cars

girl-wheelchair-getting-out-side-entry-wheelchair-van copy

Are Peer-to-Peer Vehicle Rentals a Realistic Option for Wheelchair Users?

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Peer-to-peer vehicle rentals are an up-and-coming concept. Some call it car sharing, while others refer to it as the Airbnb of car rentals. The big question is, will it work for wheelchair-users who need adapted vehicles?

The premise is pretty simple. A company contracts with individual owners to rent out their vehicles, offers them to the public, and then gives the owners the lion’s share of the profits. The customers get a reliable rental at a bargain price, and the owners get some cash in their pockets. It’s a win-win for everyone. But is it a realistic option for wheelchair-users?

Turo

Let’s start by looking at one of the leading providers of peer-to-peer vehicle rentals in the US – Turo (https://turo.com). I’ve never used them, but a friend made some extra money by renting her adapted van through them. The rental vehicle requirements are pretty simple.

All Turo Vehicles must:

  • Be less than 12 years old
  • Have less than 130,000 miles
  • Be fully insured

Owners get about 70% of the rental rates, which are about a third of the going rates for accessible vehicles in the US. And of course location is king. My friend lived near the Miami airport, so she did pretty well.

But what about renting an adapted van? Well they do have a filter to find adapted vehicles, but you have to do a city search first. The filter is to the far left, under “all filters”. If you search a major city, you will probably find at least one adapted vehicle, but they are not as available as standard vehicles in smaller cities and towns.

The good news is, there are lots of photos of the adapted vehicles, so you will have a good idea of what features they have. In short, it’s a good economical alternative for major airports in the US. But once you get out of the big cities, the availability of adapted vehicles drops to almost zero. And hey, if you have an adapted vehicle that you don’t use every day, you might consider offering it to Turo as a rental.

The French Approach

The French have an entirely different approach to adapted vehicles as far as peer-to-peer vehicle rentals are concerned. They have a whole company that is entirely dedicated to peer-to-peer adaptive vehicle rentals. It’s called Wheeliz (https://www.wheeliz.com/), and it’s headquartered in Paris. And according to their website they are the first peer-to-peer car rental program for wheelchair-users.

Their concept is pretty simple, and much like Turo. People register their cars on the Wheeliz website, where users search for rentals. When a match is made, the user picks up the vehicle at an appointed place and payment is made through the Wheeliz website. The owner is later paid a percentage of the rental rate.

You can choose from a ramped van or a vehicle with adaptive driving features. And there are plenty of photos, and lots of information about each vehicle, so you really know what you are renting.

The great thing about Wheeliz is that it really seems to be catching on. Of course there’s no shortage of rentals in Paris, but I searched in several rural locations, and many small cities, and still found a good selection of vehicles. And they were all at bargain prices – about 65 Euros for an adapted van.

So hopefully the Wheeliz model will catch on over in the states, but if you’re traveling to France I would most definitely check them out. Not only is it a more economical alternative, but it also benefits someone with a disability. It’s a great idea!

 

 

Russell’s Auto Museum

Russell’s Auto Museum

, , , , , , , , ,

1583 Frontage Road
Glen Rio, NM

Located at Interstate 40 Exit 369 on the Texas-New Mexico border, the TA Travel Center is home to the excellent Russell’s Auto Museum. Formerly Russell’s Auto Center, the property was sold to TA in 2023, but a lease agreement remains in place to keep Russell’s Auto Museum going for at least until 2028. Says Mark Russell, former Director of Operations at Russell’s Travel Center, “My mom and dad just wanted to keep the museum and keep people being able to look at the cars and stuff.”

Accessible parking is available near the truck stop entrance, with level access to the building. Inside there’s barrier-free access through the restaurant to the back of the building, where you’ll find the car museum. Highlights include a 1955 Corvette Roadster, a 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner and a 1957 pink T-bird convertible. There’s good pathway access around all the cars, which are surrounded by a plethora of memorabilia, from vintage photos, toys and gas pumps, to a nice collection of 1950s children’s push cars. Add in the vintage tunes playing on the juke box and you have the full nostalgic experience. Best of all, there’s no admission charge to this fun museum.

More Wheelchair Accessible Roadside Attractions
Barrier-Free Travel22 Accessible Road TripsDriving Vacations for Wheelers and Slow Walkers Buy the Book

Barrier-Free Travel
22 Accessible Road Trips
Driving Vacations
for Wheelers and Slow Walkers

Buy the Book
 

Route 66 Auto Museum

, , , , , , , ,

2436 Historic Route 66
Santa Rosa, NM
automotivemuseumguide.com/route-66-auto-museum/

Located along the post-1937 incarnation of Route 66, Santa Rosa, the Route 66 Auto Museum is a must-stop for car buffs on any Interstate 40 road trip. This brainchild of Bozo and Anna Cordova — who also own Bozo’s Garage & Wrecker Service — is the result of Bozo’s lifelong love affair with automobiles. He built his first car when he was just 12, and subsequently Bozo and his crew have custom built over 150 different vehicles. These restorations, many of which required some “out of the box thinking” have been subsequently displayed in the museum.

