Choosing Between Access and Environmental Protection

Choosing Between Access and Environmental Protection

When it comes to travel, there's an unspoken privilege that is clear to many: the right to choose. For most travelers, costs often dictate where we go, how we get there, and what experiences we have. However, if you're an environmentally conscious traveler, you'll also consider your carbon footprint, your environmental impact, and the ethical criteria you live by.

The Perspective of Travelers with Disabilities

If you're a person with a disability, the decision-making process becomes even more complicated. For instance, an eco-friendly lodge might use solar energy, collect rainwater, and ban single-use plastics, but if the entrance has three steps, a wheelchair user simply can't gain access. The planet may thank you for your sustainable choices, but your knees won't be too happy about the effort of climbing stairs.

The Need for Appropriate Infrastructure

It's disheartening to see that current infrastructure does not anticipate the travel needs of disabled individuals. For many, battling the system can feel like a fruitless endeavor. I care deeply about the planet, but I also need to be able to disembark from my train. These two priorities shouldn't be at odds, yet the reality is that the system often makes them seem that way.

Insights from Moms

Olivia Cryer, co-founder of The Conscious Travel Foundation, shares that families with disabled members often don’t have the best options available to them. “We choose what is manageable. But including everyone elevates the moral depth of sustainability,” she says. Olivia frequently travels with her son and strives to find accommodations that cater to his sensory preferences.

Traveling by Wheelchair

A few years ago, I attempted to travel from London to Marrakech without flying, just to see if a full-time wheelchair user could make the journey through Europe and North Africa with a low carbon footprint. Much of the trip was exhilarating, but it was not without its challenges—broken elevators, closed support desks, and inaccessible train cars.

What I Learned

The lesson I took away is not that disabled individuals can’t choose sustainable travel, but rather that most of the world’s infrastructure doesn't expect us to do so. I love the Earth, but at the same time, I need to be able to reach my desired destinations. These priorities shouldn’t conflict, but the reality often creates that tension.

Feasible Solutions

Olivia describes working with travel designers as a game-changer. They help articulate what her son can expect, from lighting and crowds to sounds and smells. This allows him to feel safe and excited, while also helping me make more confident decisions. These small details make the world feel more accessible.

Managing Sustainable Travel

We need to stop viewing access and sustainability as opposing values. In reality, they belong to the same philosophy: care. We must let go of the notion of perfection and remind ourselves that choosing access doesn’t mean betraying the planet. What matters more is the intention. When there’s an easier yet accessible option, choose it. If not, select what helps you maintain your independence without guilt.

Lessons from Trailblazers

Many disabled travelers have been practicing low-impact travel long before it had a marketing budget. We tend to stay longer in one place rather than hopping from one location to another, as constant movement can be exhausting, especially when navigating accessibility barriers.

Small Victories

Resorts like Amilla Fushi in the Maldives have created overwater villas with convenient entrances and ceiling lifts while still maintaining their coral regeneration programs. The European Sleeper night train service has prioritized accessible cabins with en-suite facilities on their new routes. These are small victories, but they demonstrate that inclusivity and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive.

Hope for the Future

Ultimately, change must come from the industry, which needs to offer a broader menu of options not just as a luxury service but as a standard practice. If hotels can publish energy reports, they can certainly disclose accessibility information. We can hope that in the near future, inclusivity and environmentalism will coexist, creating a better world for everyone.