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Rating Systems - for people with mobility impairments


Summary – A rating system is an easy way to provide users with mobility impairments a method to select a route that may be safe and usable by them.  [See People who are blind or have visual impairments for insights into other forms of disability.]


Description – A rating system is determined by the primary elements that affect the ability to use a trail, including: type of surface, grade, cross-slope, and distance between features.  Each rating is first defined using these base definitions, but may need to be adjusted to reflect unusual conditions.


Examples of Rating Descriptions

  1. Easy – Hard/paved surface, minimum 5 feet wide, grades 5 percent or less, cross slopes 2 percent or less.  Individuals using mobility devices should be able to use this trail with little or no assistance.

  2. Moderate – Hard/paved or compacted, crushed-rock surface, minimum 3 feet wide, grades 5 to 8 percent, cross slopes 2 percent or less, with resting areas a maximum of every 200 feet.  Some individuals using mobility devices may require assistance.

  3. Difficult – Compacted, crushed-rock or natural surface, minimum 3 feet wide, grades sustained at 8 to 10 percent, cross slopes 3 percent or less, with resting areas a maximum of every 100 feet.  Constructed or natural barriers exist.  Most individuals using mobility devices may need assistance.

  4. Most difficult – Natural surface, 3 feet minimum wide path, no resting areas, uneven rocky or natural barriers exist, sustained grades 10 percent and greater, cross slopes 3 to 5 percent.  Most individuals using mobility devices will need assistance.

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Photo 1

Easy - a shared flat bikeway

Photo 2

Moderate - a paved path but steep with handrail


Moderate to difficult - crushed rock but steep

Photo 4

Moderate to more difficult -loose rock and steep

Photo 6

Impossible - railroad tie steps

Photo 5

Difficult - loose dirt and with rock obstruction

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