Instead of hijacking the Leonardo Express Track Change thread, I decided to start my own. The questions will mainly be about wheelchair accessible transportation. Lodging and sightseeing issues are being easily resolved.

So for the first and second questions... Is the FM1 line to Ostiense from the airport wheelchair accessible? And what about Ostiense Station itself? Will I need to pre-book tickets just I would with the Leonardo Express?

Where do I find Roman bus route information that includes wheelchair accessibility information?

Thanks in advance for your ideas and patience with all these questions!

{{Edited to make title reflect the question}}

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Amy,

Here is a post from May 2009 that would be helpful
http://slowtalk.com/groupee/fo...=462103502#462103502
Rome Addict has an Accessible Rome page here at Slow travel
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/.../rome/wheelchair.htm


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I took the FM1 to Ostiense from the airport on my last trip. Yes, there is a place where one can park a wheelchair. The steps lead up to the seating from the landing. There were people with strollers there, but no wheelchairs on the train car I was riding.

The Ostiense station has elevators available to lead you under the tracks and up to the station. I don't recall if the track where we deboarded the train had elevator access.

Maybe someone who is in the area can check on that?

I did see elevators leading down to the Piramide (Ostiense) metro station, and there was a lift at the Cavour station to take chairs up to the street level.

DMae

Thank you, both. All the information about the metro is so inconsistent. Some site label stations as accessible and some don't. ATAC and the MetroRoma sites can't even seem to agree.

Until I get more concrete information, I think I'll stick with the Leonardo Express.

Joseph

Here are the physical issues with the Leonardo express. There are no problems at Fiumicino getting to the train station or onto the platforms. The problem is there is a 10 to 12 inch gap (mind the gap) between the sill of the door to the train and the edge of the platform. Basically it is SO wide that you cannot do the turn around and have somebody pull you over the gap (something we have all done). So you must pre-notify to make sure there is someone there to have the fork lift available to put you on the train.

At the Termini station the same problem exists only this time it is 2 monster steps down to the platform off the train. One if you are in the "handicap" car.

The issues at Ostensie are not particularly in the train station it is getting INTO the train station. When we went out the access was blocked by what appeared to be construction. Fortunately I can walk short distances and handle a few steps so DH dragged the scooter down the stairs and then helped me down. Hopefully somebody can update that information because the construction appeared nearly done.

The issue with access nowadays seems to be "well my store, museum, business is accessible I can't do anything about the steps at the door." This is true of everything from the Capitoline Museum to the food market over by Vatican.

I was so frustrated by the Capitoline museum (which would be so easy to access) that I made an appointment and met with the director. I offered to outright pay for a ramp on the side of the building to make the museums accessible. I was told that the city officials have basically refused to allow a ramp because of the historicity of the buildings. I discussed using the high impact glass that is being used by the Hualapai tribe at the grand canyon where you can walk out over the canyon. Basically I got the bum rush. Thank you for your generous offer but we are not interested.....

So you still need to have someone either go inside and get them to open the door to the manager's office or to send out the troops and haul you up the stairs in front.

If you will notice the big step into the market by the Vatican which they didn't address but they put a ramp up for the rest.

In terms of ATAC/romametro if one or the other says non-accessible believe them. I used the buses for the major tourist routes only. Termini to Vatican, Termini to Largo Argentina and then I would jump onto a tram. 99% of the tram stops were accessible. There is a gap between the tram and the ramp but it isn't too bad. I was able to "jump" the gap.

It is really hard to plan on public transit. As I said before 60% of the buses are now accessible. However, lots of times the buses may have said "accessible" (blue wheelchair logo) but the ramps were broken or "accessible" was defined as just having a place for wheelchairs. I would ONLY recommend that you use public transit if you have lots of time and lots of patience.

And day after day the same bus numbers will be broken. Totally frustrating.

One bright spot was the number 116. It is new mini vans with wheelchair ramps and they all work. Downside is it is incredibly difficult to find the actual stops for the number 116. It is literally a game of hide and seek with the stops seeming to change daily.

Sadly the most consistently accessible wheelchair transporation in Rome continues to be cabs.