While most cities will have a wide array of public transport options, it is often the case that travel on these systems will be more difficult for people with disabilities due to a lack of suitably accessible entrances and vehicles. This is a problem which Anthony Driscoll identified when in New York when travelling with his wheelchair user father through the subway system. Seeing the hassles that many people in wheelchairs had to face in order to use the subway, Anthony designed Wheely, an app for your phone which helps users navigate the city’s subway systems for the most accessible places.

Wheely successfully received Kickstarter funding last year and is available now available to download via the link below. The popularity it received via Kickstarter would suggest that this is a project worth continuing in other major cities where public transport is an integral part of day-to-day life and where people with disabilities, particularly wheelchair users, may have difficulties using the systems in place.

On a similar vein, The Blackwood Foundation in conjunction with Fossbox CIC and opensensors.io, is currently working on an accessible mapping project to highlight areas which are suitable or unsuitable for travel by wheelchair. If you’re interested in learning more about this project or finding out how you can take part follow the link below.

Blackwood Accessible Mapping Project: http://www.bespoken.me/forum/topics/blackwood-s-accessible-mapping-project

Wheely app website: http://www.wheelyapp.com/

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