAIR RAMPS IS ABLEISM – PART 2

THE ABILITY TO DESIGN IS A GIFT

DESIGNING IN WAYS THAT EXCLUDE IS THROWING AWAY THAT GIFT

The ableist architect: “Retrofitted wheelchair ramp=terrible, ruins the facade.” “Fire escape=sculptural urban beauty.”

Both are add-ons.

If disability access offends the designer—he is prejudiced against people with disabilities.

DISABILITY INCLUSION IN URBAN DESIGN AND TOWN PLANNING

IS NOT AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH TO BE IGNORED – PART II

Image is NYC mural by Yok & Sheryo

The award to the biggest rat bastard town planner goes to this ableist: 

I asked why his plan only showed stairs and no wheelchair access.

“Well, maybe if people walked more, they would never need wheelchairs, he said.

While exercise is great, imagine a renowned urban designer being so opposed to ADA inclusion that they created myths.

In their absurd world, a lack of ramps & elevators is a 100% protective shield against spinal cord injury, MS, MD, CP, aging & all mobility impairments!

THE MET NYC FIFTH AVENUE

DISABILITY VISIBILITY PROJECT BY STEVE WRIGHT

Disability Visibility Project: Metropolitan Museum of Art NYC.

The MET has a ground level wheelchair accessible entrance.

Art on display is accessible throughout.

And there are many elevators to reach upper floor galleries.

But I wish it would stop using the stairs as the main, but terribly segregated entrance.

STREET DESIGN: THE SECRET TO GREAT CITIES AND TOWNS

MY EXPERTISE IS CITED IN THE SECOND EDITION

James Dougherty's fabulous and inclusive cover painting

I am gratified to be quoted as an advocate with expertise in Universal Design and mobility for people with disabilities in Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns, 2nd Edition.

I will share my insights, based on working on inclusion and better policy around the world, at a Universal Design summit this fall.

I am honored that my urban/architectural photography is featured in The Art of the New Urbanism Volume 2 published by Wiley.

The book is by James Dougherty, Charles C. Bohl & Victor Dover.

It features my Street Photography from Istanbul, Morocco and Cairo.

I am proud to collaborate with Victor Dover.

He has been a friend and mentor for more than two decades.

He has sought my guidance on matters of Universal Design and Wheelchair Access.

We both are featured in the disability positive film Mark -- A Call to Action:

https://youtu.be/M-TBzsOK5VY?si=knwhkRossJlW7xT-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GLOBAL DISABILITY INCLUSION HONORED ME ON ITS LIST OF THE TOP 3 DOZEN

DISABILITY ADVOCATES, ACTIVISTS, LEADERS & CHANGE MAKERS

It is the honor of a lifetime to make Global Disability Inclusion's "list of 36 people to know who are advancing accessibility and disability inclusion."

I have used my urban design and storytelling skills to create a better built environment for all.

"Steve Wright - a universal design expert helping cities and organizations understand that accessible design benefits everyone. A world traveler who is seeking out some of the world's most accessible and innovative designs."

--Bio by Meg O'Connell, CEO, Global Disability Inclusion.

Being recognized as one of the top 3 dozen disability-forward leaders/influencers is special, coming from a great inclusion expert such as Meg O'Connell, PHR.

Award winning Global Disability Inclusion is the premier firm for organizations creating more inclusive, accessible and engaged workplaces for people with disabilities.

I am the only town planner/storyteller on the Global Disability Inclusion list.

Humbled to be in the company of: John D. Kemp, James LeBrecht, Maria Town, Jack McElaney, Tiffany A. Yu, the Hon. Mike Lake, M.P.,  and the late Judy Heumann.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7487479566723198976/

SUPER DISABILITY FRIENDLY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN VANGAURD

CURB EXTENSIONS MAKE THIS CROSSWALK SAFER FOR ALL

 

Kudos to these pedestrian friendly, super wheelchair accessible curb extensions.

They calm traffic while providing an excellent route for people with disabilities across Meridian Ave. at Lincoln Lane and just north of Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach.

Every Miami Beach official embrace this and bring it to hundreds of other intersections.

People with disabilities depend on safe crosswalks.

I WILL NOT LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE CITIES

PRIORITIZE HUMAN BEINGS OVER VEHICLES

Amazing that a car can break down on a sleepy side street — and it’s towed away in a half hour to keep auto traffic flowing.

But shoddy utility vault work that destroys pedestrian safety in a dense, walkable area festers for months

We obsess on clearing the way for speeding traffic.

We block wheelchair/all safe pedestrian mobility for months.

This is in the heart of Miami Beach.

ABLEIST DESIGNERS’ BIG LIE IS ACCESSIBILITY IS EXPENSIVE

UNIVERSAL DESIGN PROVES OUT TO BE COST EFFECTIVE EVERY TIME

Universal Design and wheelchair access are NOT expensive.

An apartment entrance that used to have a couple small steps down.

Now it has a gently graded accessible concrete path.

With a tiny investment, everyone can visit the building.

MIAMI BEACH SHOULD BE SOUTH FLORIDA’S MOST DISABILITY-FRIENDLY CITY

BUT EVERY 10^TH STREET HAS A POORLY DESIGN, TERRIBLY BUILT        AND HORRIBLY MAINTAINED SIDEWALK

More than half of this sidewalk in a heavily pedestrian part of Miami Beach has a severe angle that makes it treacherous for people with disabilities.

It is on 16th St. at Lennox Ave. in Miami Beach.

