IMPACT OF CURB RAMPS ON THE SAFETY OF PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND

Curb ramps, which are necessary to enable some persons with physical d isabilities to negotiate street crossings, appear to put persons with visual impairments at risk. In 39 percent of 557 approaches to unfamil iar streets via curb ramps, persons who travel using a long cane were unable to detect the streets and to stop before entering them. Street detection was highly associated with the angle of the slope, the abrup tness of the change from the approaching sidewalk to the curb ramp, an d the location of curb ramps.