Despite the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act more than 30 years ago, most U.S. cities delay making accessibility improvements to sidewalks until activists bring them to court.
Streetsblog’s Kea Wilson examines why sidewalk accessibility in U.S. cities so often depends on lawsuits filed by mobility advocates despite the existence of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which ostensibly mandates compliance with accessibility requirements.
As Wilson explains, “Cities like Baltimore, Long Beach, Calif. and Portland, Ore. have all been sued for dangerous sidewalk conditions, but even the suits that advocates win can take decades to translate into real roadway results.”
Of course, funding accessible, complete, and well-maintained networks of sidewalks as the basic civil right they should have always been — and doing it before the lawyers get involved — would make a far greater difference for people with mobility challenges than any lawsuits.
But according to attorney Meredith Weaver, “there are structural reasons why city sidewalk policy can seem so callous — and they help explain why it often takes a multi-year lawsuit to get them to act.” One reason is money, Weaver points out. “I think, given an endless supply of cash, most of them would probably be doing this work already. But without resources, things can fall by the wayside.” Cities end up holding out as long as possible before repairing sidewalks, which would benefit not only people with disabilities but also elderly people, parents with strollers, and anyone with temporary or permanent mobility challenges.
FULL STORY: Why Do People With Disabilities Have to Sue To Get Accessible Sidewalks?
Where 2024 Presidential Candidates Stand on 12 Issues Important to Urban Planners
Whether you’re yet undecided or have already cast your early vote, here is a roundup of the key positions of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on important urban planning policies.
Amtrak Expanding Service in California’s Central Valley
Amtrak is planning a major expansion to the passenger rail lines connecting the Central Valley and the Bay Area.
Progressive Planning in Ideologically Conservative Communities
Planners must work in diverse political environments including conservative jurisdictions that are skeptical of new issues and perspectives. Here are ways to reconcile conflicting goals.
San Francisco Implements ‘Daylighting’ at Intersections
Vehicles are prohibited from parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk as part of the city’s Vision Zero efforts to eliminate traffic deaths and make roads safer.
Washington Voters Keep Carbon Tax
An initiative that would have ended the state’s “cap and invest” program failed, leaving the program in place.
The Future of Electric Vehicles Under Trump
Will Elon Musk’s influence temper Trump’s anti-EV stance?
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
University of Southern California
City of Meridian
University of Calgary
American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
Detroit Regional Partnership
San Joaquin LAFCo
City of South Portland