Let’s face it. There isn’t much on offer in NZ for disabled thrill-seekers. More often than not we’re lumped in the ‘too hard’ basket and left on the sideline as a spectator by many tourism operators. So imagine my excitement when I got a call from the folks over at Auckland’s brand new SkyWalk, asking me if I’d like to take their new ‘access’ chair for a test drive (or swing, as it turns out). Without thinking about what I was getting myself into, I jumped at the chance!
But it wasn’t until I was sitting in my wheelchair, on the topmost ledge of what is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere, that I really began to question my own sanity. I was crazy, I thought. Falling to my death crossed my mind several times. But as you can see from the picture on the left, I had very little to worry about
So what is the SkyWalk, exactly?
SkyWalk is the name given to the 1.2 metre-wide platform that circles around outside the SkyTower’s main observation deck. There are no handrails, no barriers, just you and a 192-metre drop. Oh yeah, and a harness or two
But you’re in a wheelchair, how did you do it?
Good question, and here’s where it gets interesting! SkyWalk have adapted a fabric chair used for things like paraponting, and hooked it up to an incredibly secure harness, which then gets attached to a pole above the SkyWalk platform, and you simply slide along in this little seat, almost 200m in the sky! It really has to be seen to be appreciated. Check out the video from when Attitude TV took it for a swing.
Are there any restrictions?
To use SkyWalk’s access chair you need to be under the weight limit of 100kgs, and not be reliant on any external apparatus such as ventilators. Other than that, the SkyWalk is pretty much accessible to everyone!
Finally, I want to give the SkyWalk team a massive pat on the back for not only showing me such a great time, but also for making the thrill itself so openly accessible to everyone. My disability was never treated as an inconvenience or annoyance, in fact I’m pretty sure the chair is the way to travel - bugger walking round that track! Totally overrated
For more information, check out their website, or give them a call on 0800 759 586, I totally recommend it!
Not that I like to admit it, but the Aussies have well and truly one-upped us on this one!
Tourism NSW have set up sydneyforall.com, a site quite similar to this one really, featuring ‘accessible reviews’ on some of Sydney’s biggest tourist attractions. The site acts as an access portal, and contains information on the accessibility of places like the Opera House and Sydney’s Botanical Gardens. It also has a section on accessible transport, which contains downloadable ‘access maps’, information on accessible public transport, and even a national accessible toilet map! Awesome stuff.
So go on, check out the site, and don’t you think it’s about time Auckland City fronted up with something similar?!
What that did, interestingly, is bring this debate over the misuse of mobility parking spots into the mainstream, and the NZ Herald has a really fascinating debate going on over here on this exact subject. Here are a selection of my favourite comments:
Tow the offending vehicle to the farthest corner of the car park and wheel clamp it for seven days.
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I have never parked in one of these parks.
But these disabled people seem to scream about it like it’s the end of the world.
Some of these disabled people with permits look ok when they get out of their car. If they are too crook they shouldn’t be driving anyway.
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Get rid of mobility parking completely. Talk about the arrogance involved in segregating the population based on physical condition.
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Cut the fines out and get rid of mobility-impaired car parks! These people clearly need the exercise. Make them walk.
Coming to a TV near you is CCS Disability Action’s new disability awareness campaign, featuring me! Check it out below, and let me know what you think!
Entrance: Sylvia Park has many entrances which are all level access and some entrances have sliding doors.
Mall: The whole mall is great to get around in, level surface and all shops have a level entry. The mall has an outside area of shops, mostly undercover too. One thing which I liked in the outside part was there were heaters along the wall which would be nice in the winter. There are small round blue lights placed on both sides of the walkway in the outside area of shops which are good There is also a cinema complex upstairs but I didn’t get to check that out. There is an information desk in the middle of the mall and the staff are always helpful to me when I need help or ask them anything.
Mobility Parking: There are plenty of mobility parking spots and even when it’s a public holiday I found we were still able to find a mobility park.
Disabled Bathrooms: There are disabled toilets everywhere along the mall. The biggest disabled toilet is near the food court. It’s separate to the Men’s and Women’s toilets and has a push button to open the door. I tend to use this one as it has plenty of room to maneuver my powerchair, the rail is on the left side. The basin in low so I can get under it and wash my hands. The soap dispenser is just over a bit from the basin and is low enough to get soap out. The taps are neat as they automatically turn on when I move my hands under it. The paper towels are low enough to reach too. This bathroom is very accessible and is also good if you need someone with you to help you. If you need a disabled toilet with a rail on the ‘right side’ then use one of the other disabled toilets around the mall.
