What Mobility Issues?

 

Amazing! The wave of the future and not just for mobility issues. I can't imagine riding this in Manhattan, but you never know. Out of the way, slowpoke!

scoozy

The Chinatown Experiment

 

When I could walk, I used to go down to Chinatown, once a week at times. Usually, I would walk one way and take a bus, either on the return trip or going there. But walking started to get tiring eventually, and then I would take the bus all the time. Taking the bus felt relaxing and a breeze to what I was doing,

But times and incidents change, so I could not go downtown, period. I fell on my way, using a simple shopping cart for stability. (Something was up that I needed this aide!) My attempt was a disaster. My legs had no strength. I gave up. I could not walk. Weeks, months went by. Luckily, this was post-Covid and my deli was delivering. I started to get better and better, including my attitude toward my walking.

As I pushed myself to do exercises, both mental and physical, I tried to go to Chinatown again. This time I would take a taxi. I had my simple walker with me. This was last year, I had some success at the Silk Road Cafe, where I used do writing work and eat their dumplings, but no bus was readily available on the way back, so, being the big shot I think I am, I decided to walk. With my walker, of course. This had its challenges. Chinatown has very narrow streets, and there are lot of people, tourists and residents, so that walking those streets with a walker was no fun. But I went on and on. As I was getting very tired, I had to stop and rest. (The walker has a seat, but the New York streets can be tight, and the corners, with their plastic bumps, can be murder.) Nearing the place where I live in Stuy Town, I was so tried, I promised not to do something similar again. Nevertheless, I proved that if necessary, I could go all the way, tired or not.

A Wheelchair?

 

 

Above, a nice comparison of a few foldable wheelchair mobility aides. 

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One of the mobility aides I am now looking at seriously is a wheelchair. While I don't need a wheelchair, there are certain foldable types that seem enticing for long distance walking in the city. I want something that I can use as a walker and that be converted to a rollator when I need it. What I have now, the Acre model, is fine, but its seat is narrow, and one can't rest comfortably if one is walking far. There are walker/rollater models that are dual. Expensive, but not so much as the Atto, which can cost around 3.000 dollars.But these models are electric wheelchairs that will, if you want, do "the work for you." And that does look promising. 

I recently learned after trying to strengthen my legs and walking that it takes time, and there is no guarantee that I will get back to what I was even a decade ago. I still do not know what part "the mind" plays in holding one back. It does play a part, for sure, but how much?

Being in a wheelchair has another "mind" issue. Can one be in a wheelchair outside and not be considered a cripple? (I use that negative word on purpose here.) Ideally, nothing matters but myself and my difficulties and challenges, but that is not the truth. So, for me, I would be outside using a mobility aide as a rollator, but a distance away, I would probably convert it to a wheelchair and have it move electrically. Can I do this on the city sidewalks or will I still have difficulties?

In New York, where I am at, there is a way to go around on a city bus. I haven't tried that yet with my problem, but that, and the expensive taxi trip, doesn't not limit me. But I would much rather "do it myself," and go down to Chinatown, which I used to do regularly, in one of these wheelchairs,that I can fold when I reach the Chinatown cafe.

There are a couple of promising models coming up next year, like the Smart Walker. But can one wait? And will these new models have problems we still don't know about?

A Review from the UK

 

Though I don't need a wheelchair and don't live in Britain, I found this review interesting. It was done well and addressed a few issues that all mobility aide users have, even those without a wheelchair. But the cost in the USA!!! 

No Way, Jose!

 

 

The commercial starts great, but very quickly it turns into this mobility aide for seniors that doesn't address any of the seniors that I see. Do you see any senior riding this???

Recently I've been seeing on my internet travels information about the upcoming "Smart Walker." What is it? The promos claim that it can make walking easier and that it can turn into several things--rollator, walker, even a wheelchair. Walking, it seems, is a breeze! I don't know exactly what it will do on the New York streets, which can be narrow and difficult with bumps, corners, etc., but it sounds good initially, though I remain perplexed by it. I signed up with my email to learn more.

What Stuyvesant Town Offers

 

Stuy Town and Peter Cooper are better for mobility problems than most who live in many sections of Manhattan. We don't think about the major positive effect that nature has, but a resident can go out and be around grass, trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, while most Manhattanites don't have this unless they go to a park (usually small) nearby. Of course, there is Central Park, which offers everyone a park land that is wide and expansive. And, sometimes, dangerous, too!... We also have the East River with its stunning views for those who can get there. So what we have is standard for everyone, not only those with walking issues, and we can take advantage of those if we want and can.

As for the mobility challenged: Every building should have access to a wheelchair or walking aide. A ramp or path should be provided on either the T (terrace) and M (main) entrance. It is a law under the Americans with Disabilities Act. If something is broken or marred, Management should be notified and the problem fixed as soon as possible.

There are still issues. Beam, the sub-company of Blackstone, decided that the inner path around the Oval would look better with gravel. Gravel is a problem for many with mobility issues. Depending on one's severity, one can find it impossible to go along this rickety space and sit on one of the benches.

Another issue is the mediocre to poor work that is done on the loop crossings from one side to the other. Deep lines, potholes, gouges have to be fixed but it can take months or longer for this to be resolved. It should be relative smooth sailing, but it isn't.

Though these are issues are for those with mobility challenges, they can apply to others, too. Frequently those without mobility challenges are ignorant of the effort it can take for those who do not find walking easy.