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accessibility.com.au - Travelling
Beyond The Front Gate By Matt Laffan
Welcome to Barcelona
Spain is a fantastic country full of contrasts
and colour. Depending where you are one
can experience the rugged life, or a sophisticated
city. And of course in both there are the
pitfalls and difficulties for travellers
with disabilities.
I arrived in Barcelona, via Calgary and
Frankfurt at the end of July 2001. I flew
into the place equipped with a battery charger
that handled the voltage, plenty of spare
essentials, a spare tyre and a great travelling
companion with whom I got on well.
Being a bloke who can get myself in and
out of the wheelchair I am very dependent.
Therefore I had to travel with someone who
physically was up to the task, even though
I am not a big guy.
Typically the Spanish accessible bathrooms
in the hotels were not so accessible! They
might have large spaces for the chair in
the bathroom, but inevitably the shower
was over a bathtub. A useless situation
for many. However, I took along one of those
easy to fold up camper chairs people use
in parks and on the beach as a shower chair.
It was perfect. It operated as my shower
seat throughout the trip.
Getting around Barcelona
 I
was staying at a hotel just off Las Ramblas.
This fabulous thoroughfare that runs through
the city presented the perfect pathway to
explore the action. As one wandered down
it past the bars, stalls and colourful busking
mime artists on either side, it was easy
to develop an immediate sense of the Barcelona
I grew to love.
The pedestrian wheelchair access of Barcelona
was fantastic. The curb guttering was easy
to negotiate, as on every corner there was
an easy exit to the next block. And in the
narrower back streets there was always an
easy path to follow from the more heavily
populated roads. However, it is important
for people in wheelchairs to keep an ear
out for motorcycles, should one be approaching
the corner from the opposite direction,
as we can not get out of the way quickly!
And when one intends on crossing a pedestrian
crossing don't trust the driver's intention
to stop. Look and be seen just in case.
While exploring the city all over, and
being able to do so relatively easily, it
became apparent that there were no accessible
public toilets anywhere to be found. This
is a major concern. Many of the restaurants
and cafes and tapas bars have toilets, but
not necessarily wheelchair accessible. And
in some instances those that did had the
unfortunate habit of using it as a storeroom
for brooms, mops and buckets. This need
for a few accessible public toilets in areas
of high population is something the city
should turn its mind too.
Buses
Wheelchair accessible buses are clearly
marked with the international wheelchair
accessible sign. And there are plenty available
in the city along many of the routes. They
are a highly valued source of transport
and easy to access.
Taxis
Barcelona has wheelchair accessible taxis
and they are reliable. Unfortunately one
has to be on one's guard not to either be
intimidated or hood winked by the drivers,
who will try for any means to be paid extra
for services not rendered.
Wining and Dining
One of the great attractions of Barcelona
is the outdoor eating, and so it makes for
easy access. When it comes to venturing
inside to a restaurant or bar many places
have made an effort to provide access. These
businesses are to be warmly congratulated
and encouraged. It is a matter of good business
and civic sense and they should be very
proud of themselves. Where one step has
to be negotiated staff are always willing
to assist and although this is not the best
solution, this too is to be encouraged.
But in the end it is those that provide
the access that will be ultimately rewarded
with continued patronage from not only people
with disabilities, but also their friends,
families and associates.
Equipment and Supplies
People with disabilities sometimes require
specialised equipment. A business in Barcelona
which sells and hires a variety of such
things is:
S. A. Clausolles Productes
Medics Veterinaris I Ortopedia des de 1830,
Ferran, 8
Tel 3174787
08002 Barcelona
Land marks
Placa Reial
Placa Reial is very accessible. One can
enter it from all sides, and wander easily
around the perimeter of the square, easily
drifting in between the cafes and restaurants.
As it is easy to find off Las Ramblas it
is the ideal place to go in search of activities
and a flavour of the nightlife. Although
the nightclubs by their very nature are
inaccessible, the bouncers and staff are
willing to help if required, and there are
plenty of activities going on to keep one
entertained.
