Paris prioritised accessibility ahead of the Olympics – but have they delivered?

“The pavements are often narrow and cluttered. There’s always either a badly parked bike, dustbins, or dog waste,” says Virginie Dubost, a Parisian wheelchair user and disability consultant. Recently, when coming out of a museum, she got stuck. “The pavement was very high, and it was complicated to turn around,” she tells me.

Paris should be accessible: France has passed three accessibility laws in the last 49 years. But these laws have not been enforced. For Nicolas Mérille, National Advisor on Accessibility for APF France Handicap, the French advocacy group for Disabled people, it is disheartening. “Some of our members cried when the implementation of the law was postponed another 10 years,” he recalls.

Then, in 2017, Paris won the bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games – and with it came promises of universal accessibility. Coincidentally, the Games are taking place just weeks before the latest accessibility deadline: “By September 26, 2024, all public establishments and transportation systems are required by law to be accessible to people with disabilities,” says Mr Mérille.

In an attempt to keep both its Olympic and legal promises, Paris fast-tracked accessibility measures. In three years, the Mayor’s office has made city-wide improvements that would have otherwise taken 20 years. Parisian trams and buses are now wheelchair accessible, with vocal and visual stop announcements, and pedestrian crossings have vocal guides and tactile guiding strips.

Retrofitting accessibility features to the metro is more complicated and expensive due to the city’s historical infrastructure. Currently, only the latest line (n°14) is fully accessible. While many metro lines have vocal and visual stop announcements, “there are still no caption screens on most of the metro or trains to provide announcements or information about changes,” regrets Agnes Fédrizzi, a deaf physiotherapist who lives in the Parisian suburbs.

The Paris 2024 organisers have, however, developed accessible signage to help visitors navigate the city this summer. It features pictograms, simple drawings of Parisian landmarks, contrasting colours (purple on pink), and clear fonts in French and English. Braille has been added to the bannisters of some metro stations, and railway stations feature tactile paving. Temporary wheelchair-accessible shuttles will make up for the difficulty of taking public transport.

The Paris airports are also undergoing accessibility improvements. Over the past year, they have been testing infrastructure and working on adaptations to ensure a smooth welcome for everyone. Lifts, for example, are being thoroughly checked for wheelchair users moving through airports.

Travellers with invisible disabilities are also being accommodated – staff have received sensitivity training to help with potentially stressful situations, such as security checks or baggage checking queues. Self-service wheelchairs, accessible changing rooms and relief areas for assistance dogs are now available. Future improvements include better signage, magnetic induction loops and tactile guides. Molly Burke, a blind accessibility consultant and content creator based in Los Angeles, has noticed a difference, “I had a really positive experience with the airport,” she says about a trip she took earlier this month. “They made me feel taken care of.”

One legacy of the Games will be the new 1,000-strong fleet of wheelchair-accessible taxis that have already improved Virginie Dubost’s social life; she used to refuse dinner invitations because she couldn’t get home afterwards. “Now I can go out with my friends, like everyone else,” she says.

However, despite the sporting venues being accessible, ongoing construction ahead of the Olympics added new obstacles and access to the opening ceremony was difficult due to “40,000 barriers set up to block access to the quay,” Virginie explains. She is, however, very impressed by the accessibility at the sporting events. This sentiment is echoed by Nicolas, who says that early feedback from the advocacy group’s members has been very positive.

The International Paralympic Committee sees para-sport as a “catalyst to changing attitudes” towards Disabled people and believes “Paris 2024 has been at the forefront of changing mindsets.”

This shift is supported by government awareness campaigns and a new grant programme encouraging shops and restaurants to make accessibility renovations. Virginie has yet to see improvements in her district but looks forward to the day she can easily visit her local butcher and cheese shop instead of relying on the more accessible supermarkets.

Part of the problem, according to Molly Burke, is that “a lot of the spaces in Paris are very small.” Restaurants, for example, are “trying to have as many tables as possible, which makes it more difficult to navigate for anybody with any kind of mobility aid, like a cane or guide dog,” she says.

Basement bathrooms in restaurants are also problematic for wheelchair users and Blind people. “Getting to bathrooms is something that I struggle with a lot in Paris,” Molly admits. “The steep, narrow and often rounded staircases are really dangerous for me,” she adds.

One Parisian restaurant, however, stands out for more than its menu; it has inclusivity built into the heart of the business.

In 2016, Flore Lelièvre opened France’s first inclusive restaurant in Nantes, inspired by her brother with Down syndrome. This success led to the opening of Le Reflet Paris in 2019. The restaurant, where most staff members have Down syndrome, is known for its exceptional menu. It challenges stereotypes and shifts the narrative around disability by focusing on quality rather than charity.

Other areas of the hospitality industry have seen similar success. In May, the Pullman Paris Bercy Hotel (next to the Accor Arena), received “Tourism and Disability” certification for its accessibility features. It’s the first Accor hotel in Paris to use the Evelity app, enabling blind guests to navigate the hotel. The OOrion app helps blind guests identify various objects. The hotel also has hearing loops and a wheelchair-accessible reception desk. The Molitor Mc Gallery Hotel, also “Tourism and Disability” certified, is wheelchair accessible and has shower seats, pedal-free bins, hearing loops, and visual and auditory fire alarms in accessible rooms. They are testing the Evelity app, audio menus (SpeakYou), and electric scooter attachments to help wheelchair users navigate the city.

Paris delivered on its promise for a universally accessible Olympics, and seems ready to host the Paralympics. The Games have certainly sped up accessibility improvements, but the legacy for the city is limited and the situation for the deaf community remains largely unchanged: “I haven’t seen any significant improvements in accessibility for deaf people or those with hearing loss as a result of the Olympics,” says Agnes. Many disability advocates hope the Paralympics will make people more aware of accessibility concerns and ensure accessibility initiatives continue once the Games are over.

Useful apps and websites for Disabled travellers in Paris

The 114 emergency services app is accessible to people with hearing or speaking difficulties. Find accessible accommodation with Toolib and accessible businesses with Accesible.net and the government-run AccesLibre. Lazarillo helps blind visitors navigate the city (Android only).