Frequently Asked Questions

WHEELCHAIR RACER is an independent accessibility resource created by AbleWorks Digital. We are not officially affiliated with parkrun, but we are deeply committed to making parkrun more accessible for all participants. Our mission is to complement parkrun's inclusive values by providing the detailed accessibility information that wheelchair athletes need to participate with confidence.

WHEELCHAIR RACER is the world's most comprehensive accessibility analysis platform for wheelchair racing and parkrun courses. We provide detailed information about course suitability for wheelchair users and people using mobility aids, analyzing everything from terrain and camber to surface conditions and accessibility features. Our goal is to empower wheelchair athletes to race with confidence by knowing exactly what to expect on every course.

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a laser-based scanning technology that creates incredibly accurate 3D maps of terrain. For wheelchair accessibility analysis, LiDAR is revolutionary because it captures millimetre-precise data about elevation changes, camber angles, and surface variations that are invisible to the naked eye or standard photography. This means we can identify problematic camber, subtle grade changes, and terrain features that directly impact wheelchair performance — delivering the precision wheelchair athletes need to make confident decisions about which courses work for them.

Our analysis goes far beyond basic distance and terrain. We evaluate 15+ critical factors including elevation gain and profile, camber angles (which affect wheelchair stability), surface quality and type, corner geometry, path width and maneuverability, barriers and obstacles, weather exposure, and more. We use advanced technologies like LiDAR for precision terrain analysis, conduct on-site evaluations, and gather data from community contributors, creating the most detailed accessibility scoring system available for racing courses.

We regularly update our course information to reflect changes in route layouts, surface conditions, and accessibility improvements. Course updates happen on an ongoing basis as we receive new information from our community and conduct additional evaluations. Major updates are typically published weekly, and you can see the last update date for any course in our database.

Absolutely! We welcome feedback and reports from the community. Whether you're a wheelchair athlete with personal experience on a course, an event organiser wanting your event analyzed, or someone with accessibility insights to share — we want to hear from you. Visit our contact page to get in touch, or check out how to become a contributor.

We've analyzed 2,747+ parkrun courses across 50+ countries. Visit our Parkruns page to search and explore courses by location. Each listing includes detailed accessibility ratings, course profiles, and community feedback to help you find the perfect race for your abilities.

Each course receives scores across multiple accessibility dimensions: terrain difficulty, surface suitability, camber challenges, corner geometry, accessibility features, and more. Our "Confidence Score" gives you an overall assessment, but we recommend reviewing the detailed breakdown for the specific factors that matter most to you. Not all wheelchair athletes have the same needs — one person may prioritize flat terrain while another is concerned about surface grip.

Camber is the angle of the ground surface — roads and paths are often tilted to help with drainage. While this barely affects runners, camber can significantly impact wheelchair racing. A steep camber forces one wheel to work harder, affecting stability, speed, and energy expenditure. Aggressive downhill camber can even cause tipping in sport wheelchairs. This is why we analyze and report camber angles in detail — it's often the difference between a manageable course and a challenging one.