Greetings!
The responses of Wilderness Inquiry to the following questions are:
Structures and elements:
Question 14: Should elements (toilets, picnic tables, etc.) located on trails that do not comply with the accessibility guidelines be required to be accessible?
Yes, Wilderness Inquiry believes that developed elements located on trails that do not comply with accessibility guidelines should still be accessible according to the latest standards.
Question 10: Should the number of required accessible outdoor elements such as picnic tables, fire rings, and benches be increased from the scoping provisions in Chapter T2?
Ideally, all of these elements would be designed in an accessible manner to begin with.
Trail Signs:
Question 3: What signage should be used on newly constructed trails that have applied the technical provisions of the trail accessibility guidelines?
Signage should have some information on what a user might expect to encounter--such as maximum grade, minimum width, etc...
Question 25: Some examples of proposed signs designating accessible trails are included in an advisory note. Comment is sought on these signs and other options.
All of the proposed signs look the same — wheelchair symbol in the outdoors. Our preference is simply to inform the user on what they may expect. To us, a designated accessible trail is often interpreted as the watered down trail that is somehow compromised. Minimal information on maximum grade, minimum width, obstructions (stairs, etc.) would be the best.
If you have any questions about these comments please contact:
Outdoor Adventure Accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Visit us online at http://www.wildernessinquiry.org
Greg Lais, Executive Director
Wilderness Inquiry
808 14th Ave. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414-1516
612-676-9409 Direct line
612-676-9400 General line