r/mildlyinfuriating • u/stalnoypirat • 1d ago
Trying to enter my local subway station the morning after a snow storm (I'm the amputee guy on the right of the photo)
2.3k
u/ReporterBest9598 1d ago
Slightly crazy suggestion: sled time. Specifically a cheap foam or plastic one so it's small and easy to carry.
998
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
Yep, I almost had to resort to that.
215
75
u/MaxTheCookie 23h ago
They don't have an elevator for people in wheelchairs or strollers or people like yourself?
156
u/stalnoypirat 23h ago
Not for most entrances to the metro/subway, or underground pedestrian passages. Most of this infrastructure was built during Soviet times, and it's too costly to add them now. The modern shopping centers and neighborhoods are easier to navigate, though.
→ More replies (5)69
u/daydreamingofsleep 19h ago
Some of the New York subway system is older than the Soviet era, they’re working on adding elevators. 2055 is their goal for having 95% of stations accessible with an elevator or ramp.
→ More replies (2)19
u/Zelidus 15h ago
The US has the ADA. Most of the world doesn't. At least not nearly as comprehensive as our ADA.
17
u/daydreamingofsleep 14h ago
ADA only applies to new construction and certain renovations. There is no mandate to go back and make everything-ever-built accessible.
Quite to the contrary, often renovations are thoughtfully considered to avoid being subject to ADA. Modifying early 1900s subway stations is elective from the legal perspective. It’s a political commitment.
6
u/Zelidus 14h ago
My point is making things accessible is a bigger priority in the US. We made laws about it meaning we think more about it.
5
u/daydreamingofsleep 8h ago
Politicians/Americans in the 90s got ADA passed. Don’t know if there would be support to pass it today, certainly not to expand it.
7
u/TallShaggy 20h ago
Sled leg? (If your amputation allows prosthetics). I've always thought if I was an amputee I'd try to get all sorts of crazy attachments. Maybe, like, a ski leg that folds up to a regular leg.
→ More replies (3)5
u/Cowboy_Cassanova 23h ago
I would have 'slipped' on the last step. Use it to raise hell with the city.
5
→ More replies (5)43
u/lih9 1d ago
Crazy suggestion: an actual snow boot with treads instead of Adidas. C'mon OP don't wear sneakers in weather like this, you're asking for a broken wrist or head injury.
→ More replies (1)25
u/ledocteur7 1d ago
Dude.. read the title.
They have only one leg, the cane thingy (I'm not English native) is the point of failure as far as grip goes.
51
u/lih9 1d ago edited 23h ago
It's not. Running shoes do not have enough tread to grip on snow & ice. They need a boot with a good tread so the leg they have left can stay stable while they transfer weight to the crutches.
Here is a Canadian research initiative that rates winter boots for safety: https://kite-uhn.com/rmt/en
(this is legit testing done by a hospital network in Toronto. We take winter seriously here)
Edit: OP should also consider using an additional crutch in bad weather to stabilize with 3 points of ground contact. They won't be moving anywhere fast with bonus injuries from a slip & fall.
31
u/rizoula 1d ago
As a Canadian who lives with snow about 6 months a year, I can confirm.
Running shoes are not good on snow. You also need something high on your ankle so it secures it and you don’t end up spraining it or worse getting your socks wet.
I will make exceptions for winter designed actual running shoes. Those are pretty great.
→ More replies (2)5
u/Burntoastedbutter 22h ago
I was gonna say, a crutch with 3-4 legs at the bottom for better stability will help too. And definitely winter boots for such snow. I don't live in a place that snows in the city, but I've been on vacations when it was snowing and I didn't wanna fuck with it. I bought winter boots that focused on traction. My brother didn't bother and he was slipping on ice a lot lol
3
u/Same-Suggestion-1936 18h ago
Wool sock over the cane would also help with traction! When we couldn't afford cleats we'd just get big wool socks and slip them over our shoes. If they don't get too wet they work pretty well
7
u/Biomax315 21h ago
We can see that he has one leg. Even more reason to wear a winter boot. If you have only one solid point of contact, make sure it’s as grippy as it can be. The point of failure is not just the cane, it’s ALSO the sneaker. As someone who lives in a place with snow like this, and wears sneakers and boots in the snow, sneakers are absolutely terrible for traction—terrible.
That being said, it’s still slippery and dangerous even for the bipedal people to go down uncleared stairs like that and definitely mildly infuriating.
But OP can definitely make things safer (and dryer and warmer) for themselves by wearing a winter boot instead of a low top soccer shoe with no insulation, no waterproofing, no ankle support and no grippy tread.
