8 MAJOR ROADBLOCKS TO INCLUSIVE STREETS

THE CRAPPY CURB RAMP

One-size-fits-all is never the answer.

When cities put a single, narrow curb ramp at an intersection, it's more than uncomfortable — it's downright life-threatening.

Curb ramps must be at least three feet wide, with no more than a 1 to 12 (8.3 percent) grade, according to ADA guidelines.

Local conditions, like a high step up to the curb or a bike lane, might even call for more thoughtful design.

Other curb ramp issues include street furniture and other barriers on or at the top of the ramp, flooding at the street edge due to poor drainage, and street repairs where contractors demolish ramps, even temporarily.

Too-narrow curb ramps force those who use wheelchairs, scooters, and other assistive mobility devices to roll partway into oncoming traffic.

That can be incredibly dangerous.

Think about the height of a wheelchair user: The standard seat is 21 inches tall, placing the user's midsection about the same height as an SUV (SUVs are exempt from the maximum sedan bumper height of 20 inches).

Then think about how high the driver of an SUV or truck sits.

A wheelchair user needs to be seen to be safe, but depending on the vehicle and intersection, some are completely obstructed from view.

An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found pedestrian traffic fatalities rose by 53 percent from 2009 to 2018.

The same study found that at speeds between 20 and 39 mph, 30 percent of pedestrians struck by SUVs died.

The best solution is a pair of curb ramps at each corner: one aligned perfectly with the painted north-south crosswalk, and the other matched to the east-west one.

The curbs act as continuations of the sidewalk into the crosswalk.

A very wide, continuous curb ramp that spans the entirety of a corner is also a best practice.