As always, I prefer the hard facts to the ‘well, you see, but...’, typical and complacent Romanian intro: this is a tough country to be for people with various disabilities, not only for those with reduced mobility. The more remote you go, the less dedicated infrastructure - if any - you are likely to find. That stated, let us open that critic eye onto the matter. As always, an ailment of any nature poses two problems to the bearer: the respective difficulty of the individual and the human perception of those around him. Bucharest aside, in Romania as a whole both exist and, it needs be said, to a great extent, while the latter can get to stellar proportions. The finds below are a result of personal research and observation, as well as of a 3 month period spent as a disabled, with a non weight-bearing foot in cast, respectively a brace. A period when I traveled across the country and used different means of transport in the process.

Infrastructure: trains. The access ramp and dedicated signposts in a few major railway stations might have one believe things are not that bad. Choose a secondary railway station or one located in a town (or even one in larger cities such as Ploiești Sud, Miercurea Ciuc and Petroșani for that matter) and you will not find any dedicated endowments, any ramps, with platforms being pothole-ridden or non-existent. Furthermore, the low elevation of the platform with the wagon floor even 1 meter above will turn into painful failure any unassisted attempt to get on or off the train in a wheelchair, and it will not be very easy in crutches. While the state-run railway operator nowadays has several wagons providing easy access for those with reduced mobility (with a big side door that can be opened only by the conductor and a dedicated compartment, respectively restroom), only a few trains have one of them and even there, in stations with low platforms this is of little use. Most times, you have to rely on fellow passengers for a hand. Alternatively, you can request assistance with getting on and off the train, as well as at the train station, by filling in a request form with the CFR, prior to traveling; click here for details (the link also lists the railway stations and trains with facilities for those with reduced mobility). If you have the choice, of the CFR trains, double decker Regios and Siemens Desiro InterRegios or Regios have low floor wagons and are recommended for those with reduced mobility. All of the private operators running trains calling at Bucharest have train sets with low floor wagons which makes it easier as far as getting on and off is concerned; of these, the Softrans train set is the friendliest. Refer to my dedicated page for more data on train travel in Romania.

Infrastructure: bus stations. There is not much to talk about here, as there are dozens of makeshift bus stations in Bucharest. In all situations, there are no real dedicated endowments and platforms - where they do exist - are low; expect the same situation at the destination, even in cities with refurbished bus stations. Most - if not all - intercity buses in Romania provide no special facility for persons with reduced mobility. Refer to my dedicated page for more data on bus travel in Romania.

Infrastructure: airports. The main airport, Bucharest Henri Coandă (a.k.a. Otopeni) has satisfactory dedicated endowments; there are elevators and ramps where needed (including for the stairs along the connecting hall between the arrival and departure terminals). As always, you need state the requirement for a wheelchair or further assistance upon issuing a flight ticket or by contacting the airline prior to the flight. Passenger rights for persons with reduced mobility within the EU can be found here and more data on the facilities at Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport is available here. Refer to my dedicated page for more data on air travel in Romania.

Infrastructure: public transport. Only a few RATB tramways have low floors providing easy access for those with reduced mobility, most of the rolling stock sport rather steep steps even for those without any walking issue. Tramways with dedicated facilities are to be found on lines 1 and 41, but it needs be mentioned that not all tramways on these lines have them. All of the Bucharest RATB buses and trolleybuses have a door (the middle one) where a trap can facilitate wheelchair access; for that, you need ask the driver so as to wait until you are done; it is worth noting that it is faster to ask fellow passengers for a lift, as the bus floor is rather low anyway. The subway does not provide a homogenous rule: most of the stations have dedicated facilities to get to the surface (elevators, often with a change at the access gates where wide, double way gates are provided), while others, including some quite busy ones (e.g. Obor, Tineretului), do not generally due to the technical local situation; a map showing stations with such facilities can be found here, but mark the fact that - where they do exist - such elevators are located at only one end of the platform, quite often not by the busiest exit. For those in crutches or with a less severe walking problem, most of the station exits have escalators, even though sometimes not all the way to the surface. Refer to my dedicated page for more data on the Bucharest subway and public transport.

