Roadworks are an all-too-common sight on the streets but, for pedestrians with disabilities, they can be more than an inconvenience – they’re often an insurmountable barrier.
Invitation to adults with disabilities to test revised ramp design at Deptford Lounge, East London, on Friday 23 November.
Dr Katherine Deane, Senior Lecturer at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, has been working alongside disability consultants at Purple Reach, UK Power Networks and manufacturer Melba Swintex to launch a new ramp, designed with disabled people in mind.
“As a wheelchair user myself, I know what a hazard badly-designed ramps can be,” said Katherine. “If a footpath is blocked and pedestrians are diverted onto the road, the diversion is legally required to be accessible to everyone. But if you’ve ever stepped on to a ramp you’ll know they often bend and can be pushed off the kerb, and their high sides can also tip a wheelchair over if you catch your back wheels on them. Roadworks can be very frightening for people with disabilities.”
This is the first time that Melba Swintex has consulted people with a range of disabilities, including mobility and visual impairments, about designs.
“Their original design had good aspects but was far too steep,” said Katherine. “Had we not been consulted, they would have gone straight to manufacture, and undoubtedly they would have received complaints.”
To ensure that there are no issues for a wide range of disabilities, the team have just run a consultation with a multi-disability panel of 15 people with disabilities and their carers in Norwich. They agreed that the ramp was robust and stable, but suggested a few refinements to the design – particularly regarding the markings used to enhance the visibility of the ramp for people with visual impairments.
The next consultation will be in Deptford Lounge, East London, on Friday 23rd November, where the revised ramp design will be tested once more by a group of pedestrians with disabilities. If you are a local adult with disabilities, able to agree to take part for yourself, and would be interested in taking part, please contact Katherine (k.deane@uea.ac.uk)
“By doing this we hope to really ensure the ramp works for everyone – and then UK Power Networks and Transport for London can recommend its use to their contractors and make a significant difference to the daily lives of people with disabilities.”