You griped, and the Minnesota State Fair listened. Mostly.
Last year I wrote a column that discussed accessibility issues at the fair, in particular the new multimillion dollar transit hub, where buses from all over the metro converge and drop people off at a ticket booth.
If you were lucky or smart and took the right bus, you got off pretty close to the gate where wheelchairs and scooters are available for rent. If, however, you jumped on the Best Buy/Richfield and Maple Grove bus or the Parade Stadium bus, there was a vast, barren field of pavement between you and your ride. For many seniors and those with mobility problems, it was a grind. I saw people huffing as they held onto garbage cans to rest under the relentless sun.
So I wrote a column about the problem, which drew dozens of e-mails from people with disabilities who had complaints or suggestions. Brienna Schuette, marketing and communications manager at the fair, asked me to forward the e-mails. The column and mail were "a driving force getting a lot of changes made," Schuette told me.
Let's start with the transit hub. Last year, there was nowhere to rest or sit. This year, there are a dozen or so benches along the way. It is still a long walk, and there are no shuttles or golf carts (which I suggested), but at least there are places to catch a breath.
Schuette said the fair staff discussed adding more assistance at the hub, but given the high traffic of both vehicles and pedestrians — "plus the associated liability and risks to people and property" — they decided not to offer pedicabs or a small trolley service.
It's a big improvement, but if you can't walk 200 yards easily, you should choose a different gate.
Other improvements initiated by fair administration included another wheelchair and electric scooter location, which makes five, at gate 18 near the corner of Randall Avenue and Underwood Street.