Accessibility for people with disabilities is not a mere whim, but an obligation for the public institutions and authorities of a European country to ensure equal rights for its citizens. In the municipality of Râmnicu Vâlcea, some institutions have understood this and chosen to comply with European and Romanian legislation, while others still lack the necessary empathy and deserve to be singled out on a "wall of shame."

For most citizens of Râmnicu Vâlcea, the absence of access ramps or wider sidewalks is not an issue; however, for the visually or hearing impaired and for wheelchair users, the lack of special markings and voice-based information systems remains a genuine challenge. A car parked on the sidewalk, a broken elevator, or the absence of tactile paving hinders spatial orientation and movement for people with disabilities, while also limiting their access to public institutions and their ability to speak directly with the officials who can resolve their issues.

But how accessible is the municipality of Râmnicu Vâlcea, really? Prompted by a report from a person with a disability, we set out to navigate several routes crossing the city from one end to the other. Our aim was to access places a citizen might need to visit, public institutions, banks, pharmacies or simply to take a stroll along the Olăneşti riverfront or through Zăvoi Park. "I get around the city daily using an electric wheelchair. I usually rely on my son for help, but on days when he’s at school and I need to run errands, I go out on my own. It is disheartening to see people who think that simply installing an access ramp makes a space accessible, while 'forgetting' about a high threshold at the entrance. You can't 'jump' over a threshold like that in an electric wheelchair, so you are entirely dependent on someone else just to get inside," the person who reached out to us explained.

We set off on the first route from the city center, an area home to various public institutions that any citizen might need to visit. Access was easy at the Prefecture, the AJPIS (County Agency for Payments and Social Inspection), the County Council, and the Local Tax and Revenue Office; we were able to enter a bank and the central market, and we strolled along the Olăneşti riverfront... However, upon reaching the headquarters of the Vâlcea County Consumer Protection Office, we fully grasped the point made by the person with a disability: the complete absence of an access ramp signals a lack of respect for citizens with disabilities and for the legislation mandating accessibility at all public institutions in Romania! We sincerely hope they have other compliant technical solutions (such as a lift) inside; since it was Sunday and the office was closed, we were unable to test these alternatives...

The station was initially a pleasant surprise, offering easy access via ramps for people with disabilities on two sides of the building. However, after leaving the premises heading towards Ostroveni, I unpleasantly discovered that the platform ended abruptly; the access ramp connecting the two levels was unusable for a wheelchair user because the contractor had left it unfinished, despite there being more than enough space to construct a proper ramp. I headed in the opposite direction along the platform until it, too, came to an abrupt end, with a drop of approximately 40 centimeters. "The decision to install a small fence was likely prompted by inattentive people falling into the gap. If you’re using your mobile phone while walking, you might not spot the step in time and could fall... Oh, but before the fence, they placed a narrow plank, someone has a truly dark sense of humor..." Looking at the photos, the absurdity of the situation becomes clear, regarding both the plank and the fence.

​I made my way off that "trap" of a platform, only to face the next obstacle immediately after the iron pedestrian bridge at the railway crossing leading to the Cina area: the space between the tracks lacked sufficient infill to ensure a quick and safe crossing. It is also worth noting that the crossing lacks safeguards for the visually impaired, as tactile guidance systems are completely absent.

Upon reaching the Tineretului Boulevard, near Kaufland, we noticed a bus stop situated 10–15 centimeters above the sidewalk level, making it inaccessible should one need shelter from the rain. It is worth noting that most bus stops in the city feature a ramped edge—smoothed out during construction—to facilitate wheelchair access, thereby making them accessible in compliance with EU-funded project requirements.

The Ostroveni neighborhood fares well regarding accessibility for people with disabilities, featuring wide ramps for entering supermarkets and pharmacies, tactile paving at bus stops, and audible signals at traffic lights. The ease of access to shops, cafés, and restaurants along Dem Rădulescu Boulevard was confirmed by the significant number of people with disabilities using manual or electric wheelchairs. Parking spaces are accessible and marked with the international symbol for disability access. Urban improvement works funded by the EU are clearly visible, and strolling along Dem Rădulescu Boulevard or near the Zoo is a pleasant experience.

Whether young or adult, we all have a vulnerable person in our lives, someone requiring physical and moral support to overcome health challenges. Any citizen can demonstrate empathy, civic spirit, and solidarity by advocating for the identification and implementation of solutions. A written formal request addressed to public authorities and institutions will be followed by a written response and subsequent action on their part. Furthermore, constructing a new access ramp, purchasing a lift, or installing assistive software represents independence, dignity, and respect for the person with a disability.