The Need to Standardize Elements of Pedestrian Routes with Respect to the Requirements of Handicapped Users

Pedestrian routes are the most frequently used fragments of urban transport systems. There is an increased share (as compared to other fragments) of their users with limited mobility or perception (disabled and elderly people, persons with luggage, with prams, with little children, etc.). That is why pedestrian routes and their elements should be planned, designed, constructed, maintained, and operated with special care and requirements of handicapped users must be taken into account in each of these processes. However, this is not always the case due to various reasons: lack of understanding of those specific needs, incompetence in recognition of problems, unawareness of recommended solutions, lack of implementation possibilities, unconcern, sometimes bad will. An application of proper standards in planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of pedestrian routes still remains an important problem. In particular there is a need of a higher degree of unification of elements constituting these routes. The application of standardized elements helps improve the security and comfort of users, especially those with various types and degrees of handicap. The existence along a route of elements (like pavements, curbs, crossings, stairs, ramps) which have improper parameters or differ one from another with important features (shape, width, height, gradient, evenness, color, marking, signing, surface texture, etc.) can cause a feeling of threat, lower comfort, and sometimes a real danger. The paper will deal with the most common cases when desirable standards are not observed and with possible consequences. Polish practice will serve as a basis. Some developed countries have better or worse solved such problems. In author’s opinion it is still a lot to do in this matter in his country and as he expects in many other countries, especially in post-communist and developing ones, so remarks presented in the paper could be helpful.

• Corporate Authors:

  POLPLAN Company, Limited

  Nowolopki 1079
  Warsaw,   Poland  00 153
• Authors:
  • Wieckowski, Marek
• Conference:
  • Transed 2001. Towards Safety, Independence and Security. 9th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled People
  • Location: Warsaw , Poland
  • Date: 2001-7-2 to 2001-7-5
• Publication Date: 2001

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: CD-ROM;
• Pagination: 8p
• Monograph Title: Transed 2001. Towards Safety, Independence and Security. 9th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled People

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crosswalks; Curbs; Marking materials; Pavements; Pedestrian traffic; Persons with disabilities; Public transit; Routes; Standardization; Transportation disadvantaged persons; User benefits
• Identifier Terms: Transed
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pavements; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01018858
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 7 2006 11:01AM