Accessibility

Chiang Mai, Thailand Travel Guide

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Accessibility in Chiang Mai

Overview: Chiang Mai is a small city so it’s easy to get around quickly. Then again, Chiang Mai has unusually high curbs, which were built in case of flooding. But, the curbs aren’t don’t cut off vertically at the street. They slant and almost become steep, small ramps. However, you can find ways to make Chiang Mai accessible. Read below.

I saw five other people in wheelchairs during my trip in Chiang Mai. Two were local Thai vendors and three were tourists. Here’s how to get around Chiang Mai:

1. Lodging or Hotel – Stay at the Raming Lodge on Loi Kroh. The hotel’s entrance is accessible and you will be at the center or very close to all tourist attractions and nightlife. There is no step at the entrance. The street can get a bit busy during traffic hours but it is not bad. There are ways to make this street accessible as well. This leads to the second way of making Chiang Mai accessible.

2. Wheel on the streets on the smaller sois (streets) – rather, sides of the streets. Sois are streets that branch off main streets. Loi Kroh is a smaller street off of . . . The main streets It’s common for half the pedestrians to walk on the streets and not sidewalks. Cars, bikes and tuk-tuks will go around you. This makes transporting yourself easy. But, stay away from wheeling on . . . street between Loi Kroh and Tha Pae Gate during peak traffic hours. The sidewalk on the east side of the street is pretty easy to wheel on.

3. Entering businesses such as restaurants, shops, bars, etc. Many places have steps and some don’t. You have to explore which do and which don’t and find curbs that have ramps or and driveways . There are plenty of curbs with ramps and driveways. As with the case of Bangkok – some areas – you’ll have to do a little bit of circumventing and going a half a block or a block out of your way to find ramps up curbs.

4. Hire tuk-tuks or a cab to take you around.

Streets, Sidewalks, Curbs, Buildings
When you visit Chiang Mai, you will likely stay just east of the Old City or within the Old City. Inside Chiang Mai’s Old City, Ratchadamnoen Road, which starts at the Tha Phae Gate, is the main street, running east and west. Chiang Mai’s Old City doesn’t have much traffic and it is easy and safe to wheel on the streets. Rachadamnoen Road’s sidewalks are high and they are relatively flat and smooth with the occasional uneven concrete slabs. The sidewalks are wide and there are ramps and driveways. But, the ramps are somewhat inconsistent. Again, it may be easier to wheel on the yellow painted strip on the street alongside sidewalk. On this road, you’ll see many temples and Tamarind Village.

Running north and south in the Old City is Phra Pokklao Road. It starts at the northern end at the Chang Puak Gate. From here, you’ll pass the Three Kings Monument. This street seems busier than Ratchadamnoen Road. But, the sidewalks, curbs and ramps have the same characteristics as Ratchadamneon Road. On Phra Pokklao Road, there is a couple of small but busy intersections that don’t have ramps up curbs. You will have to wheel on the street alongside the sidewalks at times.

Muang Moon is street that runs north and south just inside the Tha Pae Gate. It’s a popular street with restaurants, cafes, bars and the fresh food market. This is a wide street you most certainly can wheel on. There are wide shoulders, vendors on the street itself, etc.

Loi Kroh
Curbs: On the major streets surrounding the Old City and inside the Old City of Chiang Mai, the curbs have a typical height. On the sois, you’ll find either extremely high curbs or small gutters for the rain.
Steps: A lot of the restaurants and bars do have steps up or down into their establishments. But, a lot of the restaurants are even with the sidewalks. Check out the restaurant and nightlife guide for more information.