If you’re person who likes to go out to restaurants, then you might be familiar with websites like Urban Spoon or Yelp. These are review websites that are driven by actual customers. That same system can now be used to help find establishments with accessible bathrooms and parking. WheelMate is a free website and app by Danish company Coloplast that does this.

Meet Your New Mate

Whether WheelMate is being used on a smartphone, tablet, or on a computer; it works essentially the same. The software first locates where you are and shows this on a map. Nearby accessible bathrooms or parking space that have been imputed by others will then pop up on the map as icons. Select a particular icon and a simple profile of that establishment will appear with reviews and number of thumbs up and thumbs down. You can also save a list of favorite establishments. A list view option of nearby establishments is also available.

Adding Your Input

Once you a visit a place that’s already listed you can add your own review. If a place is not listed, you can easily add it for others to see. Simply select the “Add a location” button and a new screen will come up. Fill in the name and address of the establishment then pick Toilet or Parking. Especially if it’s in regard to parking, you can also indicate if there’s a fee. Once this information is inputted, you can then give a thumbs up or down and a written review if you choose.

Usefulness

In the U.S. most places SHOULD already have accessible bathrooms and parking. But some are better than others which where the review system of WheelMate is helpful. But when traveling abroad to other countries that do not have an accessibility building code, WheelMate could be very helpful. Of course the more people who use it and add places, the better and more useful it will be.

Conclusion

I downloaded WheelMate to my iPhone and tried it out. The interface was simple to use and navigate. There were a handful of places that were listed in my area with accuracy. Though many more places could reviewed. So more people need to use this app to increase it’s usefulness and potential. To download WheelMate, visit their iTunes or Google play websites. To find out more about WebMate or to view the web version, visit www.WheelMate.com.







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