Curb Ramp
ELM-CRP-03 Recommended Element
Curb Ramp
A sloped transition cut into a curb, providing an accessible path between the sidewalk and street surface for wheelchair users, strollers, and anyone unable to step up or down a vertical curb face.
Working assessment: this pattern’s status reflects a preliminary Commonway System judgment call, pending final review.
#Why this pattern exists
A curb that provides no ramped transition is an absolute barrier to wheelchair users and others who cannot step over a vertical curb face; this pattern exists because accessible curb transitions are both a baseline civil rights requirement and a foundational usability feature at every crossing point on the network.
#Key considerations
- Slope must stay within accessible design limits; a ramp too steep defeats its own purpose
- Landing space at the top and bottom of the ramp must be clear of obstructions and large enough for a wheelchair to maneuver
- Detectable Warning Surface should be present at every curb ramp reaching a street, not treated as a separate, optional add-on
#Related patterns
Detectable Warning Surface (ELM-DWS-10) (required companion element); Curb (ELM-CRB-01), Crosswalk (ELM-CRW-08) (the elements this pattern connects)
Unsourced claim
Formal citations for this pattern have not yet been compiled from primary sources.