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Sep 3, 2004, 10:35 AM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: [Morgan] Handicapped accessibility
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No direct experience in a wheelchair, but I've spent some time with a US-based architect who specializes in accessibility issues which has served to somewhat open my eyes. In major urban cores (downtown Guadalajara as an example) you'll find curb cuts and ramps in public areas. Similarly, new-construction hotels and large stores will have accessibility features. You will not however find standardization of accessibility features, such as the ADAAG lends to US designs, and items such as path of travel aren't carefully reasoned so that you may have a barrier immediately following a special access feature. Additionally ramps are frequently constructed at the same pitch that the adjacent stairs are (some of the cathedrals in downtown GDL are a fascinating example, with a section historic stone stairs having a form placed over them, and concrete poured to literally fill in the risers and form a ramp) and no additional landing areas are provided, meaning they're highly hazardous to navigate, and almost certainly require 1 very strong or 2 attendants to assist the wheelchair user. Once you're outside of a major urban area or tourist destination, forget it......
Attached is one of a series of pictures I've started taking on trips to Mexico for the general amusement of the architect friend. For those trying to better grasp what's going on in the picture, not only is the pitch of the ramp too steep, it's too narrow, constructed out of an inappropriate material (steel diamond plate, which is much too slippery), and terminates at the bottom with a "chair trap" guaranteed to flip a chair (and the occupant) who's not absolutely creeping down the ramp.
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Access MX 01 low-rez.jpg
