01-02-2017, 12:28 AM
(01-01-2017, 12:27 PM)danbrotherston Wrote:(01-01-2017, 11:21 AM)ijmorlan Wrote: No front walk? Crazy!
One question I have about these trail guidelines is actually coming from the other point of view. I’m wondering about hiking trails. Clearly, a trail like the Spur Line or many of the other trails in town must be designed to be accessible to everybody. Similarly, if we’re going to build a pedestrian bridge over the expressway or a river, it should be accessible also. But it would not be at all appropriate for accessibility concerns to prevent construction of a hiking trail that is inherently inaccessible. I’m not sure what the proper dividing line is here. Perhaps whether a significant part of the use of the trail is for transportation (in which case it should be accessible to all), or if instead the purpose of using the trail is strictly to have the experience of using the trail (in which case we simply have to accept that not everybody can make use of it).
Yeah, I know. I was shocked and dismayed. I also have a coworker who is in a wheelchair and takes the bus, I've been meaning to ask him how he gets in now. I cannot imagine he can get from the bus stop to work now (less than a block walk).
As for trails, I entirely agree, there needs to be a differentiation between accessible recreational trails, inaccessible recreation trails, and transportation trails (always accessible) .
O. Reg. 191/11: INTEGRATED ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS speaks to both your concerns;
Recreational Trails and Beach Access Routes, General
Trails
80.6 This Part applies to newly constructed and redeveloped recreational trails that an obligated organization intends to maintain, but does not apply to the following types of recreational trails:
1. Trails solely intended for cross-country skiing, mountain biking or the use of motorized snow vehicles or off-road vehicles.
2. Wilderness trails, back country trails and portage routes. O. Reg. 413/12, s. 6.
The technical requirements for trails (general) are outlined in Regulation part:
80.9 (1) Obligated organizations shall ensure that any recreational trails that they construct or redevelop, and that they intend to maintain, meet the following technical requirements:
1. A recreational trail must have a minimum clear width of 1,000 mm.
2. A recreational trail must have a clear height that provides a minimum head room clearance of 2,100 mm above the trail.
3. The surface of a recreational trail must be firm and stable.
4. Where a recreational trail has openings in its surface,
i. the openings must not allow passage of an object that has a diameter of more than 20 mm, and
ii. any elongated openings must be orientated approximately perpendicular to the direction of travel.
5. Where a recreational trail is constructed adjacent to water or a drop-off, the trail must have edge protection that meets the following requirements:
i. The edge protection must constitute an elevated barrier that runs along the edge of the recreational trail in order to prevent users of the trail from slipping over the edge.
ii. The top of the edge protection must be at least 50 mm above the trail surface.
iii. The edge protection must be designed so as not to impede the drainage of the trail surface.
6. Despite paragraph 5, where there is a protective barrier that runs along the edge of a recreational trail that is adjacent to water or a drop-off, edge protection does not have to be provided.
7. The entrance to a recreational trail must provide a clear opening of between 850 mm and 1,000 mm, whether the entrance includes a gate, bollard or other entrance design.
8. A recreational trail must have at each trail head signage that provides the following information:
i. The length of the trail.
ii. The type of surface of which the trail is constructed.
iii. The average and the minimum trail width.
iv. The average and maximum running slope and cross slope.
v. The location of amenities, where provided. O. Reg. 413/12, s. 6.
(2) The signage referred to in paragraph 8 of subsection (1) must have text that,
(a) has high tonal contrast with its background in order to assist with visual recognition; and
(b) includes characters that use a sans serif font. O. Reg. 413/12, s. 6.
(3) Where other media, such as park websites or brochures, are used by the obligated organization to provide information about the recreational trail, beyond advertising, notice or promotion, the media must provide the same information as listed in paragraph 8 of subsection (1). O. Reg. 413/12, s. 6.