How accessible are the NCC's trails, really? Now there's an app for that

CBC

19 hours ago

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For people with disabilities, finding a trail that's sufficiently accessible can be a challenge. A new web application from the National Capital Commission (NCC) aims to change that.
The idea was the brainchild of the Canadian Disabled Outdoor Society, co-founded by Chelsea Ogilvie and Brie Birdsell. They approached the NCC and then partnered with the agency to develop the Inclusive Trails app.
In developing the app, Ogilvie said they wanted to see the reality on the ground for themselves.
"We actually went out and did some ground-truthing," she explained, referring to the process of verifying information in person. "We went with mobility devices ... to see how easily we could access those trails."
We're trying to get rid of that guesswork and just make it so that folks can confidently go out and know exactly what they're getting into.
The Inclusive Trails app tells people how steep and wide a trail is, or if there are any surface hazards such as steps or tree roots that might pose a problem.
"It'll tell you the grade, and so you can decide for yourself is this is a manageable slope for you," said Ogilvie, who uses a wheelchair. "We really want to increase the amount of information that's available so folks with disabilities can confidently plan their outings."
The app also describes what services are available at the trailhead, such as accessible toilets and parking, as well as any other points of interest such as benches, picnic tables and boardwalks.
Ogilvie said she has experienced first-hand the disappointment of arriving at a trail only to find barriers.
"That's really what fuelled this project with the NCC," she said. "There are so many times I looked on a … website that said a trail was mostly flat, or even trails that were marked as wheelchair-friendly. I would get there and there would be a six-inch bump up onto a boardwalk, or a bunch of roots and rocks right off the start."
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The Inclusive Trails app tells people how steep and wide a trail is, or if there are any surface hazards such as steps or tree roots that might pose a problem.
Impediments can be a 'deal-breaker'
Those are the kinds of unexpected impediments that can ruin an outing, Oglivie said.
"That can be a complete deal-breaker for me," she said. "We're trying to get rid of that guesswork and just make it so that folks can confidently go out and know exactly what they're getting into."
The trails chosen for the first iteration of the app are considered low-barrier, Ogilvie said.
"Because for a lot of people with disabilities, that's enough. Depending on their equipment, their support, their fitness level, their strength, they can access a whole lot of terrain that falls outside of that universal accessibility."
Sometimes, those barriers aren't so obvious. For example, Ogilvie points out that some inclines are barely noticeable on foot.
"But if you're trying to move yourself with your arms in a wheelchair, or if you have a walker or balance issues, you're very attuned to even the slightest inclines," she said.
The app also provides photographs and 360-degree videos of the trails "so you can really explore that obstacle from every direction and decide if it's something you can and want to tackle," said Ogilvie.
Six trails totalling 12 kilometres have been mapped using the new app, including paths in Gatineau Park and Ottawa's Greenbelt. More will be added.
For Ogilvie, it's about inclusivity as much as it is about accessibility.