Travelling with mobility equipment
Equipment that works well at home can become awkward on the road. A little planning keeps it working at the other end.
Trips are where mobility equipment is tested hardest: folded, lifted, stowed, handled by strangers and used on unfamiliar ground. Most problems are avoidable with a few phone calls, labels and photographs. The points below are general; airlines, rail operators and venues each have their own rules, so always check directly with them.
Before you book
Ask the carrier or venue what assistance they offer and how much notice they need. Many transport operators can arrange help boarding or a wheelchair between gates if asked in advance. If you use powered equipment, battery rules are particularly important to confirm ahead of time. Write down the name of the person you spoke to and the date.
Know your equipment
Have the weight, folded dimensions and any removable parts of your walker or wheelchair written down. Practise folding it quickly. Take clear photographs of the equipment before you travel; if anything is damaged in transit, photographs make reporting much easier.
Protect the parts that break
- Remove cushions, bags and anything loose and carry them with you.
- Fold down or remove footrests and push handles if the design allows.
- Attach a label with your name, contact details and simple folding instructions.
- Pack a small kit: a spare cane tip, a tyre pump if relevant, and any tool the equipment needs.
By car
Measure the boot or trunk opening before the day, not in the car park. Lifting a folded chair is easier with a technique shown by a therapist, and some people use a lighter travel chair or rollator only for car trips. Allow time at each stop to unfold the equipment calmly.
Arriving somewhere new
Ask about step-free entrances, lifts, accessible toilets and parking close to the door before you arrive. Hotels and holiday rentals vary widely in what they mean by accessible, so specific questions, such as the width of the bathroom door or whether the shower has a step, get more useful answers than general ones. In Bloomington, the venue pages suggest what to check at each place.
If something goes wrong
Report damage immediately, before leaving the airport, station or venue, and keep copies of every form. A plan B, such as knowing where a local medical equipment supplier is or whether a loan service exists at your destination, turns a ruined trip into an inconvenience.