Infrastructure: taxis. The big taxi companies have no cars with facilities for persons with reduced mobility, yet sitting in the front seat with the seat itself pushed all the way back will provide a degree of comfort. It is worth mentioning that, with the average taxi ride in Bucharest going at RON 10-15, in many situations you are better off with a taxi than on a packed subway train or bus, especially during the rush hour. For medical situations (such as wheelchair or elderly passengers with walking problems going to the hospital and such), there is a free service provided by a volunteer, the Taxi Gratis. The driver does not have a taxi license, his car is a regular sedan without special endowments. The service goes free, with fuel being paid by the driver (himself working for an IT company) and the car provided complimentarily by the local Toyota dealer. Please do not use this service unless really necessary, as the owner means it mainly for those in serious need. Refer to my dedicated page for more data on taxis in Bucharest.

Infrastructure: miscellaneous. Sidewalks throughout Bucharest have a low end towards street crossings, yet the low end is not always level with the street, so that a 5-10 cm. step often remains. Street vendors, newspaper or florist stands and kiosks, as well as cars parked on the sidewalk are among the obstacles to be found while moving in a wheelchair or sometimes even in crutches in Bucharest and all over Romania. Disabled people of any kind did not exist in the mind of the perfect, Golden Age Communist, so that no apartment or public building dating from before 1990 was provided a ramp or anything else of the kind. Newer buildings have ramps - even though sometimes very steep and twisted so as to take less space -, while some (not too many) of the old ones were added them during refurbishing works or at the request of people with reduced mobility living there. Some of the major museums in Bucharest provide special access for disabled persons; such venues include, among others, the National Art Gallery in the Royal Palace, the Palace of the Parliament (only possible with previous notice, as the access is done through a different entrance) and the Art Collection Museum in Romanit Palace. At the opposite end, old mansions and memorial houses do not, and the same goes for some restaurants hosted by period properties.

Supplies. If your ailment requires regular medication and / or specialized checks and you plan on going to the countryside or even to smaller towns in the country, better have a consult or stock on sufficient medication before leaving Bucharest or other bigger cities, as in small and average towns the medical service can be appalling. You can replace your broken crutches, get an ankle / wrist brace and find specialized advice at one of the few dedicated shops in Bucharest, of which Ina Medical & Sport and Euro Medica Grup stand out in terms of supply. For a list of hospitals and clinics, as well as for an overview of the medical system in Romania, refer to my dedicated page.

Perception. In Romanian, the very term ‘disabled’ (Ro. handicapat) has a double meaning, as it stands both for a disabled person, whether it is about a physical, psychiatric, vision, speaking or some other disability, and for a mentally ill (often used as mockery) person. This very fact tells more about the local reality than all of the signposts and elevators above. Many Romanians perceive people different from them as inferior or at least weird. And little matters whether it is about people of a different complexion, sexual orientation, faith, race or walking ability. While people will make room for you or give you a hand in most situations, it won’t be long before you notice a sense of distance and even overhear a mocking or awkward remark, while a blend of pity, comme il faut politeness and uneasiness fills the air. It is hard not to feel the anathema label many of those around you stamp on your very presence for just that: being different. At the opposite end, you are likely to be given a simple, no frill, helpful hand by a taxi driver or sweating farmer in a marketplace, while at the same time, language allowing, you will learn of their own experience with fractured bones or hospitals.

When all is said and done, the bottom line is that the situation is far from homogenous, especially for those with reduced mobility. Take your time, plan things carefully and allow plenty of time. If you need more information on the above, please let me know. If you need specialized advice or want to get in touch with a local NGO of the disabled, find them here. The government-run Authority for the Disabled can be found here (data in Romanian only), with their dedicated website to be found here.