This week, I turn my column over to colleague Mary Schroeder, Free Press picture editor.
Recently, I was talking with Ellen about how accessible Mackinac Island is forthe physically challenged. I have multiple sclerosis, and my legs aren't working very well, so I got a brand-new scooter to use for longer distances. I was headed to the island to meet the boats for the annual Port Huron to Mackinac sailboat race.
In my prime, I crewed on 21 of those races. Now, I would be traveling around the island on a scooter. Ellen asked me to report back on how accessible it is for someone like me.
Getting there
I took the Arnold Ferry to the island from Mackinaw City. I was traveling bymyself because I would bemeeting friends on theisland, so Jeffrey Gamble, a deckhand/engineer with the Arnold line, assembled my scooter with a smile.From the drop-off of the luggage and ticket booth, it was a short scooter ride to the ferry (there also is a shuttle bus to take passengers to the ferry, but scooters don't fit on it).Getting on the ferry, myscooter bottomed out at the top of the boarding ramp. The deckhands came to the rescue, and we were on our way.
On Mackinac Island, the scooter rolled off the ferry to the dock with no problems. I headed to the Island House resortfor my stay. To get to the front door, there is a slight hill. The scooter made it with no hesitation. The hotel was established in 1852, long before there were scooters, but to the right of the main stairs, very visible, was alift to get me into the hotel.
Throughout my hotel stay, someone had to open and close the door for me on both levels — I couldn't do it by myself. But being handicapped and traveling often by myself, no one has ever turned me down when I have asked for help.
Steps and hills
On Monday, I took the scooter for a spin downtown. The road was easier to navigate than the sidewalkbecause I could go faster than the walkers. The only obstacles were the road apples left by the horses. Once in town, I maneuvered the scooter onto the crowdedsidewalk. The going was slow.I met my friends, and wewent to the Yankee Rebel for lunch. It waseasy to get into the restaurant— no stairs at all.Afterward, I wentdown to the boardwalk on the west end of downtown. Cruising on it waslike going over a bad, bumpy, gravel road.
Mission Point on the east end of theisland was my next stop. At the bottom of the steep hill to the resort's main entrance, I looked at it, sighed, wondering if my scooter would make it. I tried it. The scooter made it. At the top, there are stairs to get into the reception area, however, and no signs saying where to go for the handicapped. I asked someone, and he motioned and said "around the corner." There is a steep ramp around the corner, and I thought that was the way to get in, but it wasn't. I had togoback down and then saw the entrance. At the reception counter, I asked how to get to the Round Island Bar, and they told me to go back outside and slightly down the hill to the patio entrance. The view from the patio was worth it.
We had dinner at the Jockey Club, across the street fromthe Grand Hotel. It was easy to get into the restaurantby scooter. However,the bathroom had twosteps to get into it, both for the men and the women. This is also the bathroom for the ice cream parlor at the Grand Hotel.
Shopping woes
On Tuesday, it was time to go shopping. Out of 16shops on Market Street, I could go into only four;the other12hadvarious sizes of steps leading into them.
Main Street fared much better. Out of all of the businesses, only three had a step where my scooter could not travel.Still, many shops were not accessible to scooters simply becauseaisles were crowded with merchandise. Luckily, the fudge shops did not fall into this category.
Scooter friendly
Two companies offer scooters to rent on the island.
Mackinac Cycle near the Arnold dock and Mackinac Island Bike Shop near Shepler's offers first-come,first-served for rentals of three-wheel Amigos. It is $14 an hour or $75 for the full day.
Ryba’s next to the Pancake House and Ryba's Lakeview near the Star Line acceptreservations (906-847-3208) for a Drive four-wheel scooter. It is $12 an hour, $60 for the day and $75 for 24 hours.
If you want to take a carriage tour or a taxi with your scooter, you are in luck. Mackinac Island Carriage Tours has two carriages that are handicapped-accessible. One carriage has eight seats and room for two wheelchairs, and the other carriage seats 12 with room for one wheelchair. These carriages require 24 hours' notice for the tour. They can also be booked that day if space is available. When they are not on the tour, they are part of the taxi fleet.
I did see a few scooters cruising the island. For the most part, Mackinac was a wonderful experience on a scooter. I was frustrated when I couldn't go into shops on Market Street that I had shopped in when I could walk. Twice, I had to ask people to move bikes that blocked the sidewalk so I could get around.
Will I go back? My reservations are already in for the Island House for next year. I have more places I need to explore.
Contact Free Press Picture Editor Mary Schroeder:maschroeder@freepress.com