Train: The train station is about a 2 minute walk from the mall and has two lifts. Sylvia Park is about 20 minutes by train from Britomart and just over half an hour from Papakura.
Summary:
Lots of mobility parking.
I’m very impressed with all the disabled bathrooms and how accessible they are, I give 100%. I’ve never been in a mall with so many disabled bathrooms in it.
A great variety of shops which all have level entry.
Ahh, the library. Not the funnest place to go, but sure is an educational one! The library doors open automatically onto a long ramp (which you have to try and steady yourself on, or it could be one hell of a ride), passing a small cafe where customers can sit, enjoy a coffee and read. Although not part of the library itself, the ramp did not provide a flat surface to steady a wheelchair to sit and eat, unless you sat directly next to the doors.
Another downside is the ground-floor bathroom. Although it is wheelchair accessible (by having rails) it was rather small, with a high wash hand-basin. It was also positioned too close to the door, which means you have to be mindful of others entering. The upstairs bathroom was spacious but the doors to enter were notably heavy to push. The cubicles (one of which was made for wheel chair users) were clean and had a good height toilet, hand rails, two low sinks and the soap and hand towels were easy to access. Much preferable to the downstairs, although it was harder to find!
A great aspect of this library is that there is a lift, where buttons were low enough to press. The lift was spacious enough to fit a wheelchair and at least 3 other adults. And the fact that it was transparent, added to the 10 seconds of fun. The bookshelf aisle widths are large enough for wheelchairs to pass - but only just! It is hard to turn safely, knowing that you could hit a bookshelf, which would then hit another and another….. Overall, it was easy to pass people and travel around the library.
Unfortunately, the newspaper benches were not accessible, even when the chairs were removed from the small openings. Not to mention, the height of the bench where one cannot see even see the top from a wheelchair!
In the young adult section there were two-three curvy tables. Although these are meant for a modern and fashionable look, the curves allow one with a wheelchair to perfectly fit inside and continue to read or study.
Librarian staff were everywhere: at the front desk, in the middle of the ground floor (assistance desk) and throughout the library shelving books and attending to other things. So, when assistance was needed to fetch down a book, you didn’t need to look twice as staff, once asked, were willing to help. Unfortunately, there were not many flashing smiles from the front desk, but many from the more – shall I say – experienced or older librarians.
Hot Mama’s has a very relaxed and easygoing atmosphere about it, with friendly staff and a good menu choice catering for different types of people, with good vegetarian choices also. This includes hot foods e.g. wedges, chips, nachos & pizza, cabinet food such as sandwiches and cakes, and they have a licenced bar to the side.
It is easily accessible for everyone, having a wide door and ramp access, there is outdoor seating out the front, couches and tables indoors and further seating in the garden out the back which includes a variety of tables topped with mosasics, even the toilet is decorated in them!
You can get directions to Hot Mama’s Cafe here, or click here for more info!
New lifts popping up in corporate buildings (like the PriceWaterhouseCoopers building in downtown Auckland, which we visited today) have no floor or call buttons - you now enter the floor you wish to go to in a separate console and it tells you which lift to take (the cars are lettered). If you press the button with the Universal Access (wheelchair) Symbol, it embarrasses you by shouting the lift letter (hopeless if you are blind because it doesn’t say where it is). Once you’re in the lift there are no floor buttons except to open and close the doors, which made me feel strangely like I had no arms.
Obviously designed for efficiency in car management, where the system really falls down is if you pick the wrong floor. You can’t just push another floor - oh no, you have to get out, find the console, punch (yes, by now you’re punching) the floor in, find the right lift, wait for it and get back in.
It makes you wonder if the nods who design them actually use them. What do you think - do you like these nouvelle elevateurs - or, like me, are you thinking nothing was broken, so who decided to fix it?
Sure, the slogan’s good, but what about this logo? (Click on the image to see a bigger version) Borrowed from Alex Woodruff’s blog, leave a comment below and let me know what you think…
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Let’s face it. There isn’t much on offer in NZ for disabled thrill-seekers. More often than not we’re lumped in the ‘too hard’ basket and left on the sideline as a spectator by many tourism operators. So imagine my excitement when I got a call from the folks over at Auckland’s brand new SkyWalk, asking me if I’d like to take their new ‘access’ chair for a test drive (or swing, as it turns out). Without thinking about what I was getting myself into, I jumped at the chance!
Are there any restrictions?
The winner of walkingisoverrated.com’s first ever iPod nano competition is…
