Amy, Anna, Jan 's Romantic Accessible Date

We began our date from SFU Burnaby campus. We took bus 145 from the top bus loop as the bus loop under library always already full. Buses in Vancouver including the one we took all offered service to wheelchair users. The bus is specially designed with ramp and kneeling function. The kneeling system can lower down the bus for elderly or people with cane, whereas an extension ramp will be reached out to the sidewalk to create a bridge for wheelchair users to have access to the bus.

 On the bus, there are seats designed and reserved for them to use as well. It is a spacious area where they can be comfortable seated on their wheelchair. The blue sticker on the wall also makes it easier to clarify the space provided for wheelchair users. It also has a seat belt in place to add safety of the wheelchair rider. Moreover, the yellow string on the wall are also designed to be at a lower height makes it easier for the wheelchair users to pull it to stop the bus. However, there is a limitation on total number of seats compare with able body users. There are only two seats available for them per bus and these seats are also being shared with stroller.

We then took skytrain to metrotown, when we walked up to the platform, we noticed the newly built automatic entrance with varied widths; the wider one is specially designed for the wheelchair users to pass. 

And as we get to metrotown station, there is only one elevator provided and located on the opposite side from entering metrotown entrance. Therefore, we have to go around and cross a road in order to enter metrotown from an entrance besides bus loop. The elevator is quit narrow to accommodate two wheelchairs at the same ride.

Finally, we are in the mall and we decided to watch a movie since the weather was terrible for any outdoor activities. We used the elevator located in the mall to go up to Cineplex movie theatre. The elevator to the theatre is wider and cleaner compared to the skytrain elevator.

After purchasing tickets, we walked into the restroom and there is no washroom designed for wheelchair users, all of them are for able body users. Although, theatre provides a bigger and specifically designed washroom for wheelchair users just beside male and female’s washroom, wheelchair users are being isolated into a different group.  

Before we enter our theatre room, we noticed the door to each theatre room is automatic with a button on the wall. This allows people with disabilities easier to go in and out for washroom break during the movie start.

Finally, we entered our room to be seated and enjoy our movie, we noticed that there are many seats, but only few are wheelchair accessible. There are clear sign to indicate the seats reserved for the wheelchair users, however those reserved seats are limited to the first row and limited space provide to store wheelchair as well.

           

 After watching a movie, we decided to go to a quiet café that is located in crystal mall which is only two blocks away from metrotown. The café place has less than ten seats and always plays smooth jazz type of music which is a perfect atmospher for a deeper conversation and can link to sexuality. In crystal mall, there are ramps everywhere for wheelchair to access the building and elevators to get to other floors. 

As soon as we got to Dream 62 Café, first thing we noticed is their door is wide enough to have wheelchair access and they have also set a metal clip on the floor to assist wheelchair users to get into the store easier. We also noticed a lower table beside the counter with all the sugar, cream and milk containers to allow wheelchair users be able to reach to the supply as well.

There are two types of tables and chair for customers to choose. We choose a higher table with one leg since the space around the table is large enough to fit wheelchair whereas the lower table with four legs is impossible for wheelchair to use it.

 

            

After spending some private time at the café, we took a 10 minutes’ walk along the street to get to our dinner place. We chose Earls restaurant as a perfect romantic dinner for today’s date. When we got to the front entrance of the restaurant, there is only stairs and no ramp. After we asked the manager, she said there is a ramp and a door designed for wheelchair users, however, it is located on the side of the patio entrance.

At the main entrance, the door is automatic with a press button besides the door for any people with disability can easily go through the door.

Inside the restaurant, the environment is amazingly comfortable. The atmosphere and lighting are perfect to impress your date and create deeper connections with each other. The whole restaurant was organized into two sections including the bar and dining area. The area at the bar is narrow and with mostly high stand chairs; therefore, we choose the dining area to seat. The dining area is very spacious and clean. Tables are designed at a reasonable height for normal body as well as disabled body. The restaurant also has two different styles of tables and chairs to allow customers to choose from. We choose one leg table with movable chairs which can provide plenty of space for wheelchair users. However, the table along the wall are not wheelchair friendly.

Inside the restaurant there’re washroom specifically designed for wheelchair users. The door going into the washroom is a reasonable size for a wheel chair to pass through. The washroom has a handle on the wall which provides a support for them. Also, the sink is at a lower height which allows disabled body to reach it with ease. The space in the washroom is also spacious for them to move around.

After we finished our accessible date, we feel like there are a lot of improvements made for people with disabilities, however, there are still many challenges we encountered during our date. One thing we noticed is that all the challenges we faced during our date is mainly created by environmental barriers and created these physical barriers.