Greece makes beaches more accessible to wheelchair users

Around 150 of Greece’s beaches now offer autonomous sea access to wheelchair users.

Seatrac is a solar-powered, remote-operated chair helping people with mobility issues to enjoy the sea more easily. Using buttons on the chair to adjust its height, users can transfer from their wheelchair onto the ramp. From here, they can navigate at their own pace via a remote control.

Before hitting the beach, users can check an interactive map to see which beaches have the devices with remote controls available. Alternatively, remotes can be delivered to users’ homes or accommodation.

Some of the ramps are also equipped with video cameras so visitors can check the sea conditions before arrival to avoid dangerous waves. Greece is planning to install Seatrac ramps on 300 of its beaches while around 150 beaches are already equipped with the technology.

The project is part of a larger initiative to make the country more accessible to people with disabilities — a commitment Greece made after the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens.