We wanted our date to go across downtown — essentially from one corner to the other — so that we could see how different pockets of the area are accessible or inaccessible. One big takeaway from beginning at Ragtag Cinema and finishing at Peace Park: Downtown’s major streets (Ninth Street and Broadway) appear more accessible than side streets — but none are perfect. Each place we attended during our date had some issues with accessibility, but the date was successful.
Stop 1 (Entertainment): Uprise Bakery/Ragtag Cinema
Our date began at Uprise/Ragtag because we remembered it to a floor with wide spaces to move through. And although the lights in Uprise dim at night, it doesn’t become too dark.
In addition to the wide spaces to move through, most of the seating, with the exception of a bench along one wall, can be moved around. The restrooms here are also fairly accessible, with braille on signs and three grab bars in each. The bathrooms, however, are not labeled gender neutral.
Before our movie, our date wants to get a drink from the bar, but the counter is too high to be accessible for someone in a wheelchair. Our date grabs our movie tickets instead because that counter is lower. The theater also offers hearing devices at the counter, which is a plus.
One of Ragtag’s theaters has tiered seating, but the other consists entirely of seats at the same level. In both theaters, there are plenty of couches for our date, and an employee at Ragtag told us we could move around seating to make the area more accessible for our date if need be.
With the exception of Ragtag not yet offering closed captioning for its films, this was a great first stop for our date.
On the way to our next stop
We could have gone of two routes — left on Hitt St., right on Cherry St., right on Ninth St.; right on Hitt St., left on Broadway, left on Ninth St. The Broadway route had bumps on every curb ramp along to the way to let people with blindness know when they are crossing into streets. The sidewalks along this route were also wide. We did find some indentations in curb cuts, though, and the crosswalks encounter on this route aren't beeping.
On Broadway
On Broadway
On Ninth St.
The crosswalks on the Cherry St. route aren't beeping either. The city of Columbia doesn't want these crosswalks everywhere because there would be too much noise in a dense area. Another problem with this route: The curb ramps don't have bumps.
Stop 2 (Food): Sparky’s Ice Cream
We really wanted our date to remember us as sweet, so we decided to go to Sparky’s for some ice cream. When we got to the doorway, we noticed it was a cramped entrance, and the line tended to spill out onto the sidewalk. This would pose big problems, especially considering there was also a carpet that was quite bumpy and rough. Our poor date could barely get their wheelchair in, with clients behind muttering in irritation. At least nothing was blocking the door that was significantly heavy or hard to move, even as it was a minor inconvenience.
The narrow doorway at Sparky's
The good thing was all the ice cream flavors were also eye level. Unlike Ragtag, our date could fully see their options. Once we got to our seats, the tables were also low enough for us to sit and have a good conversation, wheelchair and all.
The low tables at Sparky's
had to move out of the way, so transitioning between bathroom and table was hard.
The low ice cream made the flavors easy to see
When our date wanted to go to the bathroom, it also worked out due to the handlebars next to the toilet…but the hallway to get there was a bit narrow, and people exiting the bathroom
On the way to our next stop
There were two routes we could take to our next stop, Peace Park: Ninth St. to Elm St., where we turned right; Ninth St. to Locust, where we turned right, then left on 8th St., then right on Elm. On the Ninth St. to Elm St. route, the sidewalk narrows near Shakespeare's, where there are benches and outdoor seating. The other route has bumpy curbs, which is a plus. But it also has brick crosswalks, and a District Flats sign blocking our way.
At the corner of Eighth St. and Locust St.
On Eighth St., outside Lee Hills Hall
Stop 3 (Private time): Peace Park
Peace Park was our last stop on our accessible date for private time. It was a quiet, nice spot, and the sidewalks were easily accessible. There were no cracks or stairways along the path, and it was wide enough for our date to be next to us while on the go (approx. 4 feet). The bridge in the park was also wide enough and did not have raised leveling. Halfway through the path, there was a bench that was easy for people with wheelchairs to sit down on. However, when sitting on the bench, there was no room on either side to place our date’s wheelchair. So, our date’s wheelchair would have to be placed in front of the bench on the sidewalk.
There were no sidewalks that directly accessed some of the benches, making it difficult and / or inaccessible for people who use wheelchairs. The end of the path also a sharp incline on the way out of the park toward the columns, which could be difficult for our date to navigate with their wheelchair. There were some accessibility issues with the park, but it was a successful end to our date.
Steep pathway to exit to the quad
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