"Travel like me" offers insight into disabled challenges

KUSA - Truly understanding how our transportation system works for people with a variety of abilities and challenges will help planners design more sustainable, living streets for the future.

October is National Disability Awareness Month. It's also International Walk to School Day, but how do streets and sidewalks in our city work for those who need to work harder getting around?

On 9NEWS 7 a.m. Mayor John Hickenlooper talked with 9NEWS Business Reporter Gregg Moss about the city's Travel Like Me initiative, a walking tour of the city by city planners paired with people of all walks of life who have various challenges getting around town.

"We want to reexamine how peple are getting around the city for starters", Hickenlooper said. By taking this tour with people with various abilities they can point out what's working and what's not. By doing this we get some perspective," the mayor said.

And although the city has been pretty progressive in accessibility for all, the mayor thinks that there's definitely room for improvement. " We're ahead of other cities, but we have a long way to go...We want Denver to be the best in the nation, and Travel Like Me will give us an opportunity to see where to start", the mayor told Moss.

Denver's already become an accessible city with smoothe curbs for wheelchair users, clickers at crossing lights for those who can't see, but Travel Like Me will most likely uncover more challenges for those whose travel is challenging enough.

The Travel Like Me tour began Wednesday morning at Union Station. Planners and officials, paired with people who have physical disabilities or mobility challenges. The tour ends at the Atrium of the Wellington Webb Building, 201 W. Colfax Avenue.