Surface Problems

Ein Oberflächenproblem ist ein Problem, das für eine Person, die einen Rollstuhl oder ein anderes Hilfsmittel nutzt, eine holprige oder anderweitig unangenehme Erfahrung bedeuten würde. Wenn etwas auf der Oberfläche das Passieren erschwert oder verunmöglicht, ist es als Oberflächenproblem zu beschriften. Bei einem Oberflächenproblem, dass sich über eine grosse Fläche erstreckt, wird eine Beschriftung für Oberflächenprobleme am Anfang des Problems platziert. Anschliessend wird alle paar Meter eine neue Beschriftung eingeführt (ca. 1 pro Bild) bis am Ende des Problems.

You should label sidewalk cracks that would result in an uncomfortable experience for wheelchair or other assistive device users. Small elevation changes, like in the example on the left below, will typically be of severity 1, since there are no other issues with the surface. You should label sidewalk cracks that come from weathering in a similar manner.

A Street View image of a sidewalk with a small elevation change
This sidewalk has a small elevation change and would get a severity rating of 1.
A Street View image of a sidewalk with a small elevation change
This sidewalk has a moderate elevation change and would get a severity rating of 2.
A Street View image of a driveway with many cracks
This driveway has many cracks and may be difficult to pass. It would get a severity rating of 5.

If a driveway causes a steep slope in the sidewalk, you should place a Surface Problem label on each side of the driveway (ADA 403.3). The example below is of severity 4, since it could greatly destabilize a wheelchair user.

A Street View image of a driveway which causes a steep slope in the sidewalk
A driveway which causes a steep slope in the sidewalk, which would warrant a severity of 4.

You should not place any labels if the driveway is level with the sidewalk, as in the examples below.

A Street View image of a driveway level with the sidewalk
A driveway level with the sidewalk
A Street View image of a driveway level with the sidewalk
A driveway level with the sidewalk
A Street View image of a driveway level with the sidewalk
A driveway level with the sidewalk

You should label gravel surfaces, as they are not firm/stable enough for a wheelchair/walker (ADA 302.1). Gravel will typically get a severity of ~5 since they are so hard to traverse by wheelchair.

A Street View image of a gravel sidewalk
A sidewalk made of gravel should be marked as severity 5.
A Street View image of a gravel sidewalk
A sidewalk made of gravel should be marked as severity 5.

You should label cobblestone, brick, and other rough surfaces, since they can be difficult and painful to traverse due to the vibrations and catching of wheelchair casters (USAB ADA guidelines 302.1). These surfaces can also make it difficult to control the joystick in electric chairs.

A Street View image of a brick sidewalk
This brick sidewalk would get a severity rating of ~3, because some of the bricks aren't level with each other, creating an uneven surface.
A Street View image of a cobblestone road
This cobblestone road would get a severity rating of ~3, though cobblestone with wider/narrower gaps may have higher/lower severity.

You should label grates, gaps, and other openings if it appears that a wheelchair caster could get caught or if the ride would be extremely bumpy (ADA 302.3). (The ADA specifies ½” openings but do your best to estimate). For grates, pay particular attention to whether the elongated openings are perpendicular to the direction of travel.

If the grates are not perpendicular to the direction of travel, the severity should be higher. The severity should also be higher for wider gaps and for grates that cover most of the sidewalk. If the grating is easy to avoid, the severity should be lower (see Avoidable Problems).

A Street View image of a grate on a sidewalk
This would get a severity rating of ~1 because the grates are perpendicular to the direction of travel.
A Street View image of a multiple grates on a sidewalk
This would get a severity rating of ~3 because there are several grates and some are perpendicular to the direction of travel.

You should use a Surface Problem label if a long stretch of sidewalk is less than 3ft wide (ADA 403.5). There should be a label at the beginning and end of a stretch of narrow sidewalk. If the narrow sidewalk stretches multiple streets, label at the beginning and end of each street, with only one label needed at a corner.

If the stretch of narrow sidewalk is very short, do not use a Surface Problem label. This often occurs to get around trees. The only time where you should label this is if the narrow section is very narrow (less than 2.75ft wide) (ADA 403.5.1).

A Street View image of a narrow sidewalk less than 3ft wide
A short stretch of narrow sidewalk less than 3ft wide
A Street View image of an extended stretch of narrow sidewalk less than 3ft wide
An extended stretch of narrow sidewalk less than 3ft wide
A Street View image of an extended stretch of narrow sidewalk less than 3ft wide
This sidewalk would get a severity rating of 5 because it would not be passable for a wheelchair user.

You should use a Surface Problem label if there are a large amount of dead leaves or other debris on the ground (FHWA Guide for Maintaining Pedestrian Facilities for Enhanced Safety 3.2.2). This could cause slippery conditions or could slow down wheelchair users in extreme cases, so you should label these instances as temporary.

A Street View image of a large amount of dead leaves on a sidewalk
A sidewalk with a large amount of dead leaves on the ground. It is somewhat avoidable, so this would get a severity of ~1.
A Street View image of a large amount of dead leaves on a sidewalk
A sidewalk with a large amount of dead leaves on the ground. This would get a severity of ~2.

You should label grass on sidewalk blocks with a Surface Problem label unless it is very minor. These are typically severity 1 or 2, unless very extreme. Though they may not always directly impact the accessibility of the sidewalk, they are “surface problems”. Without being monitored, they could deteriorate further and cause accessibility problems in the future (FHWA Guide for Maintaining Pedestrian Facilities for Enhanced Safety 3.2.1).

A Street View image of a sidewalk with grass between sidewalk blocks
A sidewalk with grass between sidewalk blocks. There should be two Surface Problem labels here, which would each get a severity of 1 or 2.
A Street View image of a sidewalk with grass between sidewalk blocks
A sidewalk with grass between sidewalk blocks. This would get two or more Surface Problem labels with a severity of 1 or 2 each.

You should label avoidable surface problems. In the picture below, you can mark a lower severity rating, around a 2, since the problem is directly on the pedestrian route but is also avoidable. If the problem were not on the pedestrian route, the severity would be ~1.

A Street View image of a brick sidewalk with missing bricks
This surface problem is avoidable but on the pedestrian route, so this would get a severity of ~2.

If a surface problem exists on a crossing between curb ramps that is not visually marked in some way (typically with white paint), then you should simply add a Surface Problem label and label it in the same manner as other surface problems. Even though problems at a crossing are not part of the sidewalk, they are part of the route that pedestrians are meant to follow. If there is a marked crosswalk, then you can simply add a Crosswalk label, add the 'surface problem' tag, and rate severity in the same way that you would for a surface problem.

A Street View image of a crosswalk with surface problems
This would get a severity of ~2 because it could still be avoided while remaining in the wide crosswalk.