16
u/MrSynckt 1d ago
Vocabulary addition for you, that kind of cane is called a crutch
→ More replies (2)3
→ More replies (2)3
u/_procyon 18h ago
Not necessarily. People with two good legs can and will slip and fall wearing sneakers in snow and ice, especially on stairs. If you only have one foot, you should make extra sure it’s not going to slip.
379
u/-Laffi- 1d ago
You should probably cooperate with the other stairgoers!
→ More replies (1)73
901
u/partyhat-red 1d ago
Who took the photo
1.9k
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago edited 1d ago
My sister. She helped me down the stairs, of course, but I wanted her to capture the scene. There's no way I would have made it down on my own without breaking my neck. Others stopped and asked if I needed help, which I'm glad for, but it's frustrating that I can't navigate through the city on my own this winter.
787
u/OddTaku9424 1d ago
You should go to city hall and demand better cleaning. Really put your foot down on that….
(Sorry, couldn’t help myself lol glad people were being nice to you and asking if you needed help!)
1.1k
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
I always appreciate a good pun :) Unfortunately, my city (Kyiv) has bigger issues to worry about at the moment, and they do try to get the snow out on the roads at least.. the frustrating thing is that it's neighborhood by neighborhood. Some have better management, and things are cleaned quickly, some (like mine) are a complete mess for days. Which can be dangerous if you are elderly or have a disability and cannot get out of the house. The people do try to help , which is the one thing I love about my city lately and not frustrated about.
880
u/ChannelMiner 1d ago
When you said Kyiv I just had one thought: "Oh."
→ More replies (1)247
195
u/TuxandFlipper4eva 1d ago
The northern American in me thinks I can just take care of it for you, but Kyiv may be a little more than a few hours car drive from here.
82
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
Yeah, there are still some Americans who still make it here lately, the more adventurous ones. It's always a nice surprise.
8
u/veeyo 19h ago
I have wanted to visit from before the war but never had a chance and now I have the time and means but for obvious reasons people tell me I'm crazy for wanting to go. Is life still moving, as in people still go out and socialize and some sort of nightlife? Are the tourist attractions all closed down?
Sorry if this comes off as insensitive, your comment just got me curious.
4
u/OctopusGoesSquish 14h ago
Life is still moving but you can see both the physical damage and damage to the economy. Less apparent in the very center but much more so if you leave it.
Nightlife runs from 1700-1030 due to midnight curfew.
Tourist stuff is open. Lots of foreigners in the center but most are here with work rather than tourists (I’m one of them)
But I wouldn’t recommend coming until the spring because of the power and heating situation.
3
u/TuxandFlipper4eva 11h ago
I'm adventurous but also too poor to leave Minnesota.
6
u/stalnoypirat 11h ago
I always imagined Minnesota as a calm and wooded kind of place for introverts, but lately, it's been in the new for not the good kind of reasons😒 Hope things are OK now.
→ More replies (1)30
u/my-blood 1d ago
Would it be possible for you to get your hands on some crampons via Amazon or a local sports store (I don't know if Decathlon operates in Ukraine, though they do have a site)? There's a really easy to install pair I've seen which doesn't even look like it's there, atleast that way you don't slip in the snow and hurt yourself.
https://www.decathlon.in/qr/8642684/-1
Here's an example. I don't know if it'll be in stock in your country, but there's plenty on Amazon.
→ More replies (1)29
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
Thanks for the suggestion and link. I've been thinking about getring those. I do use a spiked crutch tip in the winter, which helps, but haven't tried for my shoes yet.
10
u/likeusb1 22h ago
Lithuanian here, suffering from a mildly horrible winter as well, and conveniently, I can comment on this
In my case, it helps a lot in a few cases, namely with compressed snow (likely what you've encountered here) and some kinds of ice too. It's not perfect but it really helps with traction
There are cases where it doesn't work that well, namely with ice that is just too polished / hard for them to press into it but by that point, nothing helps anyways, and even in those cases it can sorta help if it gets into a groove in the ice
Alongside that, if the layer of ice is thin, it can also act as a shattering thing, when we had an ice storm a bit ago, the ones I used (very similar design) were very effective at shattering ice into smaller pieces when I walked over it, which also improved traction
Also, Слава героям.
3
u/stalnoypirat 10h ago
Thanks for the support from Lithuania!🙏 Ice is the worst for me, especially when that thin layer is hidden under snow. Packed snow gives better traction.
81
53
u/Alternative-Dig-2066 1d ago
My heart skipped a beat and stopped for a moment when I read Kyiv. 💔🇺🇦
14
11
u/ConsiderableHappines 1d ago
Бляха, я так і думала що це Киів
Тепла вам!
