Curb Ramps – American with Disabilities Act

Since the 1970s, city planners have struggled with the requirement to install curb ramps at all street intersections. A necessary addition to the right-of-way, curb ramps in American with Disabilities Ac, facilitate smoother travel for wheelchair users by effectively removing the curb and providing a gradual transition from sidewalk to roadway.

Unfortunately, as useful and liberating as curb ramps prove, they are equally as confusing and dangerous for the visually impaired. Prior to the implementation of curb ramps, visually impaired pedestrians used the drop-off edge of the curb line to distinguish the boundary between the sidewalk and vehicular area. With a gradual slope and no curb line to mark the edge of the road, curb ramps are a major source of uncertainly for those with limited to no vision.

As a compromise between the wheelchair community and the visually impaired, a strip of truncated dome detectable warnings are mandated on all curb ramps. American with Disabilities Ac requires 24” of truncated domes back from the depressed curb spanning the full width of the ramp which is perceived adequate coverage to effectively alert visually impaired pedestrians without creating a hazardous or painful bumpy surface for wheelchair users.

The Americans with Disabilities Act attempts to balance the interests of all disability groups and other various stakeholders. With years of research behind the current legislation, city planners can be confident that today’s curb ramp requirements maintain a positive equilibrium between the two parties most affected.

 

Back to Articles