Oregon Addresses Beach Access For The Mobility Challenged

As someone who, in the last couple of years, has developed a problem with my legs, I am finding that accessibility to certain places is far more debilitating than I had originally thought.

A couple of years ago, my legs started to weaken. Over a period of just a few short months, I was no longer able to go out for a walk anywhere, because my legs became weak and unstable.

Photo byHans MoermanonUnsplash

I've gone through multiple diagnostic tests and have seen every "-ologist" known to man, to no avail thus far. And I'm missing out on many once enjoyable parts of life.

Having just recently moved back to my beloved Oregon, and loving the Oregon coast as I do, I am elated to find that the Oregon Coast Visitors Association has issued a grant to some coastal counties to improve accessibility for people with mobil disabilities.

Photo byPhoto courtesy of klcc.org

According to reporting by klcc.org, this grant is providing funding for "mobi-mats", using recycled polyester, that are being installed in various coastal locations, providing a smooth pathway from a parking area directly to the beach.

Lane County in Oregon is the first to experiment with these accessibility mats, and the public response is overwhelmingly favorable. It is unclear whether the new pathways are restricted to people with mobility issues or not, but with the outpouring of positive feedback, there are plans to expand the usage of these mats to other areas of the coast.

This seems to be great insight on the behalf of the Visitors Association. I do have favorite places on the Oregon Coast that I love to visit. But if I can't gain access to the beach, it's far less enjoyable to go there.

So for now, at least, instead of sitting in the car in a parking lot watching the waves, we will make an effort to visit the locations that offer me the ability to access the beach! A win-win both for me and for the counties that are offering easier access to the ocean.