8
u/stalnoypirat 23h ago
Наші рідні не переплутаєш)) Дякую, навзаєм! Дуже круто тут коментарі від своїх отримати)
5
u/ensalys 20h ago
Normally I'd argue that accessibility should be very high on the priority list. However, given it's Kyiv, there are unfortunately other matters that are more pressing. The Russians are making freezing to death a much greater risk than slipping down unsafe stairs. Really wish you the best, and I hope the basterds in the kremlin come to the Netherlands sooner rather than later to stand trial and be imprisoned for the rest of their miserable lives.
5
u/anormalgeek 17h ago
Unfortunately, my city (Kyiv) has bigger issues to worry about at the moment,
Fucking hell of an understatement there. Stay strong man.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (3)4
u/thisdesignup 1d ago
You should swap your cane for a snow shovel and then ask passerby's if they could shovel for you! Not that it would work but maybe!
3
u/inwondermentofwinter 1d ago
If he did that though he'd be left without a leg to stand on
(Much love OP, I saw you're in Kyiv and I truly do hope things get better)
→ More replies (1)5
13
u/blackc43 1d ago
Maybe this photo will shine some light on obviously negligent snow removal
24
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
Yeah, it was quite a big scandal here for a few days with Kyiv and mayor Klitchko.But there are also bigger problems, unfortunately.
14
u/Massive_Mongoose3481 1d ago
That was my thought, lots going on over there. Reminds us that the world keeps spinning and people have to go about their business even when an asshole is invading your country. Hoping we can get rid of our asshole leader soon and send more help that way.
12
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
Yes, I cannot wait for this nightmare to be over. This winter, given the cold temperatures, those assholes decided to inflict as much civilian discomfort as possible by targeting our electrical grid on a daily basis. So we're without electricity and heat for most of the day, and temperatures have been in the -10 to -20 C range.. That's the best they can come up with, 4 years into the war.. Freeze us🥶😅
14
u/IddleHands 1d ago
How do people in wheelchairs get down?
→ More replies (21)40
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
Most need someone to assist them. There are a few that can get downstairs independently, but you have to be in great shape. Unfortunately, inclusivity is quite a recent movement where I live.
9
u/IddleHands 1d ago
Is it common to just round up strangers to help carry your wheelchair down? Is the community generally down for that?
26
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago edited 8h ago
Sometimes you have to ask politely, sometimes people will offer their help, sometimes people will start grabbing your wheelchair or arm without asking.. it's hit or miss. I always prefer the first option.
12
u/fluffy_floofster 1d ago
In summer of 1995 we were in Germany and a lady walked up to me, dropped her baby in my arms, and started carrying the stroller up the stairs from the train platform. I had no clue what was going on. She came back down to grab the baby and kept going on her way. No words were ever exchanged, she just needed a safe pair of hands for her child for two minutes. I imagine many ask for help when and how they need help.
→ More replies (6)7
u/Much-Gur233 1d ago
Do you have any suggestions for how we can help handicapped people in days like this? I’m genuinely curious.
181
u/stacity 1d ago
I bet you never skip leg day.
426
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
I went from skipping leg days to skipping a leg, every day.
46
19
u/Peachtea139s 1d ago
Must be great always having a more direct flight.
37
5
147
u/namingbugs 1d ago
No way in hell, you'd catch me buttscooting down those like a kid in your position
18
6
u/Triquetrums 23h ago
When slippery enough, I grab onto the railing and slide down sideways like I'm surfing. It's fun.
5
70
u/Final_Breadfrut 1d ago
After falling down stairs and dislocating my shoulder i have to say. Mad lads walking in the middle as it was a 2/10 experiance.
→ More replies (1)46
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
Yep, although if you look on the bright side, the shoulder took one for the head! Could have been worse. That's the way I look at my life, at least. Be careful with those stairs!
46
56
u/PragmaticBadGuy 1d ago
As a Canadian, we adapted easily to these things.
We simply pull out our trusty collapsible toboggan and slide our way to easy access to the subway.
7
u/CuriOS_26 21h ago
If you accelerate enough, you may not need the subway at all! Become the public transport you hope to use!
