Have you been to any of these cities? Do they live up to the hype?
bbc.com
Four cities putting disabled travellers first
With one in six people living with disability, ensuring that cities around the world are accessible to all is vital. But which cities are doing it best, and how?
Anthony @ TWIA and Joan Pahisa7 Comments-
Lived in Las Vegas for a while, although that was decades ago now, even back then it was easy to get around in a wheelchair and many attractions we very accessible (restaurants, shows, rides, fun themed areas/shops, etc.). It can be a lot of fun, but expect to spend a lot of money in the process (and that’s not counting the gambling!). If you’re not a fan of lights or indoor areas, there are outdoor activities (some far to get to) but accessibility tends to be much more difficult.
-
I’ve been to Vegas and London.
The Vegas Strip is very accessible IF all the street elevators are working. If not, you have to zig-zag through the casinos to get anywhere. Getting a cab to/from the airport and Strip is very easy. The cab drivers treat you like you’re like any other person needing a cab. Getting an accessible hotel room is easy, even if the room is comped.
I think the BBC article is biased towards London. Yes, the buses are accessible. But, I shouldn’t have to ask for a ramp to board the Tube. In LA and Washington, DC, you can board unassisted. The same goes for SLC, Portland, OR, and SF/Bay Area. (Now, the cleanliness of the elevators and station safety are another story.)
I agree about the ramp. They use those here in Japan, but newer lines are flat. It will likely take years to move from that… but the elevators always work!
-
As a tourist, many attractions in London are free or have discount for the disability person and one companion without any documentation about it. In my experience I would say that London is the best, any big city in Japan for second and Vegas seems like others touristic cities in the US
-
Actually, the next Trouble with Me podcast episode will be on London (www.tabifolk.com/twm). I was there a month ago and the main issue is Tube accessibility, but the rest of transportation, as well as street accessibility is really good. Accessibility in tourist attractions, in general, is also great and there are nice discounts for disabled and companions.
Of the other cities, I’ve only been to Vegas. Accessibility is as Justin and Carlos say. But compared to other cities I’d say the scale is smaller, as the touristic area is confined to mostly the Strip.
I can’t wait to go to both Sydney and Singapore too : ) 
So interesting to see Sydney listed there! They made a lot of efforts for their recent events.
-
I’m quite surprised to see London make the list. Sure, there’s some amazing accessible places to visit and a lot of good access along the way, but there’s also TERRIBLE access.. just take the London Underground as a prime example. Only 1/3 of London Tube Stations are barrier-free. On my most recent trip to London I found planning an itinerary to be a nightmare, as everything I had planned was either too far from an accessible Tube station, or required a tube and then two different buses (with over 2hrs travel time). Not everyone can afford to zip around in an accessible taxi cab either.