Olympic site and Castell Montjuic
Walking to the Olympic site and areas around
it from the city centre took quite a while.
But it is possible, depending upon the type
of chair one is using. The hills are steep,
but the walk is fantastic as it provides
a wonderful view of the city. Although one
can get a bus there if one prefers.
Unfortunately since the Olympics in 1992
the paths in many places have deteriorated
making the going a little difficult in places.
As is so often the case with Olympic sites
the civic dilemma as to what is to be done
with them afterwards remains an awkward
one to answer. However, the access around
the Castell Montjuic and the Fundacio Joan
Miro Museum is very good and well worth
the journey.
Mariner, Port and Beach
The efforts made to open up this public
space has been fabulous and obviously kept
in mind the access needs of people with
disabilities. It is a pleasure to wander
around the port and mariner. The access
makes the journey an easy one. The roads,
curb guttering and streets are easy to negotiate
from here to the beach. And the walkway
along the beach is open and easy.
Parc de la ciutadella
The beautiful park and her wide vast spaces
are accessible, although one has to go in
search of the accessible entries and exits.
The park needs more signage as to the points
of access and extra entry points, with ramps
that are more easily negotiable.
It was easy to wander around the Cascada
baroque fountain. And from there to the
Arc de Triumf. The roads and footpaths a
little further in from this point, and heading
towards the Sagrada Familia Cathedral are
not very accessible, with busy roads and
gutters without ramps creating a hazard.
If one is intending on walking to the Cathedral
from the park it is best to study the map
closely.
Highlights
Pablo Picasso Museum
The Museum has very good wheelchair access
and the staff are very helpful and eager
to assist when required. Again the major
issue is the narrow lifts, one can not have
a chair any wider than 65 cm otherwise one
will simply not fit into them. The ramps
within the Museum are a little too steep
in places and some consideration should
be given to a different design for them.
However, there are disabled toilets on the
ground floor.
Cathedral
There are some access difficulties with
the Cathedral. The ramp is not in place
and has to be retrieved when someone wishes
to use it, and this can take time and be
awkward for the person in charge. Once inside
it was easy to walk through the beautiful
Cathedral.
Antonio Gaudi Architecture
 The
exciting thing about Gaudi's architecture
is being vaguely aware of the area where
it is situated, and then stumbling across
it. The bright colours and wonderful, sensuous
shapes appearing like magic. One will find
that the roads upon which they appear in
the city are accessible and easy to get
too.
If one wishes to do a walking tour of Gaudi's
architecture it is recommended that one
start at the Las Ramblas and head through
the Placa de Catalunya, moving north west
along Passeig de Garcia. By heading in this
direction one will find the going extremely
easy as the guttering is curbed and the
paths very smooth.
The Casa Mila is accessible, despite its
appearance. The staff are extremely accommodating
and offer assistance. There are two lifts
in the Casa Mila and both are typically
Spanish with a narrow entry. If one has
a wheelchair that has a width greater than
65cm it is highly unlikely you will fit
into them.
The Sagrada Familia Cathedral is best viewed
from the outside and from a distance. Because
of the construction still taking place it
poses as too great a challenge to access.
However the park that is in front of it
is accessible and offers a great vantage
from which to regard the detailed stone
work.
Accessible and deservedly proud
A city's sophistication can be gauged by
the way in which it treats her own, and
how she welcomes visitors. Barcelona is
very welcoming and caring. The sight of
other travellers with disabilities was not
uncommon, and a comfort. It is one of the
most accessible cities in the world, and
she deserves to be proud of that fact.
Accommodation:
Catalonia Duques De Bergara Hotel
Bergara 11
Barcelona
08002
Spain
Phone: (34 93) 3015151
Fax: (34 93) 3173442
www.1stbarcelonahotels.com/hotels/Duques.htm
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