This California city ranks the worst in US for wheelchair users, Forbes says. Here’s why

A California city is the least accessible in the nation for people with mobility disabilities, according to a new study by Forbes Health.

The personal health website came up a list of the best — and worst — cities for accessibility in the United States based on factors such as the percentage of wheelchair-friendly rental properties and the number of accessible restaurants and attractions.

About 12.2% of adults in the United States have a mobility disability, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That means they have “serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs,” the CDC said.

Some cities have adapted by focusing on walkable spaces and new construction that goes beyond Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.

“From smart home modifications to restaurant layouts to transportation options, some U.S. cities stand out when it comes to accessibility for all while others leave much to be desired,” Forbes Health said.

“A number of cities across the country prove challenging to navigate for people with mobility disabilities,” the site said.

Here’s where California cities ranked.

Why is Fresno the least accessible city in the US?

Fresno was No. 1 on Forbes Health’s list of the 10 least accessible cities for people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

The Central Valley city has the fourth lowest number of wheelchair-accessible grocery stores per capita in the nation as well as the sixth lowest number of wheelchair-accessible rental properties.

Fresno wasn’t the only California city on the list.

Bakersfield came in seventh place due to its relative lack of wheelchair-accessible attractions and restaurants, according to the site.

“It ranks second to last when it comes to the average reviews of these attractions,” Forbes Health said.

What are the top 10 cities in the nation for people with disabilities?

This were the most accessible cities in the United States for people with mobility disabilities, according to Forbes Health:

1. Honolulu
   
   
2. Irving, Texas
3. St. Paul, Minnesota
4. Portland, Oregon
5. Minneapolis
6. Orlando, Florida
7. Atlanta
8. Seattle
9. Arlington, Virginia
10. Aurora, Colorado

What are the 10 worst cities for people with mobility issues?

Forbes Health said the least accessible cities for people who have mobility disabilities are:

1. Fresno
   
   
2. Lubbock, Texas
3. Wichita, Kansas
4. Jacksonville, Florida
5. New York
6. Memphis
7. Bakersfield
8. El Paso, Texas
9. Tulsa, Oklahoma
10. 10. Philadelphia

How did Forbes Health come up with its rankings?

To determine the most accessible cities in the United States, Forbes Health compared data for the largest 93 cities in the country and focused on 10 metrics.

Those metrics were:

• The percentage of housing rentals in the city that are considered wheelchair accessible
• The number of wheelchair-accessible attractions per 100,000 residents
• The average rating of wheelchair-accessible attractions in the city
• The number of wheelchair-accessible restaurants per 100,000 residents
• The average rating of wheelchair-accessible restaurants
• The number of wheelchair-accessible grocery stores per 100,000 residents
• The number of wheelchair-accessible nature trails per 100,000 residents
• The city’s Transit Score
• The city’s Walk Score
• The number of new buildings built in the city since 2010

Information came from Apartments.com, Yelp, AllTrails, Walk Score and the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey.

This story was originally published August 21, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "This California city ranks the worst in US for wheelchair users, Forbes says. Here’s why."

Fernanda Galan

The Fresno Bee

559-441-6005

Fernanda Galan covers Central Valley and California news as The Fresno Bee’s service journalism reporter. Before joining The Bee in 2024, she reported in Milwaukee, Arizona and Los Angeles. She is a graduate of Arizona State’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.