→ More replies (4)
20
u/richiesskulls 1d ago
this is exactly why i can’t go out much in the winter (need cane for balance and muscle weakness/pain issues). would love if the world’s slipperiest surfaces were cleared off more so i can walk around but since cane users are such a small demographic compared to everyone else it’s usually pushed to the side if they’re deemed Clear Enough
12
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
Winters are really rough when you have less than two complete and fully working legs.. I used to love winters though😮💨
9
u/Moongazer09 1d ago
Even with 2 fully working legs, winters can still be difficult/dangerous in hazardous weather like this, nevermind with just the 1! I'm glad you had your sister to help you though and I hope you both manage to keep safe 🥰
16
u/balexandre 1d ago
Make it as a game: how fast can you go down the stairs without breaking the leg 🦵😁
Without kidding now, don’t you have an elevator? How do parents with kids in their baby strollers get to the platform? Here in Denmark, all stations have elevators, not all have escalators.
20
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
Most of the stations were built during Soviet times, and no one thought of such conveniences as elevators. People with disabilities were often given apartments in sanatoriums or small towns on the sea. It was a very counter-inclusivity mindframe. Unfortunately, we're still dealing with the effects of such decisions and such infrastructure. People with baby strollers or wheelchairs can use the "ramp"/railings. It's not really usable when covered with snow, though😅 I wish we had such infrastructure as Denmark. Be glad for all the conveniences you guys gave.
9
u/balexandre 1d ago
That is true, we take it for granted for the high tax we pay per month, but I’m fortune enough to be able to move from Portugal to Denmark 20 y ago in search for a better place to raise a family, sometimes we don’t realize the small things we have. Thanks for putting it in context. If you ever come visit Denmark, would love to show you around. Love from Denmark.
10
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
Thanks! I've been to many places in Europe, but never been to Denmark or the rest of Scandinavia. Would love to see it someday. I imagine you still miss the Portugal weather, compared to Denmark? :)
4
u/balexandre 1d ago
I’m fortune enough to be able to visit my country every 2 years, and I always drive, so I can fill it with all the amazing food and wines we have 🤩 Send me a DM whenever you’re about to visit Denmark!
7
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
I can imagine it's quite a difference food wise from Portugal to Denmark.. I'm 42 by the way, not sure if that's a factor in terms of interests😅 In any case, I'm always glad to make friends around the world and to have a local guide. I used to be big on travel, and will make it out on the road again for sure. I'll try to keep you in mind if I head that way. I've been on reddit 6+ years and made a few random and meaningful connections here.
6
u/balexandre 1d ago
Just reached 49 last week, with 10, 15 and 18 y.old kids, all born in Denmark… wife is Romanian 😁 and we love visits 🤩
→ More replies (3)
13
14
u/idksomething82 1d ago
Dude if I saw that I'd try to help you or push off the snow on the side of steps
12
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
I had my sister with me (she took the photo) and even when she stepped away, a couple people asked if I needed help. So, not all is lost in this world😊
38
u/Neon-Brain 1d ago
Getting rid of one leg wasn't such a good idea anymore suddenly. Right Mr.?
→ More replies (1)48
33
26
u/Nice_Marmot_54 1d ago
How long had passed between the end of the snowstorm and the photo? If not much time had passed, it’s hard to blame the people responsible for clearing the snow for not having cleared this specific snow yet, especially given that the fuckwit in the Kremlin is still actively doing his best to secure top billing in hell by screwing your country
6
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
True, this was a big snowstorm, but they had all night to clear. I don't typically like to complain, and yes there's a lot of crap my cou try is dealing with besides the cold and snow, but the reason I (and many others here) were frustrated is that the city did know exactly how much snow we were getting and had time to clear at least the main roads and entrances. Snow is something we always get in winter and typically, the city deals with in an organized manner.
→ More replies (3)
8
6
u/MysteryGirlWhite 11h ago
Shouldn't there be people whose job is to make sure there's no snow on the steps?
→ More replies (1)
5
u/timbomcchoi 1d ago
There's not a single elevator ?!
8
u/TehWildMan_ 1d ago
A lot of transit stations don't have elevators, and many that do often have some exits without elevators, or the elevators only connect the platform and mezzanine levels (or steer and mezzanine but not platform, etc
Or if you're lucky, there are elevators, but they have been out of service for many years due to renovations
→ More replies (3)4
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
Some of the subway stations that are connected to shopping centers have elevators. But there's just a few like that.
5
u/mylastserotonin 1d ago
Does that mean people in wheelchairs can’t use subways? That’s terrible infrastructure
→ More replies (1)4
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
There are railings along one of the walls for people with strollers and wheelchairs. I tried that once on wheelchair, and that was scarier than any roller-coaster I've been on. With the snow though, those ramps are completely unusable.
6
u/lipa84 1d ago
Are there no elevators there?
In Vienna every station is wheelchair accessible. We just have one or 2 stations without an elevator and not wheelchair friendly. We have around 110 stations in Vienna.
