Your traveling companion shouldn't have
to be confined to the car when you head out for a sightseeing trip. A
portable ramp is a convenient way to carry-along mobility access in
areas you might want to explore, but a difference in surface heights
makes it difficult to get the wheelchair beyond the parking space. A
ramp won't help if there is not a trail or flat surface to roll on
once you get over the obstacle, but in many cases it will give the
wheelchair traveler access to pathways and viewing points that can't
be attained otherwise.
Before you or your friend purchases a
portable wheelchair ramp in expectation of grand adventures, check
out the specifications of several models from several vendors. Make
sure you understand the length and width of the ramp when it is
folded and locked for transport and storage. Some wheelchair and
scooter ramp models are 6-feet long – which is great for
accessibility – but may not fit into a compact car. Do the best you
can to find a model that isn't too heavy to carry, either.
Shorter ramps which weigh less, if
necessary to get them into your vehicle, are sufficient to open new
vistas on a sightseeing tour. Rolling from the car door up and over a
log edging can put you on a hard-packed nature trail, surrounded by
native plants and wild birds. Being able to negotiate a curb along a
mountain highway pull-out opens up the opportunity to see the
picturesque view across valleys and peaks. Getting to roll up a ramp
over the steps into a historic village schoolhouse off the beaten
track is a chance to see a whole new world – the way things used to
be.