A WALK BUTTON OUT OF ARM'S REACH
Pedestrians
love the little button to activate the red light for oncoming traffic while
triggering the walk sign for safe crossing.
Many, I'm
sure, would vote to double the crossing time from 30 to 60 seconds. Wheelchair
users would, too — but first they would simply like to be able to reach the
button in the first place.
Dozens of
state, city, and county roads have huge concrete bases around the large metal
poles where the button is located.
Big bases
mean wheelchairs cannot get close enough to put the button within arm's reach.
The Public
Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines, established by the U.S. Access Board,
states that the push button mounting height should be 3.5 feet above the
sidewalk.
The Access
Board, which writes built environment rules for ADA regulations, among other
duties, states that an unobstructed approach space around the push button
mounting post should be a minimum of 2.5 feet by four feet.
Cities
should also make sure the button is not mounted higher than the head of a
seated wheelchair user, or that trash and recycling cans or other obstructions
block access.
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