The American with Disabilities Act requires that a building or structure be accessible to wheelchair users. So, how should wheelchair ramps be built?
Not too high and plenty wide. Yet with all the information available regarding ADA requirements, many people still encounter ramps that are anything but accessible, anything but safe.
SLOPE
Some ramps are too steep to roll up without straining yourself, and provide a roller coaster experience on the way down. ADA guidelines require that for every inch of rise, the ramp must have one foot in length. Example: a step of 6 inches in height must be matched with a ramp that is at least 6 feet long. Plus, the maximum rise for any section of ramp is 30 inches.
WIDTH
A ramp should be wide enough to negotiate without banging your hands on the rails. Guidelines call for at least 36 clear (within any handrails) inches.
LANDINGS
ADA requirements state that ramps must have level landings at the top and bottom of each run. It only makes sense: on a wheelchair, most of the weight sits on the rear wheels. When aimed downhill, the weight is transferred to the smaller wheels in the front. The wheelchair is less stable in this position, which is why a landing is needed at the bottom of the ramp, especially when the route turns. No landing, and you might end up on your nose in the bushes.
ADA guidelines say that if the ramp is 30 feet or longer, you need a level (no slope at all) landing that is 5 feet long and as wide as the ramp. When the route turns in an L shape, a 5 feet by 5 feet landing is required. For those pesky switch backs—5 feet by 8 feet is the minimum requirement.
EDGES
For ramps and landings that drop off at the sides, the requirement is for a curb (minimum 2 inches tall), railing or wall to prevent wheels from slipping over the edge.
HANDRAILS
Ramps with a rise steeper than 6 inches, or that run horizontally more than 72 inches, are required to have handrails on both sides.
SURFACE
The surface of the ramp must be slip-resistant and stable. The ramp should be designed to prevent water from accumulating—no puddles allowed.
At Access Advocates, we share the philosophy of Gabe McMoreland, co-founder of Pittsburgh’s Accessibility meetup group and graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s Urban Studies program. In a discussion with Project for Public Spaces, Gabe stressed:
“everyone… should have full independence and a full range of possibility and choices available to them. When we build places and pathways for people, they need to be accessible. Then they are not, we are excluding people from participating in the social or economic activity that is going on in that space.”
If you or someone you know is one of the many Americans who have been excluded from a public place due to poorly designed wheelchair ramps, please contact us for information. Using the information you give us regarding your experience, we will work with you to address the problem. Access Advocates is your partner in advocating for ADA compliance.