Hi, my name is AlanIvybridge!

AlanIvybridge

I do no have any disability, but please help me - I am interested in hearing about experiences, for me to better understand accessibility issues which I might not understand or appreciate.

Ada

Can I ask you why. 

AlanIvybridge

Ada said:

Can I ask you why. 

To gain a better understanding of the issues faced.  And hopefully improve our environment & Where we live.   I recently asked a question, Which I can not find here - perhaps it was inappropriate, not sure. Anyway, I watched a wheelchair user go forwards into a lift. the lift went down, and the user exited the lift by reversing out. Because he was reversing he was unaware of an obstacle. (I offered to help, but help was refused). Now perhaps there is an reason for going forwards into a lift, and reversing out - I do not have a clue, and would not want to suggest this as a solution should someone else have the same issue until I better understood the issues.

Jimm_Scope

Hi @AlanIvybridge, welcome to the Scope community While our community is mostly geared towards being a community for disabled people that doesn't mean we don't welcome those who are not disabled! I'm really happy to hear your curiosity about these issues, often they can be overlooked by people unless they themselves are affected or know somebody who has these accessibility issues.

For the scenario you are given, I am not a wheelchair user, but I have a few thoughts. Some lifts only have a fairly short window where they stay open, reversing is slower than moving forward. You cannot be right by the doors because people may want to get off the lift, so there is a time issue to get on the lift before the doors start closing.

And then about people wanting to get off the lift, you do need to check if there is actually space to get on the lift before you attempt to. Facing the chair away from the lift and looking behind you isn't comfortable, nor doable for some wheelchair users.

I am sure there are other reasons as well, but those are two that came to mind for me!

JessieJ

Not all lifts have the space to turn around in. I only reverse into a lift if there is nobody in it or waiting to go in it, otherwise, it is in forwards & reverse out.

WhatThe

Some bright spark invented a lift to open on the opposite side when alighting so there is a solution 
  

AlanIvybridge

Jimm_Scope said:

Hi @AlanIvybridge, welcome to the Scope community While our community is mostly geared towards being a community for disabled people that doesn't mean we don't welcome those who are not disabled! I'm really happy to hear your curiosity about these issues, often they can be overlooked by people unless they themselves are affected or know somebody who has these accessibility issues.

For the scenario you are given, I am not a wheelchair user, but I have a few thoughts. Some lifts only have a fairly short window where they stay open, reversing is slower than moving forward. You cannot be right by the doors because people may want to get off the lift, so there is a time issue to get on the lift before the doors start closing.

And then about people wanting to get off the lift, you do need to check if there is actually space to get on the lift before you attempt to. Facing the chair away from the lift and looking behind you isn't comfortable, nor doable for some wheelchair users.

I am sure there are other reasons as well, but those are two that came to mind for me!

Perfect - I had not considered the time delay when entering a lift, that makes sense; and of course you would not be aware if the lift has passengers. Thank you for your answer .... I am further away to a solution, but you have helped me think more clearly on the subject.