The Ride, Don't Walk activity provided me with a lot of insight as to what it's like to use a wheelchair, and the problems that come with it. Throughout the exercise, I continuously found myself grazing my knuckles on walls and getting a little too close to corners while turning around them. Bathrooms in Carpenter Hall, though they have a wheelchair stall, are very difficult to maneuver in, especially with other people present. I also noticed that the roll-under counter was a bit low for my legs, and that I would have to turn sideways for washing my hands in order to avoid scraping my knees on the underside of the counter.
Prior to this activity, I thought that the ADA code for ramps (1" rise for 12" of length) seemed fairly flat. While participating in it though, I could see why that was the maximum slope, as it was a bit challenging. While on the ground floor of Daggy, I quickly realized how dangerous it would be for someone in a wheelchair, as the ramp is about 6" of rise for every 12 inches of run (I rolled down it and ran into a wall).
I cannot say that I now fully understand what it is like to be in a wheelchair, especially within the relatively short period of time that I used one. However, I am now much more conscious of problematic designs, and the challenges that they may present to those who use wheelchairs. I would say that this activity was very beneficial to me as a beginning designer, and that it will have a lasting influence on my design choices.
