Cory Lee is a self proclaimed travel addict. Cory has spinal muscular atrophy. He shares his travel adventures to motivate others who use wheelchairs to leave their comfort zone and get out and explore the world.
Cory visited Copenhagen, and while there he compiled some tips and tricks for wheelchair users to navigate the city. He provides advice on how to travel by walking (or rolling), accessible taxis, metro, and bus.
“When you think of Denmark and specifically Copenhagen, you might think of windmills, rows of colorful houses lining a calm river, and famously bike-friendly streets. But I can attest that this pleasantly compact city is also quite wheelchair friendly.”
Walking and Rolling
Cory says that Downtown Copenhagen is mostly walkable/rollable, but there are cobblestones in certain places. Rolling over cobblestone can be a nuisance for wheelchair users. However, Cory was pleased to find that there were well placed curb cutouts everywhere.
There are some older shops with inaccessible entrances. However, in Cory’s experience, the people of Copenhagen were very friendly and willing to accommodate. Restaurants and cafes that were not accessible did have tables and chairs set up on the sidewalks for outdoor dining. Some establishments had heaters placed outside so customers could enjoy the outdoor dining experience in colder weather.
“Copenhagen boasts that it has made numerous improvements to make the city more accessible for travelers in wheelchairs, and I’ve found that to be true. Plus, Copenhagen overall is a notably small and compact city, making it one of Europe’s best to traverse on wheels.”
Cory states that most of Copenhagen’s tourist attractions are close together, which makes it easy to walk/roll to within a day of sightseeing. Cory suggests checking out a map of the city to plan your excursion.
Accessible Taxis
All of Copenhagen’s taxis are prepared to transport collapsible wheelchairs. However, if you use a power wheelchair you will need to plan in advance. Cory learned that there are a number of wheelchair accessible taxis in Copenhagen, but they have to be booked ahead of time. Arriving at the airport, Cory attempted to book a wheelchair accessible taxi, but was unable to because the taxis were out of service that day. He advises that if you prefer to travel by taxi that you book in advance!
Metro
In Cory’s opinion, the Metro is the easiest and most accessible way to travel in Copenhagen. There is an elevator or lift at every Metro station, and the stations were built with accessibility in mind. However, Cory says that it may be best if you use the restroom before boarding the Metro as there are no facilities connected to the Metro itself.
Train
Trains are also completely accessible in Copenhagen with elevators or other accessible entrances to board the train. Cory advises that it is necessary for wheelchair users to wait for the train up in the front so that the driver can help you board the train. At that time, you can also tell the driver which station you plan to exit at so he or she can assist you then as well.
Buses
Most buses have a ramp by the center door for wheelchair users. However, unlike trains, the drivers of the buses in Copenhagen are not allowed to assist wheelchair users on entering and exiting the bus. Also, scooters are not allowed on the bus. There is a button by the middle door that if pushed will notify the bus driver that you want to enter/exit the bus. Cory suggest to always travel with a friend on the bus as he has heard horror stories of the bus not always being the most accommodating. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Cory says it will also be beneficial to study the city’s bus routes before going on your journey because the routes can be somewhat complicated. He suggests if you want to see the tourist sights to use Copenhagen’s Hop On/Hop Off Service that is not affiliated with the bus system, but all accessible.
Cory concludes by saying that if you travel to Copenhagen and wish to take the tourist option, walking/rolling to see the sights would be his choice. He says, you never know what kind of treasures one will find while exploring the streets.
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