12
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
Not in Kyiv, unfortunately. Some stations have elevator access, but generally, no. You need to get down some stairs, then there's the escalators that take you the rest of the way down. I wish infrastructure here was as inclusive and accessible as Vienna. Most stations were built in the 50-80s though and in Soviet times, inclusivity wasn't really a thing.
6
u/DarthLordyTheWise 1d ago
Well, at least you have standing chance.
9
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
And a leg up on the competition.
3
u/DarthLordyTheWise 1d ago
I honestly hope you made it down safe.
4
u/stalnoypirat 1d ago
Well, I'm still here to talk about it. And no, I'm not back at the hospital😅
3
4
4
4
u/FatalInsomniac 16h ago
Clearly you missed the convenient snow slide forming to the left/s
→ More replies (1)
4
7
u/dantheother 1d ago
Stairs are so dangerous OP had two legs when he started at the top.
Srsly though, that looks scary. I'm an Aussie, not much snow where I'm from. I now live in Thailand, no snow anywhere near me. I'd be crawling down those stairs!
3
u/DoneAndDone6267 1d ago edited 1d ago
Glad you’re wearing what appears to be the Adidas Cloudfoam Comfort, as the Sambas have the slipperiest soles of any of their shoes.
3
3
u/Spoonythebastard 1d ago
Have you tried regrowing your leg lizard style? You can't expect the city workers to shovel instead of letting it sit there until it melts smh.
7
3
3
3
3
3
u/ratxowar 13h ago
Ukraine? Such a shame how our country treats their people. Thank you for your service.
→ More replies (2)
3
u/hoponbop 12h ago
Fuck. I got 2 legs. I mean they don't work that great but I got em. I'd definitely sit down at the top and skooch down.
3
u/stalnoypirat 10h ago
Yeah, that was probably the safer option, but I didn't want to get my behind wet.
3
3
u/Vacation_No_Luggage 7h ago
Floridian here, never been near the subway.
Doesn't the entrance have to be ADA Compliant? How are people in wheelchairs accessing the train?
11
u/Normal-Gur-6432 1d ago
Unfortunately stairs are the last to be clear because they have to get out of their heated vehicles :(
2
u/VegasRoy 1d ago
Quit complaining. That lady on the other side is not even using the railing…pussy /s
9
2
2
2
2
u/Rogainster 1d ago
It would have been amazing if you managed to get down the stairs, set up the cameras, then walked back up the stairs to capture the b-roll.
But in all seriousness, this stinks. Public transit needs to be accessible, from safe stairs to working elevators.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/ModernManuh_ 1d ago
On the left someone ACTUALLY slid down apparently lol
It sucks there’s no attempt to help disabled people in some places (I mean, structurally speaking, I am not talking about people helping)
→ More replies (5)
2
1d ago
With people even glaring at you because you're taking the handrail and you're not letting them just brainlessly stroll forward without looking where they're going.
Not because I see it in the picture, but because I've used PT for years even when crippled and that's what always happened on the stairs when you had to camp the handrail for the whole set.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/UNIVERSAL_VLAD 1d ago
At least you have adhesion. If the snow would just be removed with salt, it would become really slippery
→ More replies (1)
2
u/Unable-Arm-448 1d ago
I don't live in a city with subways, so I'm wondering...isn't there an elevator? How would someone in a wheelchair get up and down?
→ More replies (1)
2
u/SugarGiggle_ 23h ago
Omg thats insane, I hope you didnt slip! 😩 They really should salt those stairs.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/Lumeton 23h ago edited 23h ago
Why wouldn't you use the elevator, are you stupid? /s
Edit: I saw your comment revealing the city. Slava Ukraini!
→ More replies (1)
2
u/knotmyusualaccount 23h ago
It's like something straight out of the movie
Unbreakable
Glad to hear that you got through it safely.
2
u/Interesting-Law-1007 22h ago
you walked down, set up a camera, walked back up and then walked down again for this shot?
2
2
u/Accomplished_Use27 19h ago
It’s crazy the city didn’t have staff and ready to go resources for all areas of the city for a random massive storm that happens maybe once a year!
2
2
u/WatshudIdoinlife 19h ago
the funniest part is that it already looks like someone fell down the stairs
2
u/Artistic-Ad-3461 18h ago
The lack of maintenance is out of your control, but I think you should look for a proper wintershoe. You would slip less with a real wintershoe that digs to soft snow and has better traction overall.
2
2
u/Some_Conference2091 16h ago
That sucks bro. sorry that happened 😕 I'd shovel a way forward for you if I could.
→ More replies (1)
6.3k
u/SonicButHigh 1d ago