For our accessible group date, we decided to explore downtown Columbia. We knew Columbia Public Transit's reputation for accessibility was not great, so we wanted to stick to places within walking distance to each other. Our first stop on our very romantic afternoon lunch date was a new restaurant on Hitt Street, Gunter Hans. At the entrance of the restaurant, we noticed a cozy patio that would be perfect for a date. But, the area was not accessible because there was a step leading to it. If you and a date wanted to sit on the patio, your partner would have to lift the wheelchair over the step. It would be possible but only with help. That's not ideal, ESPECIALLY for a first date.
Since, we were unable to sit in the patio we explored the inside of the restaurant. The inside of the restaurant was small but had plenty of room to maneuver around with a wheelchair. But, we did notice that there would not be a lot of variety for seating locations for our date. The high top tables with stools would not be an option. The lower and larger tables and chairs in the back would be better, but they were bolted to the floor and wall. We felt that there was enough room for a standard wheelchair, but not accessible for bigger sized wheel chairs. Seating was available and doable, but there were definitely limited options.
The last aspect of the restaurant we checked out was the bathrooms. The women’s bathroom was a very spacious one-stall bathroom. It was accessible with handrails near the toilet and the sink and mirrors were low enough to reach and maneuver. The men’s bathroom was identical to the women’s bathroom.
Overall, the restaurant seemed like a great date spot. But, it was not as flexible and accessible as we would have liked. There was no access to the patios, and if it was a crowded day, a couple would have to wait for a low table for seating.
AFTERNOON ENTERTAINMENT-MOVIE AT RAGTAG
Next, we headed just across the street to Ragtag Cinema to see a movie! The walk across the street was easy, and all the ground was level. The restaurant and patio area at Ragtag were much more spacious. We noticed this may have been a better original spot for a date. We concluded it would be a great place to grab a drink a snack post-movie.
There was a showing inside the theater, but a few of us has been there before and were familiar with the space. There is a ramp leading into the theater, which is VERY accessible-especially for a movie theater. But, the seating is first come first serve. The couch seating area in the front would be the only spot and the first seat in the first row of regular seats would be the only options for someone in a wheelchair and their partner. So, if those were already occupied, that would be a major problem.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem about Ragtag were its restrooms. The men's room, pictured below
was fine. But...
...the women's room, pictured below, was not. Why Ragtag chose to make only one bathroom accessible was beyond us. Yes, someone in a wheelchair could use the bathroom whether they were male or female, but we did NOT think that was ok.
Overall, Ragtag had a great accessibility score going in. But, we were very disappointed in the bathroom situation. We were a little bummed out leaving this portion of our date.
PRIVATE TIME @ PEACE PARK
Our last stop was a snuggly picnic in Peace Park on MU's campus. The walk from Ragtag on Hitt Street to campus was lovely. It was a beautiful spring day, and we thought that would have been great for a date. We tried to really notice the sidewalks on our way, and were able to find a bunch of level-grounded spots to cross the street. That was great! When we got to the park, we took the sidewalk to a shady spot under a tree. We made sure to find a spot with level ground that someone in a wheelchair would (hopefully) be able to access. It wasn't perfect, but when we got to our spot, we did think it was a cute idea for a date. There were some people around, but we tried to find the most private spot!
Although we really enjoyed our date, there were a few disappointing aspects of the places we explored in Columbia. No business or space is going to be perfect, but on a date, you want everything to go perfectly. This date was NOT perfectly accessible. But, it was still pretty fun. The beautiful weather definitely helped!
-Lauren, Ellie, Macey and Kim
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