Near Death Experience
By cripfemme
@cripfemme (7698)
United States
March 28, 2008 7:51pm CST
Today, I rolled about 1.5 miles in my whhelchair as there was no van service to the Abilities Expo, as promised. I got to to the place where I could catch the shuttle and the police flagged me down. Then flagged down a wheelchair van to transport me to the Expo CenterApparently people had called and reported me as I rolled down the highway. There are no sidewalks in Edison and if I was going to get there at all; I needed to roll in the highway! It was very scary and I won't do that again. Lucky, my transit is arranged for the rest of the Expo. I even have a back up plan. No more highways for me! Tonight, I am glad to be alive and non-injured. I'm writing and then I need a drink and bed.
2 people like this
4 responses
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
31 Mar 08
Wow, you are braver than I would have been. I am glad they finally found you a van to finish taking you. That would have been so scary. How was the Expo after you got there? Was it pretty neat? I would love to go to one, but there hasn't been any close.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
31 Mar 08
I loved it! I didn't make a lot of money, but it was still a blast. Next year, I'll make sure I'm at the right hotel to catch the shuttle, so I don't have that problem again. I have three people who intested in my writing for them long term! Yay!
@AJ1952Chats (2331)
• Anderson, Indiana
4 Aug 08
The rules applying to Interstates/freeways prohibit anything but motorized vehicles (and mopeds don't count--and not even motorized wheelchairs).
That means no pedestrians (on or off of skateboards/skates), bicyclists, arm-operated wheelchairs.
Most regular streets and roads allow for pedestrians (on the berm facing the traffic) and bicyclists (riding in same direction as the traffic). Skateboarders & skaters might or might not be allowed. Mopeds are allowed in a limited number of places.
Although your wheelchair is the way that you "walk," you would probably be classed the same as a bicyclist where you ride with the traffic.
Hope you never have to do this again, but, if you do, you should probably put a slow-moving vehicle sign on the back of your wheelchair along with one of those pennant-style flags on a tall, skinny pole.
If the highway has a berm, it would probably be better to roll along on that instead of right out there with the traffic.
Anyway, I'm glad that you survived your experience--and that it has served as a wake-up call to show just how much of a challenge it is for people in wheelchairs to get around.
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
29 Mar 08
It can be scary to travel on a highway unless you are in a car. I am so pleased that you didn't get hurt at all. I think that vans should have been arranged for wheelchair users to get to the Abilities Expo. I think that roads without a sidewalk can be difficult to travel along. I missed a bus and decided to walk along a highway with my dog one dark evening. It was so frightening and I will never do that sort of thing again. Take care and I hope that you had a relaxing sleep after your awful experience.
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
29 Mar 08
Hello dear cripfemme. I am so sorry that you had such a scary experience, but I am very happy that you are ok from it and are still enjoying your mylotting time with us friends here. I hope that you are now having a good sleep after a nice drink to help get rid of the scary scene. Take care and have a good sleep.
