I will be visiting Paris in Oct 2008 but I must use a motorized scooter. Is this a common sight i n Paris? Do Many tourists use them? I regret to say that Paris presents many difficulties to individuals who are mobility challenged.
There is nothing in France equivalent to the ADA and almost no provision is made for the use of chairs and scooters.
You will find that there are no curb cuts and that ramps are few and far between. Many major sights, Sacre Coeur and the tomb of Napoleon for example, are simply inaccessible. However, access to the major museums is very good (the Cluny is a notable exception).
Bathroom access in Paris remains problematic. Wheelchair accessible public bathrooms remain extremely scarce except at the major museums.
Be alert to the fact that there are no standards for the use of the word "accessible" and places that would never meet American standards for accessibily can be represented as accessible. not yet perfect but ok they usually prefer busses ot cabs...
talking about tourists of course....
and by 2008, there must be water and electricity all around ...
Stop thinking about Paris as a third world country city.
There are more helps to cripple than in the US paris, like all great cities is equiped for wheelchairs, but it's still not 100%.
some metro station are equiped but not all
most bus are equiped,
i think it's not worse than where you are,
so it should be ok | 