Exploring the Museums at Yale via Metro North

One Friday in mid-October my friends Trish and Kathy and I met at Grand Central for a day at Yale.  This was our first time, with me relying on my mobility scooter, to trek to New Haven, Connecticut via MetroNorth.  I was cautiously optimistic that the trip would go smoothly but silently nervous we’d hit a few glitches.

It’s always easy for me to get to Grand Central via the NYC subway.  A quick trip to Time’s Square/42nd Street via the #2 or #3 trains, a transfer onto the Shuttle and then possibly an elevator down to the platform depending on the track.  I use the MTA app for purchasing train tickets so as soon as we found each other, at the clock in the center of the station, off we headed to board the train.

Whenever the conductors see me, they ask where I’m headed and if I need a ramp.  Usually in Grand Central, the trains and the platform are evenly matched although there are a few platforms where the gap is a bit wide.  In those cases, I do ask for a ramp but otherwise, none is needed.  Most of the train cars have one area set aside for wheelchairs, mobility devices and bicycles, but unfortunately, the spaces are small and parking in them is difficult.  My Pride Victory tri-wheel is a bit to big so I had to park at an angle in order for people to get past me.  But the train was not packed, and people were very kind making their way around me.

We chose a car with a restroom (not all cars have one).  It was a pretty fall day and after enjoying beverages we brought with us, we settled in for the two-hour ride enjoying the scenery, chatting and eventually napping. 

At Union Station there is an elevator on every platform, which takes you down to an underground tunnel that leads into the station (thankfully the one I needed was working).  After a quick pit stop at the restroom in the station (the handicapped stall with multiple pullup bars is very roomy and easily accommodates my scooter and I’ve always had the good fortune to find it clean) we headed out to the front of the station where Trish spotted the Yale University free shuttle waiting for passengers.  Having read it is handicapped-accessible, she ran off to flag the driver to let him know we would need the lift. 

He was a cheerful young man who immediately went into action positioning the van for the lift to drop down.  I rode on and after one minor stall, was soon sitting on my scooter inside the van.  About 7 minutes later we were dropped one block from the Yale University Art Gallery, which is located on the northwest side of New Haven Green.