A simple trip to the post office – half a mile. But the pavement is cracked, tree roots have pushed up slabs, and the dropped kerb at the crossing is missing. A wheelchair user is forced into the road – twice. A car honks. Someone mutters “shouldn’t be on the road.”
This is daily life for many powerchair and electric wheelchair users. It affects safety, dignity, and the ability to participate in ordinary life.
Below are five common pavement access problems.
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Uneven and broken paving slabs
Wheelchair castors get stuck in gaps. Front wheels can tip if a slab is raised by even an inch. A small crack can stop a powerchair or manual wheelchair. These uneven pavements are everywhere.
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Missing or poorly designed dropped kerbs
A dropped kerb that is too steep, or one leading onto a cambered road surface, can tip a wheelchair sideways. When no dropped kerb exists, the electric wheelchair user is forced into the road. Good kerb climbing ability would help, but the infrastructure is lacking.
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Overhanging vegetation and bins
Bushes growing over the pavement or wheelie bins left out for days force powerchair users into the road. This is another everyday pavement access failure.
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Pavements blocked by parked cars
Cars parked with two wheels on the pavement leave a narrow gap – often not wide enough for a wheelchair. These parked cars are a constant battle. If passage is impossible, the user has to turn back or risk moving into traffic.
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Seasonal hazards: leaves, ice, and grit
Wet leaves are as slippery as ice. Ice is a hazard, and pavements are often not gritted. Shopkeepers spraying water onto the pavement while cleaning can also create slippery surfaces. These seasonal hazards make every journey a gamble.
Attitudinal prejudice: the other barrier
Even when pavements are in good condition, some people object to wheelchair users sharing the space. Drivers beep because a powerchair is slow crossing a side road. Pedestrians sigh when an electric wheelchair briefly blocks the pavement while manoeuvring.
What can be done?
If you face these obstacles, you are not alone. Many wheelchair users experience the same daily struggles.
Speak with neighbours who have similar difficulties – collective voices are harder to ignore.
Join local disability groups or online forums to share experiences and advocate together.
Small changes start with awareness. When enough people speak up, streets become more accessible for everyone.
But while we push for better infrastructure, you still need to get out today – to the shops, to the park, to see a friend. You can’t wait years for every pavement to be fixed.
That’s where the right powerchair makes the difference. A reliable all‑terrain powerchair with 12" rear wheels and PU solid tyres – like those from Verpal – can handle the cracks, the gravel, and the kerbs that the system neglects. It won’t fix the pavement, but it will get you over it.
Keep moving. Keep speaking up. And don’t let poor pavements steal your day.
