Think of people who are disabled and can’t walk the 600 meters to the metro station or get on a bike.
To be clear, those people should have mobility options available to them. But why do we put primacy on disabled people who can drive over disabled people who cannot drive?
I don’t mean they would have to be able to drive themselves – although autonomy is very important. But a car or some other form of stable four-wheeled transport that can move them from door to door is necessary for a disabled person’s mobility. Could be their SO driving or a taxi.
Also it was just an example, and just the first one that came to mind as someone who recently broke their hip by falling off their bicycle.
Disabled people and poor people are both disproportionately negatively affected by automobiles. The idea that they “have” to have access to a car because they are disabled isn’t proof that disability requires cars, it’s proof that even the people who can least afford it are burdened with having to have a car.
To be clear, those people should have mobility options available to them. But why do we put primacy on disabled people who can drive over disabled people who cannot drive?
I don’t mean they would have to be able to drive themselves – although autonomy is very important. But a car or some other form of stable four-wheeled transport that can move them from door to door is necessary for a disabled person’s mobility. Could be their SO driving or a taxi.
Also it was just an example, and just the first one that came to mind as someone who recently broke their hip by falling off their bicycle.
Disabled people and poor people are both disproportionately negatively affected by automobiles. The idea that they “have” to have access to a car because they are disabled isn’t proof that disability requires cars, it’s proof that even the people who can least afford it are burdened with having to have a car.
Well. What is your alternative?
Which disabled person? Disabled people are not a monolith, and many are unable to drive but perfectly capable of riding a bike, adaptive or otherwise.
If you read my first comment you will find the answer.