[ST] Elevator Suggestion Submitted With Minimal Comment

[Kit Golan]

I think it's not Arisia's place to discriminate against who CAN and who
SHOULD take the elevator, especially since some disabilities are invisible.
Especially since someone who was fine at the beginning of con may be worn
out by the end of con. I say this as a 20-something who looks younger and
has had arthritis in my left knee since I was 18. I'm usually okay to do
lots of stairs on day one of con, but by day 2.5, I'm exhausted. I'm not a
fan of getting into arguments with someone to prove that "yes, I do in fact
need to take the elevator right now."

Therefore, I would suggest that the signs said something like "this way to
the stairs. No wait!" I also love the suggestions about cute signs in the
stair way (someone on the lj community suggested comparing the number of
stairs in famous things, like the statue of liberty or the eiffle tower,
etc.).

The other thing we can do to ease the elevator issues is to ensure that on
EVERY LEVEL there are at least three seats or so for people who are waiting
for the elevator and need seats. I'm not sure what the signage on there
should be, but it should indicate it's for people waiting for the elevator,
and if someone else is tired on that floor, they can find seating in "blah."

My .02 dollars
~Kit
former secret ninja gopher

On Nov 28, 2007 8:42 PM, David D'Antonio <dda at dantonio.net> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I have a problem with any kind of discrimination between who "should"
> be taking the elevators and who shouldn't; unless we're gonna sell
> reduced-price "no elevators" memberships, if you're in the con, you
> can use the elevators.
>
> I don't have a problem with good signage pointing out where the
> stairs are, especially given that it is a (relatively) new hotels and
> the stairs can be somewhat hidden on lower floors. Making those signs
> humourous or clever is always good and if some group wants to give
> out rewards for frequent climbers, that's cool, too. Any signage that
> keeps the elevators in service even more of a win.
>
> I know it is late in the Programming process but if something about
> elevators and stairs and how to get around at a con, in general
> (going down stairs is harder on the knees, etc.) could be added, that
> might also be a good idea.
>
> DDA
>
> On Nov 28, 2007, at 8:27 AM, Bill Y wrote:
>
> >
> >    From: "Val Grimm" <val.grimm at gmail.com>
> >
> >    The sign could be a courteous PSA reminder, rather than a rebuke as
> >    some interpret it.
> >
> >    My take is to have a sign like that at the front of an MBTA bus
> > asking
> >    folks to give priority in elevator usage to patrons with
> > disabilities
> >    or health issues which limit their mobility and/or stamina.
> > Heck, just
> >    imitate that T sign and reword as necessary. People should know
> > this,
> >    but not everyone does, or they don't always think of it. No
> > reason for
> >    people to take offense of have an issue about it. Its a matter of
> >    providing equal access to all members of the con and guests of the
> >    hotel. Boston is not a wheel-friendly city; maybe we can try to
> > make
> >    it a little friendlier in the time and place we will have influence
> >    over.
> >
> > I wouldn't even put it that strongly.
> >
> > Just tell people where the stairs are.
> >
> > I would strongly object to any "wheelchairs go to the front of
> > the line" situation.
> >
> > Say someone has a bad hip or a bad knee or a bad heart- and we somehow
> > coerce them to take the stairs.  They might be able to take the
> > stairs, so our coercion (or rules about who can use the elevators)
> > coerces them to take the stairs.  They get hurt and now, who holds the
> > responsibility?
> >
> >     - Crash (one bad knee and a slowly healing achilles tendon)
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > staff mailing list
> > staff at arisia.org
> > http://arisia.org/mailman/listinfo/staff
>
> --
> DDA
> Art Show Director, Arisia '08
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> http://arisia.org/mailman/listinfo/staff
>



-- 
It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the
hope of today and reality of tomorrow. - Robert Goddard
***
Kit Marlow Golan

AIM: kgola
MSN: kgola at wpi.edu
yahoo: kgola
ICQ: 19367412
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