There’s accessible parking in front, with level access to the museum, and plenty of room for even the largest wheelchair to navigate around the displays. The cars range from 1920 to 2005, and there’s also a good collection of old signs, Route 66 memorabilia, photos and vintage vending machines on display. It’s a great blast from the past. And while you’re tooling along on a nostalgic road trip, be sure to stop at the New Mexico Route 66 Museum up in Tucumcari (emerginghorizons.com/new-mexico-route-66-museum/)

.

Barrier-Free Travelthe Grand Canyonfor Wheelers and Slow Walkers Buy the Book

Barrier-Free Travel
the Grand Canyon
for Wheelers and Slow Walkers

Buy the Book
 

 

 

 

 

Carhenge

Carhenge

, , , , , , ,

2151 County Road 59
Alliance NE
carhenge.com

No trip through the Cornhusker State is complete without a stop at Carhenge, located about three miles north of Alliance on County Road 59. Not to be confused with Cadillac Ranch (emerginghorizons.com/cadillac-ranch/), this structure was built to replicate Stonehenge in England. It was erected at a 1987 family reunion, as a memorial to Jim Reinders’ father, and was appropriately dedicated during the summer solstice later that year.

The cars that comprise the sculpture are largely from the 50s and 60s and they are all American made. Previously there were three foreign models included, but they have since been removed and buried at the site. The circle of implanted cars replicates the placement of 38 of the major stones at Stonehenge. Originally Carhenge was unpainted, but it was subsequently painted flat gray to more closely resemble the British structure. In contrast, the Car Art Preserve, which is also located at the site, features a variety of colorful sculptures made from old cars and car parts.

There’s no striped parking at the site, but the lot is level, and is made of hard-packed dirt with bits of large gravel on top. The best place to park is over near the concrete pad at the Pit Stop, as it’s easier to access the level dirt trails around Carhenge from there. The pathways that lead through the Carhenge site are made of hard-packed dirt, and they are mostly doable in dry weather. There’s also level access to the Pit Stop, which sells souvenirs during the summer months. It’s a fun road trip stop.

More Wheelchair Accessible Roadside Attractions
Barrier-Free Travel22 Accessible Road TripsDriving Vacations for Wheelers and Slow Walkers Buy the Book

Barrier-Free Travel
22 Accessible Road Trips
Driving Vacations
for Wheelers and Slow Walkers

Buy the Book
 

 

 

 

AZ-Hackberry

Hackberry General Store

, , , , , , , , ,

Kingman, AZ
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100043125116622

Located on an original stretch of Route 66, this combination gas station and souvenir shop is definitely a blast from the past. Take some time to explore the vintage cars, signs, tools and assorted junk outside, before you catch a glimpse of the vintage pinups in the men’s restroom inside at the Hackberry General Store. There’s plenty of room to park an adapted van in the dirt parking area, and there’s a level entry to the souvenir shop. And although there are a few steps inside, you can still get a good feel for this vintage attraction without navigating them. A must-stop on any Route 66 road trip! (emerginghorizons.com/wheelchair-accessible-route-66-a-great-grand-canyon-side-trip/)

More Wheelchair Accessible Roadside Attractions
Barrier-Free Travelthe Grand Canyonfor Wheelchair-users and Slow Walkers Buy the Book

Barrier-Free Travel
the Grand Canyon
for Wheelchair-users and Slow Walkers

Buy the Book
Wheelchair-Accessible Factory Tours

Wheelchair-Accessible Factory Tours

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Factory Tours offer a fun peek into the manufacturing process, and many even give out free samples and substantial discounts at their factory stores. And although not all areas of many factories are wheelchair-accessible, more and more companies are making their factory tours doable for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. Additionally, factory tours are easy on the the wallet, as many are low-cost or free. With that in mind, here are some fun wheelchair-accessible factory tours across the US.

Ben & Jerry’s

www.benjerry.com

Tasting room at Ben and Jerrys

At the top of the list of wheelchair-accessible factory tours is Ben & Jerry’s in rural Waterbury, Vermont. This fun tour chronicles the story of childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, and details how they started their business by taking a correspondence course on ice cream making.

Accessible parking is available near the information booth (just follow the signs), but if you can’t do distances, there is a drop-off point in front of the main building. There is level access to the lobby, and a wheelchair is available for loan at the tour desk. The entire tour is wheelchair-accessible, with level access to all areas.

