Rhonda Hornbacher

October 28, 2002

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Advocacy Council for People with Disabilities advises the city and county on accessibility and usability of their programs and services. The CMACPD is comprised of citizens with disabilities and liaisons from local government departments. There are four committees that make up the CMACPD. These are transportation, communication access, accessibility, and sidewalk committee.

The Sidewalk Committee of the CMACPD would like to respond to one specific section of the Public Rights of Way Guidelines:

§ 1104.3.2 - The Board seeks comment on the issue: Should detectable warnings be required in every case when curb ramps are leading to streets or other hazardous areas or only when the slope is more than 1/15?

Response: The Committee feels that detectable warnings should be required in all curb ramps regardless of slope. This would be less confusing for citizens with disabilities and architects as well. Those citizens who are blind or have low vision would benefit especially from uniform placement of detectable warnings because it would be a cue that there is a hazardous area ahead.

The Committee thanks you for the opportunity to respond to these guidelines. If further information is required I can be reached at [...].

Sincerely,

Rhonda Hornbacher
Sidewalk Committee Chairperson