San Diego has taken a significant step toward inclusivity and accessibility with the recent expansion of its beach wheelchair program. Wheelchair users can use two new devices: Freedom Trax and Access Trax, designed to navigate through the sand and enhance their beach experience.
Fox5 SanDiego reports that Freedom Trax is a motorized system that attaches to a personal wheelchair, and Access Trax are portable mats that provide stable surfaces across the sand. These devices are offered free of charge and are available on a first-come, first-served reservation basis, aiming to create a barrier-free beach environment.
According to an interview by CBS8, Jaime Baltazar, a Freedom Trax device user, said that navigating the beach "rides really well on uneven surfaces," sharing his excitement about the newfound independence. The device can be used independently and is controlled by a joystick, allowing users to glide along the beach without assistance, feeling the sand beneath them and the ocean's allure once more within reach.
The city aims to increase the availability of such devices, with current allocations funded by Council President Joe LaCava and Councilmember Jennifer Campbell. In a post by Joe LaCava on Instagram, he stated, "Now, wheelchair users can once again navigate the sand and reach the water." Free to use for an hour at a time, the goal is to purchase three more Freedom Trax devices as additional funding becomes available, echoing the sentiment that San Diego’s beaches should be accessible to all.