The 30-minute tour begins with a movie about the history of the company, then continues to the mezzanine viewing walkway. Although you don’t go directly in the factory, you get a good birds-eye view of the ice cream making process from this overhead vantage point. There are free samples at the end of the tour, but if you’d like more than a sample, there’s a scoop shop outside. And although it’s not on the tour, be sure and visit the Flavor Graveyard outside. There is a small charge for this popular tour, and it’s a good idea to get your tickets online to avoid disappointment.

Hyundai

www.hmmausa.com
For a look at how Hyundai and Genesis vehicles are made, make sure and take the Hyundai Factory Tour in Montgomery, Alabama. There’s plenty of accessible parking in the visitors lot, with level access to the visitors center, where you’ll find a display of newly minted Hyundai and Genesis vehicles.

The 1.5-hour tour begins with a short movie, after which visitors are escorted to a wheelchair-accessible tram. Head sets and safety glasses are issued to everyone, and then the tram begins its trek through the factory. Along the way the tour guide explains the production process as the tram weaves through the stamping shop, welding shop, general assembly shop and engine shop. The tour ends with a short trip out to the test track. It’s a very interesting tour, and although it’s free, advance reservations are required. The tours are offered during the days on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and in the evenings on Thursdays. Sorry folks, no free samples on this one.

Abita Brewery

www.abita.com/visit

Fermentation tanks at Abita Brewery

Next up on our list of wheelchair-accessible factory tours is Abita Brewery. Located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, this Louisiana mainstay brews a healthy selection of craft beers and craft sodas.

There is level access to the factory, except the bottling room, which has one step. Still you can get a good look at the bottling process without entering the bottling room. The informative tour last 30 minutes, after which visitors can enjoy a pint in the Tap Room. Alternatively the family-friendly tour offers a walk or roll through the craft soda section of the brewery. This 20-minute tour offers a close-up look at the brewing process, and includes samples of the sodas brewed there. As with the craft beer tour, this tour also offers good wheelchair access.

There is a charge for both tours, and although tickets are available in advance, spots are also held for walk-ups on every tour. These guided tours are held daily in the afternoons, except on Christmas and Thanksgiving. Closed toes shoes are required for all tours.

Jelly Belly

www.jellybelly.com

Bins of Jelly Beans at the Jelly Belly Factory

If you’ve ever wondered how jelly beans are made, than a trip the the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield, California is a must. There’s a small charge for this self-guided tour, but advance reservations are not required. Accessible parking is available in front, with level access to the building. And if you can’t manage the short walk from the parking lot, there’s also a drop-off area near the front door.

All areas on the self-guided tour are wheelchair-accessible, with an elevator up to the second floor gallery that circles the plant. Employees are stationed along the way to answer questions, and videos detail the whole production process. There are even lowered windows in the viewing gallery, so wheelchair-users get an excellent view of everything.

The sugary confections start out as slurry which is poured into molds to create the jelly bean centers. The centers are then transferred to spinning drums filled with sugar to form the hard outer shell. Finally the beans are polished in another set of drums filled with syrup. After all that, they are stamped with the Jelly Belly logo, packaged and sent on their way.

After the tour visitors can browse through the art gallery, which contains jelly bean mosaics of presidents, rock stars and fashion icons, have a jelly bean shaped burger in the cafeteria, or try some fudge in the chocolate shop. And don’t forget to pick up some tasty treats in the gift shop.

Tillamook Creamery

www.tillamook.com

The Tillamook Creamery

Last but not least on our roundup of wheelchair-accessible factory tours is the Tillamook Creamery. Originally established as a cheese shop in the 1950s, this Oregon cheese factory has offered free tours since 1968. And although it’s probably the most touristed attraction in town, it’s still worth a stop.

There’s plenty of accessible parking in front, with level access to the building. The self-guided factory tour starts in the Farm Exhibit Hall, which focuses on the basics of cow care by Tillamook farmers. After that, visitors take the elevator to the second floor gallery, which offers an expansive view of the factory floor. Videos and touch screen presentations help describe the production process, as the cheese is transported from station to station on conveyor belts. Visitors are able to view the whole process from start to finish, after which they they head back downstairs for a sample of the finished product.

There is level access to the first-floor sample buffet, where you can try the many different varieties of Tillamook cheese. And if you’d like to take home some cheese, there’s also a cheese shop nearby. There’s level access to the adjacent restaurant which features a variety of cheesy treats. And don’t forget to stop by the ice cream counter to order a scoop of Tillamook ice cream. It’s the perfect way to top off a Tillamook Creamery visit.

Barrier-Free Travel22 Accessible Road Tripsfor Wheelers and Slow Walkers Buy the Book

Barrier-Free Travel
22 Accessible Road Trips
for Wheelers and Slow Walkers

Buy the Book