Accessibility Triumph Thursday: BrokenLifts.org

BrokenLift.org landing page.

This week, I want to highlight the BrokenLifts.org website. BrokenLifts is a grassroots initiative providing real-time information about out-of-service elevators in Berlin’s public transportation system. For wheelchair users and others who depend on elevators, this resource saves people from wasted trips and gives them back some control over their commutes. It’s a shining example of accessibility innovation and community problem-solving.

But here’s the bitter irony: while Berlin excels in transparency with resources like this, the city falls short where it truly matters—safety. Last week, a man d1ed after his wheelchair became trapped between metro carriages. This preventable tragedy highlights a systemic failure that utterly failed to address the needs of wheelchair-using passengers. This makes my blood boil because countless times, I have discussed with a nearby passenger about what to do if I get stuck and the beginning and end of my train trips. You can read the heartbreaking story [here](https://lnkd.in/gS6Gx3G6).

This contrast between doing an above-average job in one area and allowing catastrophic failures in another speaks volumes. You aren’t done until the entire experience, from convenience to life-and-death safety, is accessible, inclusive, and designed to protect everyone.

If Berlin can create something as impactful as brokenlifts.org, it can address the gaps that led to this tragedy. This isn’t just about lifts or gaps in trains. It’s about valuing all human lives, even disabled ones.

Alt: BrokenLift.org landing page.
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