Accessible Boston, Year of the Dragon and the Snow Day That Wasn't
Accessible Boston, Year of the Dragon and the Snow Day That Wasn't
A big travel guide update from my favorite hometown and a potential travel resolution for the Lunar New Year?
Hello, everyone!
Today is a peculiar day. The date is February 14, which we all recognize as Valentine’s Day. But this year, February 14 is also 46 days before the first Sunday after the full Moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox, making it Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. For many Christians around the world, today kicks-off the traditional Lenten rubric of fasting and abstinence from meat.
This shared holiday is a rare occurrence — over the past hundred years, they have coincided only a handful of times, in 1923, 1934, 1945, and 2018. It will next occur in 2029, then not again until the 22nd century.
However you decide to spend the day, I hope it is a good one. Now, let’s dive in to the newsletter, where there is a lot to cover.
Updated wheelchair accessible travel guide to Boston, Massachusetts
Since I founded WheelchairTravel.org, I have rarely written about the cities that I have called home — I was too busy traveling to focus on my hometowns. That’s led to some wild omissions in my coverage of accessible travel (can you say Florida?).
When I made the move to Boston, I knew that I would have to share it with you. This city, one of the cradles of liberty and the American Revolution, is the best city that I have ever called home. I absolutely love it here and, while no city is perfect, Boston gets a lot of things right. That’s why I am excited to announce the long overdue updates to the Boston Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide.
Here’s what you’ll find inside:
20 Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do in Boston — This list could be longer, but I have highlighted 20 of my favorite things to do in Boston, including boarding America’s oldest naval vessel, exploring the 1600s home of Paul Revere, enjoying the world-class collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, touring the Samuel Adams Brewery, and visiting the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Get excited!
Guide to Wheelchair Accessible Public Transit in Boston — Boston was the first city in America to have a subway, and it is still going strong. Significant investment has been poured into the “T” to improve wheelchair accessibility, and nearly all stations downtown are accessible. Public transit doesn’t stop there, though, as Boston also has accessible ferries, city buses and commuter rail.
Wheelchair Accessible Taxis in Boston — Boston is one of the few cities in the world to have wheelchair accessible rideshare service. Both Uber and Lyft operate wheelchair vans with ramps in and around Boston. The city has also licensed 100 traditional wheelchair taxis.
Accessible Hotels in Boston — I’ve stayed in and/or toured accessible rooms at 11 different hotels in Boston, and have plans to continue adding to the list as time and resources allow. There are some really great hotels on this list, and I hope you’ll be able to find one that meets your needs.
Accessibility at Boston Logan Airport — I see a lot of Logan Airport in Boston, and am really pleased with my experience here. The airport is designed well, and has invested in some important accessibility features that improve my experience as a wheelchair traveler. It is also really close to the city!
Wheelchair Accessibility of Boston Sidewalks — Sidewalks are not the most accessible feature of Boston, it is fairly easy to navigate touristic areas and the city is working to fulfill obligations under a 2021 agreement to improve all 20,000+ curb ramps. For a city that is almost 400 years old, I think Boston is doing really well, and I spend a lot of time rolling around its neighborhoods.
I’ve written more words in this accessible travel guide than for any other city, but I’m not finished sharing the exciting travel opportunities that exist in Boston. Also on my publishing calendar are guides to my favorite restaurants and bars, as well as a guide to the sports teams that play in and around Boston. Stay tuned!
From the Year of the Rabbit to the Year of the Dragon
The Chinese Lunar New Year was celebrated this past Saturday, February 10, and marked a transition from the Year of the Rabbit to the Year of the Dragon. A friend shared the televised New Year’s Eve Gala that is broadcast throughout China and I was amazed by the scope of the production — it’s a significantly larger celebration than New York City’s Times Square ball drop. Check out the video here:
The excitement of it all led me to reflect on my past trips to China, and my planned trip to Beijing in January 2020 that was canceled due to the pandemic. I have not returned since, but certainly have a desire to! Perhaps that will be my resolution for the Chinese New Year? For now, I will have to enjoy the celebrations that are still taking place in Boston’s Chinatown, including this weekend’s Lion Dance Parade.
What I’ve been up to
Last week, I spoke on a panel at the International Seating Symposium’s Virtual Professional Summit, held in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh. The majority of attendees were assistive technology professionals (ATPs), the folks who help disabled people get the mobility equipment they need to live active and healthy lives. I spoke about the importance of ATPs gaining the knowledge to advise their clients on traveling with a wheelchair, particularly those who are newly disabled and trying to understand the complexities of power wheelchairs. Hopefully, they’ll keep the link to my Wheelchair Users’ Guide to Air Travel with a Disability handy.
I recently traveled to Connecticut (using the Amtrak Northeast Regional and CT Rail Shore Line East trains) to have lunch with a reader and friend. It was a hassle-free day trip made possible thanks to the railways in the northeast, which connect cities both large and small. Board in one city’s downtown and arrive in another — it’s great!
When my Florida State Seminoles came to play the Boston College Eagles in a men’s basketball game last week, I invited a few friends along and enjoyed the one-point FSU victory. Uber got me there and back in a wheelchair accessible vehicle, something that isn’t possible in the vast majority of college towns.
Yesterday, a winter storm swept across the northeast, leaving some communities with more than a foot of snow. When I went to sleep Monday night, the forecast suggested 6 to 8 inches of powder would hit Boston, but the storm tracked southward and we received only a few hours of flurries and zero accumulation. The last couple of winters in Boston have been extremely mild, which I suppose is great for accessibility but still disappointing.
Looking ahead
First, a few quick updates on some upcoming events. There will be two Accessible Travel Chats in February, one on the topic of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the second an open Q&A to answer your travel questions. Registration details will be shared in an upcoming newsletter.
Next week, expect a brand-new wheelchair accessible travel guide for Richmond, the amazing capital city of Virginia that I visited last month. There are so many wonderful things to share, including a mode of public transit that few American cities have.
While it has been a slow start to the travel year for me, things will be ramping up soon, and I am constantly adding new trips to the calendar. Recent additions include London, Washington, D.C. and Fort Wayne, Indiana. In May, I will deliver the keynote address at Visit Fort Wayne’s Power of Tourism event. If you represent a destination or group that would like to bring me to your city, learn how to work with me.
I am currently finishing up the next article for premium subscribers — If you’d like to get access to that and other exclusive content, please consider upgrading to a paid newsletter subscription. If you join at the Founding Member level, you can also schedule a 1:1 conversation with me over Zoom or on a phone call.
One last note — The 2024 Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Spain was sold out, but one accessible hotel room has opened up. If you are interested in joining the group, please fill out the interest form on the tour page.
All the best,
— John