Wheelchair mobility is virtually impossible.

Not only is the more level part closer to street (worse for pedestrian safety) but it also is an impossible route for wheelchair users -- because outside dining, valet stands and other obstructions block the pathway.

THE CITY OF MIAMI MAY FINALLY TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE SIDEWALKS REMAIN SAFE AND OPEN DURING CONSTRUCTION

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MUST FOLLOW SUIT, SO MAJOR COUNTY STREETS REMAIN BARRIER FREE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND ALL PEDESTRIANS

I had the privilege of speaking in favor of FR 1 – (Ordinance 19073, to keep sidewalks safe and open during construction) at the Miami City Commission meeting this week.

I applaud Commissioners for creating and sponsoring this legislation.

After serving the District 3 constituents for nearly a decade, my next career direction was marketing urban design and working as a town planner.

My specialty is pedestrian access and mobility for people with disabilities.

Cities that work are cities that remove barriers to pedestrian safety.

Safe sidewalks protect children and elderly while greatly increasing the economic outlook for mom and pop shops, restaurants and services that depend on foot traffic in our urban city.
In my work around the world to promote wheelchair access, I have sadly shown a segment of downtown Miami just west of the World Center where both sides of the street are completely shut down for years of high rise construction.

Out of the 100 cities I have worked in, the both sides blocked – between a billion dollar development and a billion dollar Bright Line Train Transit system – was the worst example of pedestrian safety and mobility for people with disabilities.

Other cities solve this by requiring scaffolding or other ways of keeping sidewalks.
I returned yesterday from work in Manhattan.

I walked past more than 100 construction sites.

100% of the time, the sidewalk was maintained.

Miami MUST match NYC’s success at maintaining pedestrian mobility.

This is crucial for people with disabilities.

People with disabilities are the most under and unemployed of any minority group.

That is NOT because of their disability, it is because of the obstructions that we allow that ruin sidewalk mobility and the access it provides to transit.

Developers may say this is an onerous cost.

I say that anyone who puts the basic human rights and dignity of disabled people to a cost benefit analysis is being shamefully inhumane.

I urge the five Miami City Commissioners to approve this unanimously, when it returns for second reading.

It can be the first step (ticketing and towing cars the perpetually block sidewalks would be another huge boost to safety for disabled veterans and others) toward Miami delivering the mobility its residents deserve.

Read FR 1: https://miamifl.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=14&ID=3893&Inline=True

UNIVERSAL DESIGN

FUNCTIONAL, FLEXIBLE, COST-EFFECTIVE – BEAUTIFUL

Brilliant example of Universal Design on super elongated picnic table on the Underline near the Metrorail Brickell station.

Wheelchair users can roll up to the table on either side.

The Underline has emphasized inclusion and accessibility for all ages and abilities – in all of its design.

The Underline is Miami’s 10-mile linear park and urban trail.

The segment with the accessible table, in a shaded urban oasis is near the super dense and bustling Brickell Financial District, straddles SW 1^st Avenue.

https://www.theunderline.org/

THE CITY OF MIAMI’S AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY’S MOBILITY PRIORITIES ARE UPSIDE DOWN AND DO NOT SAFEGUARD PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS HUNDREDS OF REGULATIONS FOR CARS IN STREETS – BUT WE SHAMEFULLY HAVE VIRTUALLY NO REGULATIONS TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS ON SIDEWALKS

This is the first delivery bot that I’ve seen that can back up.

When they don’t, it is catastrophic for a wheelchair user. 90% of the bots that I have seen stop when a disabled person approaches.

That blocks essential curb ramps and narrow sidewalks.

The City of Miami, Miami-Dade County and other cities MUST regulate these hogs of the sidewalk bots.

Only those programmed to back up out of the way of people with disabilities should be allowed.

MAINTAINING SIDEWALKS DURING CONSTRUCTION IN THE RIGHT THING TO DO

CLOSING SIDEWALKS FOR YEARS VIOLATES THE ADA AND EVERY MORAL OBLIGATION TO SAFE MOBILITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES PLUS ALL PEDESTRIANS YOUNG AND OLD

Wide, safe, lit, wheelchair accessible simple scaffolding to keep sidewalks open during construction.

What is so hard about this Miami?

How do we have this perfect solution by Flagler St. — then allow both sides of the street to be closed a few blocks north?

I am at a total loss for why Miami officials do not require scaffolding to maintain sidewalks during years of development construction.

Most solutions require tens of millions of dollars.

This requires zero. 

AVILA SPAIN HAS CREATED WHEELCHAIR ACCESS TO ITS MEDIEVAL WALLS

WHAT’S YOUR MODERN CITY’S EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO MOBILITY AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?

High praise to Avila Spain for creating ramped access to an area with benches & great views of the famous city walls. 

The Walls are ancient, but access for people with disabilities is a priority.

https://www.avilaturismo.com/en/organize-your-visit/avila-is-everyone

AVILA SPAIN HAS CREATED WHEELCHAIR ACCESS TO ITS MEDIEVAL WALLS

WHAT’S YOUR MODERN CITY’S EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO MOBILITY AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?

For years, the ancient city of Avila Spain has prided itself on expanding access for people with disabilities.

Because Ávila is built on a steep hill, the best way to reach the accessible portion of the Medieval walls is arriving by car or an adapted taxi. Exiting directly to the Puerta del Puente is recommended to avoid steep inclines from the upper city center. 

https://www.avilaturismo.com/en/organize-your-visit/avila-is-everyone