Sidewalk accessibility: A study of the continuing needs of pedestrians applied to the sidewalk planning and design process

Abstract

Since 1991, public entities have been taking action in attempts to comply with Title II of the ADA, a Federal mandate for Public Services and Transportation agencies to make their facilities and programs more accessible to people with disabilities. Still, many people with disabilities are forced to cope with an array of unpredictable sidewalk situations that can impede mobility, block access, and compromise safety regardless. This thesis attempts to understand and explain this phenomenon from a planning and design standpoint, so that what is learned can be applied to current practice policies for better overall accessibility. To do so, the history of accessibility legislation, the various needs of pedestrians, and the characteristics of the sidewalk environment were examined. An assessment process that gathered key accessibility data in nine different cities was completed, and the results were compared with Federal guidelines to determine overall accessibility. Various findings that resulted from the study are presented, and topics for further study are offered in to as a part of the conclusion.

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