Sidewalks may seem like just pathways, but in reality, they play a vital role in providing safety and accessibility for pedestrians.
But the question comes: is your sidewalk accessible to people with disabilities?
The Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA) ensures your sidewalk meets its standard guidelines to make the space accessible for people with wheelchairs and crutches. It maintains safety and accessibility for everyone in the community.
Whether it is a homeowner or a business owner, understanding ADA Compliance requirements is necessary for keeping the space’s flow for everyone, including people with disabilities.
This blog is an expert opinion by Eden Contractor, to understand the ADA standard guidelines for sidewalks. Let’s start reading them below!
What Are ADA Sidewalk Requirements?
The ADA Act ensures inclusivity by providing standard guidelines for designing sidewalks. Here are key components that you need to consider:
- Sidewalk Width
According to ADA Act guidelines, the minimum width must be 36 inches (3 feet), although sidewalks can be wider than this due to safety concerns and can go up to 48 inches for comfortably accommodating pedestrians, including people with wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers, at the same time.
Passing spaces are created for sidewalks less than 60 inches wide. These spaces are built at a distance of every 200 feet with 60 inches by 60 inches measurements to make the space accessible by letting two wheelchairs pass easily and smoothly.
Narrow sidewalks can create hurdles for people who use aids for walking; therefore, by following ADA compliance guidelines, ensuring enough width is necessary for the smooth flow of pedestrians.
- Material
The ADA Act emphasizes using strong and stable materials such as concrete, wood, and asphalt for building sidewalks so that they would not get loose easily. While using gravel and other materials is considered non-compliant.
Moreover, rough surfaces made with cobblestones and pavers can make it difficult for wheelchairs to pass by, causing vibration on the surface and it can result in a painful journey for people using aids for mobility.
- Slip Resistance
Slippery surfaces can be hazardous for every pedestrian, including people with disabilities using wheelchairs or crutches.
According to the ADA Act, sidewalks must be slip-resistant to prevent tripping hazards for pedestrians. However, there are no explicit instructions present for it but smooth and polished surfaces can become hazardous once they get wet.
- Trip Hazards
If the sidewalk is sinking or raised and having a change of more than 1/4 inch, it would be considered a tripping hazard for pedestrians. The ADA Act ensures the sidewalk is smooth to go for everyone. In short, any sidewalk section exceeding 1/4 inch should be beveled and anything else exceeding 1/2 inch must be repaired accordingly.
- Sidewalk Slope
According to the ADA Act, sidewalks must be compliant regarding their slopes. For example, sidewalks should not have slopes steeper than 1:20 (5%), and for cross slopes, it must be more than 1:48 (2%). It ensures safety for people with wheelchairs and prevents the risk of rolling out of control while walking.
- Openings And Gaps
Grates, openings, and gaps can become hazardous if not addressed or planned properly, especially for people with wheelchairs or crutches. According to ADA Act guidelines, the gaps must not exceed 1/2 inch in width for maintaining safety and smoothness.
- Curb Ramps
The point where a sidewalk crosses street intersections, a curb ramp is required to be installed. According to ADA guidelines, a curb ramp must have a slope less than 1:12 and 36 inches in width. Moreover, a detectable warning must be placed and the curb ramp should be in contrast in color for better vision—a hint to get prepared for a difference in route.
Conclusion
Sidewalks are more than walkways; they offer safety and accessibility for pedestrians. Understanding the importance of ADA Act guidelines, from sidewalk width to curb ramps, including material, trip hazards, and sidewalk slope, sidewalks can become free of hazards and hurdles for people with wheelchairs and crutches.