Curb Cuts In New Zealand:
Children with Disability NZ Our mission is to make New Zealand the most disabled child friendly region in the world!
Curb Cuts in New Zealand
Have A Think About The Effect:
Design Considerations New Zealand:
A curb cut (U.S.), curb ramp, dropped curb (UK), pram ramp, pram cut New Zealand, or curb ramp (Australia) is a solid (usually concrete) ramp graded down from the top surface of a sidewalk to the surface of an adjoining street. It is designed primarily for pedestrian usage and is commonly found in urban areas where pedestrian activity is expected. In comparison with a conventional curb (finished at a right angle 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) above the street surface), a curb cut is finished at an intermediate gradient that connects both surfaces, sometimes with tactile paving. The introduction of them to help people push prams dates back at least as far as the 1930's. If there is a curb ramp on one side of the roadway, there is also one on the other to prevent pedestrians from being 'stranded' on the roadway itself (for example a wheeled pedestrian)there are no low points where the ramp meets the road surface where water can collect if installed at a pedestrian crossing point, the whole curb ramp is contained within the crossing pavement markings a shallow gradient is preferred.
When Designing Kerb Ramps It Is Important To Ensure That...
-The ramp, which is the area pedestrians cross to change their grade.
-The landing, which is where pedestrians move between the ramp and the footpath.
-The approach, which is the section of footpath next to the top landing.
-The gutter is the drainage trough at the roadway edge.
Curb cuts in Western countries have been mandated by legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) in the United States (which requires that curb cuts be present on all sidewalks) or the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 in Australia.
Curb Cuts in New Zealand
Let's Make The Change Starting Today!
We Need To Think About The Effect When Designing Kerb Ramps:
Supporters of curb cut requirements point to mandatory curb cuts as an example of disability rights legislation that had a wide effect on all people. The curb-cut effect is the phenomenon of disability-friendly features being used and appreciated by a larger group than the people they were designed for.
With wide use, accessibility is a boon to all people. The phenomenon is named for curb cuts, which are miniature ramps comprising parts of the sidewalk, that were first made for wheelchair access in particular places but are now universal and no longer widely recognized as a disability accessibility feature.
The Curb Cut Effect:
Accessible curb cuts transition from the low side of a curb to the high side (usually a 15 cm change in level). Accessible curb ramps are a minimum of 1 meter wide. They are sloped no greater than 1:12 (8.33%), which means that for every 12 cm of horizontal distance, they rise no more than one centimeter. The concrete curb ramp is sometimes scored with grooves, the texture of which may serve as a warning to vision-impaired persons of the transition to the street.
Curb cuts placed at street intersections allow wheelchair users, toddlers on tricycles, etc., to move onto or off a sidewalk with less difficulty. Many curb cuts also feature tactile paving, a pattern of circular bumps that indicate to visually impaired pedestrians that they are about to enter a roadway. Curb cuts also benefit pedestrians using scooters, walkers, or walking sticks to push a stroller, as well as anyone riding a bicycle or skateboard.