We started our date in Downtown Columbia at the restaurant Main Squeeze. While we made the assumption that our date lived downtown or on campus, if they did not, the process of getting to Main Squeeze would have been challenging. The first thing we noticed about Main Squeeze was the entrance. The ramp, while useful, is very steep and narrow. If the door was not propped open, a wheelchair user could have difficulty entering the building. When you enter the restaurant, it appears to be relatively accessible. There are many open tables where a chair could easily roll up to and sit. However, the tables are very close together, so if the restaurant was busy (which it often is), it could be hard for a wheelchair user to maneuver between the many chairs and the tight space. We also noticed that while the counter was to order was low, the water station has the cups placed on a very high shelf, which someone in a wheelchair could most likely not reach.
As for other aspects of the restaurant, the menu offers options for all types of eaters (including vegan/vegetarian), but the options are pricey, which is not accessible to all socioeconomic levels. There are gender neutral bathrooms, however, the hallway to the bathroom is somewhat tight and could be difficult to move through.
Our next stop on the journey was Rag Tag for drinks and a movie (which we considered to be private time.) We walked down Cherry Street and the took a left down Hitt. We faced a few problems on the route. As expected, there were many bumps and cracks, including a large lip in the sidewalk, that could cause an issue for someone in a wheelchair. There were also bumps on the end of each sidewalk, which we learned are to help people who are blind know when they’ve reached the end of the sidewalk. We learned from our classmate that while these help some, they can be a problem to wheelchair users because they slow down momentum. When you have to cross 10th street on Cherry, there is a crosswalk sign that goes very quickly, which could cause issues for anyone in a wheelchair or just someone who had difficulty walking. When you cross Hitt on Cherry, there is no crosswalk on the left side of the street. Because of this, you basically have to try your best to get across the street before any cars come speeding down Hitt (which is obviously DANGEROUS!)
Once we arrived at RagTag, we were pleased with the ramp and easy entrance because of the propped open door. The bar is too high for someone in a wheelchair to see over, but the counter to order food and tickets is low and accessible. The space is somewhat accessible, but if the restaurant area was crowded it could be challenging for to move through. There are non-gender neutral bathrooms in the restaurant/bar area, but gender neutral bathrooms in the theater area. When you move past the ticket counter, there is a bench that makes it a tight squeeze. There is also a dark hallway that could be challenging for someone who has vision troubles. We also noticed a food cart before the theater, which could make it hard to enter the theater. As for the inside of theater that we were assigned, there were steps, which someone in a wheelchair could not go up. This left the two rows of couches in the very front. This somewhat foiled our plan of private time depending on how comfortable you are with your date. The very front can also be challenging to see and hurt your neck. If our date was unable to move from their chair, we would ask the staff to move one of the smaller couches. If they could move in and out, we would choose from one of the couches in the front.
After leaving RagTag we headed to Cafe Berlin. We went down Hitt headed north and turned on to Broadway. While we went down 10th street, we ran into lots of cracks. Next to the bus station there is a large patch of cobble stone that could cause a wheelchair user to have trouble. In the same spot on 10th street, the street begins to get very steep. Once we reached the Cafe the two front doors allow for a lot of access. The wide open space allows room for wheelchair users while the low to the ground tables provide a space for individuals that cannot stand for a long time. The bar is high up, but the staff is very conscious and are always trying to create an inclusive environment. Another example of the inclusive environment that the business creates are the all gender bathrooms. While the door is a little heavy, once you get inside the bathroom, everything is accessible to a wheelchair user. In one of the spaces in the dining room, there is a step to get up to it usually where merchandise is sold which would be inaccessible to a wheelchair user. When we went on our date initially we thought that the stage for performing would be inaccessible to a wheelchair user, but later we contacted a staff member at the Cafe and they said that at the back entrance of the stage, they could easily put a ramp up. As far as economics, Cafe Berlin is known for more pricey food options, but at night the drinks are all pretty cheap and they have a lot of choices for under $5. Cafe Berlin was overall a successful entertainment option for our date.
We would end our date by going our separate ways. Unfortunately, we both live in buildings where there is no elevator and only stairs. Suzanne lives in Brookside Midtown on the 4th floor and Emily lives above Geisha on Broadway. Both have steeps stairs or many flights of stairs that would not allow us to have our date come upstairs. Overall we felt that while many things could be "accessible" in the sense someone in a wheelchair could get in the door, other aspects were not very accessible.
As for other aspects of the restaurant, the menu offers options for all types of eaters (including vegan/vegetarian), but the options are pricey, which is not accessible to all socioeconomic levels. There are gender neutral bathrooms, however, the hallway to the bathroom is somewhat tight and could be difficult to move through.
Our next stop on the journey was Rag Tag for drinks and a movie (which we considered to be private time.) We walked down Cherry Street and the took a left down Hitt. We faced a few problems on the route. As expected, there were many bumps and cracks, including a large lip in the sidewalk, that could cause an issue for someone in a wheelchair. There were also bumps on the end of each sidewalk, which we learned are to help people who are blind know when they’ve reached the end of the sidewalk. We learned from our classmate that while these help some, they can be a problem to wheelchair users because they slow down momentum. When you have to cross 10th street on Cherry, there is a crosswalk sign that goes very quickly, which could cause issues for anyone in a wheelchair or just someone who had difficulty walking. When you cross Hitt on Cherry, there is no crosswalk on the left side of the street. Because of this, you basically have to try your best to get across the street before any cars come speeding down Hitt (which is obviously DANGEROUS!)
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