This paper examines some of the difficulties, problems and unpleasantries which a disabled person can face in some of the paved areas of our towns - areas which have been designed with accessibility in mind solely for the "able-bodied" and may in fact be most unsuitable for the disabled person. The research work was supported by the Northern Ireland Council on Disability, the Disabled Living Centre, encouraged by the Department of the Environment (NI) Roads Service, and was investigated and performed by the Highway Engineering Research Centre of the University of Ulster. It highlights some of the principle areas of investigation: (a) Rideability - the comfort for the users of certain styles of wheel chairs as they ride over various types of surfacing is compared, demonstrating how the vibration of the body is affected by the configuration and the inter-reaction between tyres and surface finishes; and (b) Slipability - the skid resistance of walking aids on the numerous types of surface finishes in adverse weather conditions are analyzed. Finally, the paper shows how the general accessibility of the disabled is greatly impaired by legal street furniture and illegal bill boarding and provides examples showing how fundamental and remedial design can correct such obstructions. It concludes by suggesting the most suitable type of surfacing for the disabled and proposing recommendations for their use.
Abstract