Bellevue Is Treating Accessibility Like Infrastructure
A partnership with Wheel the World makes it easier to plan travel with verified details.
By Sarah Stackhouse January 12, 2026
For a lot of people, the hardest part of travel planning isn’t arranging flights or booking a hotel. It’s figuring out whether a place will actually work for your needs once you get there.
Bellevue has partnered with Wheel the World, a travel platform used worldwide, to verify accessibility details for hotels, attractions, restaurants, and transportation across the city. By treating accessibility like infrastructure—built intentionally and maintained over time—the city is taking some of the uncertainty out of travel planning for travelers who rely on accurate, detailed information before they arrive.
The partnership, announced this fall, puts Bellevue, along with Seattle, among a small group of destinations doing this work at a citywide level. Through Wheel the World’s platform, travelers can filter listings by specific needs and know the information has been verified in person, with details like door widths, restroom clearances, and ramp slopes measured on site.
Wheel the World, which works with destinations globally, says the effort is part of a broader shift in the travel industry. “With over 1.2 billion people in the world living with a disability, this is not a niche market—it’s a reality the travel industry can no longer overlook,” says Sofia Bravo, head of customer experience at Wheel the World.
Beyond verified listings, Bellevue has been expanding accessibility across public spaces. The city now has power wheelchair charging stations in six locations and accessible changing tables at eight public parks. Downtown navigation has also been improved through sky bridges, motion-activated doors, and smoother pedestrian pathways.
Recreation options have grown too, including adaptive kayaking, an accessible zipline at Bellevue Adventures Aerial Park, and adaptive cycling through Outdoors for All, which operates one of the country’s largest adaptive bike fleets. The organization also supports adaptive hiking, aquatics, tennis, and fitness programs.
So far, 25 Bellevue businesses have completed Wheel the World’s verification process, with another 25 currently underway. Many of those participants have also completed the Wheel the World Academy, which focuses on inclusive service in addition to physical access. Verified listings and accessible itineraries are now live on Wheel the World’s Bellevue page and through Visit Bellevue’s Accessibility Guide.
Curious how Seattle holds up when it comes to accessibility? Wheel the World recently published a first-hand account of traveling in Seattle. Read it here.
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