Colorado Bicycler said:My son uses a very large electric wheelchair controlled by a sonar
device in the headrest which he operates by head position (but
fortunately he is not "bound" to it as you were/are - he doesn't take
it to bed with him at night - sorry about your having to sleep with it!
:o) ) and the etiquette of getting through doors is always a challenge.
I agree - when folks put their hands on his w/c is it as if they are
violating his personal space.
However, we find that most folks are very helpful when they hold the
doors for him, and we/he/his wife accepts their assistance with
pleasure. Same with my bike and doors - although it usually is easier
to do it myself, I accept their assistance as an indication of their
kindness and willingness to help. Sometimes I will just say, "Thanks
so much, but I can do this better by myself." Sometimes, it IS easier
if they hold the door for me.
So, I think both are correct: 1. The person is holding the door out
of courtesy and 2. He/she think the bicyclist needs assistance. Isn't
that neat?
Both are much better, IMHO, than slamming the door in my face, however.
Maybe we are just more mobility advanced up here in Canada, but
commercial buildings, and newer multi-unit residential buildings (and
some older renovated buildings) have automatic doors[1]. When I biked
to the bank last week, I wanted to take my bike inside while using the
bank machine, I used the automatic door, and then walked the bike
through, nice and simple. Leaving was the same deal, push the button,
and go through the now open door. They are not required for single unit
residential buildings, however I assume you could get one. However for
multi-unit buildings they are code, so if your renovating an older
building enough that you need to meet newer building code, they are
required. If the door is not at street level, then a ramp is also
required.
I work for a courier company, and they were required to install one last
year, when they renovated the "store", and although I have only seen two
customers in wheel chairs since then, it's a heavily used feature, it's
much easier to bring a large heavy box up the ramp, and use the
automatic door then, it is to try and open two doors while carrying a
heavy box.
[1] automatic door, there is a button beside the door, you push the
button, it opens the door, waits about 30-60 seconds -- enough time for
a wheelchair to pass through, then allows the door to close normally.
W
