07-12-2016, 08:58 AM
In no way is it structural. The concrete riser that the fence sits on also makes it a noticeable distance to reach over to grab it as a handrail, likely not the easiest for anyone who might need it as such. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some code about the grade of the sidewalk there, dipping under the railway, that required it to have a handrail of some sort. It's very clearly a huge afterthought.