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ADA Program
To meet the needs of all sidewalk users, designers must
have a clear understanding of the wide range of
abilities that occur within the population. Sidewalks,
like roadways, should be designed to serve all users.
This includes children, older people, parents with
strollers, pedestrians who have vision impairments, and
people using wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
Just as a roadway will not be designed for one type of
vehicle, the design of sidewalks should not be limited
to only a single type of pedestrian user. Because the
sidewalk is the basic unit of mobility within our
overall system of transportation, every route and
facility must be usable.
The
Accessible Sidewalks and Street Crossings is an
informational guide designed to provide guidance for
accessible sidewalks and street crossings.
Complying with ADA standards in public rights-of-ways can be difficult. Sidewalks, street crossings, and other elements of the outdoor environment present unique challenges to accessibility for which specific guidance is considered essential. An excellent resource is FHWA's 2001 publication Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access, Part 2 - Best Practice Design Guide (available from FHWA.)
The U. S. Access Board encourages designers and engineers to understand some of the issues involved in being a pedestrian for those who are disabled by watching four short videos as part of their Accessible Sidewalks program.
The Board has been developing guidelines for public rights-of-way in various degrees of success since 1992. When complete, their guidelines will address issues particularly pertinent to highway designers, including access for blind pedestrians at street crossings, wheelchair access to on-street parking, and various constraints posed by space limitations, roadway design practices, slope, and terrain.
Design Issues for Pedestrians Who Use Wheelchairs (10:00 minutes)
Design Issues for Pedestrians With Ambulatory Impairments (7:51)
Design Issues for Pedestrians With Low Vision (11:24)
Design Issues for Pedestrians Who Are Blind (11:19) .
Complying with ADA standards in public rights-of-ways can be difficult. Sidewalks, street crossings, and other elements of the outdoor environment present unique challenges to accessibility for which specific guidance is considered essential. An excellent resource is FHWA's 2001 publication Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access, Part 2 - Best Practice Design Guide (available from FHWA.)
The U. S. Access Board encourages designers and engineers to understand some of the issues involved in being a pedestrian for those who are disabled by watching four short videos as part of their Accessible Sidewalks program.
The Board has been developing guidelines for public rights-of-way in various degrees of success since 1992. When complete, their guidelines will address issues particularly pertinent to highway designers, including access for blind pedestrians at street crossings, wheelchair access to on-street parking, and various constraints posed by space limitations, roadway design practices, slope, and terrain.
Accessible Sidewalk Videos
The U. S. Access Board encourages designers and engineers to watch these short films showing some of the difficulties disabled persons may have while traveling as pedestrians. Each video clip highlights unique problems impeding certain groups of individuals while maneuvering across commonly found pedestrian components. Sometimes, specific design elements for one disabled group can lead to access issues for another group. Watching all four clips gives a much better overall perspective on accessibility. Each segment is in Windows Media format (DVDs are available for mailing, if that format is more desirable).Design Issues for Pedestrians Who Use Wheelchairs (10:00 minutes)
Design Issues for Pedestrians With Ambulatory Impairments (7:51)
Design Issues for Pedestrians With Low Vision (11:24)
Design Issues for Pedestrians Who Are Blind (11:19) .
