Universal Design and Access
This sidewalk meets ADA requirements and is easy to maneuver by people in wheelchairs, as well as other pedestrians.
The purpose of universal design is to provide an environment that is equally accessible and comfortable for users of all abilities and ages, including children. To help ensure access for all, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. Sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way are subject to the requirements of the ADA. In 2004 the U.S. Access Board released the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Architectural Barriers Act (ADA–ABA) Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities. These guidelines contain scoping and technical requirements for accessibility to sites, facilities and buildings by all users. Much of the information on walkway and street design contained in the ADA–ABA guidelines are contained in the 1999 Accessible Rights-of-Way: A Design Guide. The Federal Highway Administration document Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access also provides detailed guidance on the design of pedestrian facilities, which can be used as a supplement to the ADA–ABA guidelines.