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Washington Ave; New ADA Ramp Creates Trip Hazard

December 12, 2007 Accessibility, Downtown, Planning & Design 7 Comments

Pedestrians walking down Washington Ave heading to Joe Edwards’ new blowing bowling alley, Flamingo Bowl, should be mindful of a trip hazard created by a neighboring property.

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Heading East on Washington toward the new bowling alley we see the wonderfully remodeled former Days Inn, now residential apartments. It has been great seeing the transformation of this structure. They even filled in the former automobile drive to the courtyard space — now that is real progress for pedestrians. But the ramp you see ahead presents an issue.

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The landing juts out from the narrower ramp. Yes, it is a minor thing but generally big things are not trip hazards. Small things, in particular those that blend with the sidewalk, cause people to fall. In general, the ramp and landing are created the same width so you don’t have this little protrusion at th bottom.
Presumably the city would share in any injury claims as they approved the design and installation of this ramp in the public right of way.

 

Currently there are "7 comments" on this Article:

  1. Reginald Pennypacker III says:

    “Pedestrians walking down Washington Ave heading to Joe Edwards’ new blowing alley, Flamingo Bowl, should be mindful of a trip hazard created by a neighboring property.”

    Blowing alley? What kind of place is this?!?!?

    [SLP —  Oooops, that is located elsewhere….]

     
  2. insider says:

    dude, you seriously need to get a life!

     
  3. dude says:

    who are you to criticize insider? Is “stop telling other people what to do” your favorite saying?

     
  4. Jason says:

    were they not required to provide edge detection either? Typically a ramp is required to have a built up edge or low rail to keep the wheel of the chair from going over the side.

    I know I would love to skate that!

    jason

     
  5. Jim Zavist says:

    Agreed. A single step is a trip hazard, especially a low one like this one. The leaf-filled corner that sticks out into the path of travel is another one. The best soultion would’ve been cutting into the existing concrete (in the alcove to the left) or replacing a much bigger chunk of public sidewalk, ramping up gently from all sides, with no step. Looks like a) the cheapest “legal” solution was employed, and b) some lawyer will be making some money . . . the money saved on the construction side will be more than consumed settling a series of trip-and-fall claims in the future, followed by ripping this out and doing things right!

    [SLP — Yes, it was the leaf-filled corner that caught my eye.  We actually have a number of similar ramps in the area.  Adding a railing to the outside edge of this one would prevent someone from falling off and painting the East edge yellow will help, but the fact the base is wider than the ramp is unexpected by pedestrians.]

     
  6. Webby says:

    “…the wonderfully remodeled former Days Inn, now residential apartments. It has been great seeing the transformation of this structure. They even filled in the former automobile drive to the courtyard space…”

    Does this mean the parking garage under the Days Inn is no longer accessible? That seems wasteful.

     
  7. Jim Zavist says:

    Actually, the part sticking out is a stupid interpretation of having to provide a 5′ x 5′ landing at the top of the new ramp. Since the existing, adjacent, recessed concrete area is just as flat, it could’ve easily been included in the assumed “landing” area . . .

     

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