How to Safely Operate Your Wheelchair Outside

Operating your wheelchair outside is much more difficult than doing it inside. There are more potential obstructions and you are unable to fully control your environment. Remember that safety should always come first when you operate your wheelchair outside because you never know when disaster might strike. Watching out for potential dangers should be foremost in your mind, especially when you first start getting used to your wheelchair. Take someone with you the first few times and make sure that you stay within a "safety zone". This will ensure that you can acclimate yourself to the wheelchair before you attempt to leave familiar areas.

Use Sidewalks with Curb Cuts
Unfortunately, you will find that not all sidewalks have curb cuts designed for bicycles and wheelchairs. Since you will invariably need to cross the street, use only sidewalks with curb cuts or with intermittent driveways. Never try to "drop" down a curb unassisted because you could accidentally send yourself forward with the momentum, which would be a dangerous accident to have in the street. Likewise, if you are in a car, always park near curb cuts so that you can safely maneuver yourself onto the sidewalk and out of oncoming traffic.

Watch for Divots, Cracks and Debris
Another dangerous aspect of operating your wheelchair outside is that sidewalks and driveways are not always smooth. Most wheelchairs can easily navigate over small cracks and divots in the concrete, but large debris (such as branches) will probably present a problem. Rather than trying to coast over such obstructions, have someone move them out of the way or maneuver your wheelchair so that you can pick them up. If you're approaching a large crack that you don't think your wheelchair can handle, you might have to turn around and take another route.