millerm277
Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2013
- Messages
- 492
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Long ramps are poor for actual accessibility - they require far more physical effort than the equivalent flat distance plus elevator, they have the risk of accidentally rolling a long distance, and slopes are particularly difficult for some folks (balance issues among others). It's fine to have them in parallel to an elevator for general use (if the geometry means they're more convenient than just stairs), but they should not be used alone.
If the long ramp is a problem for you, are you really walking/rolling some long distance to get to the station in the first place and not parking or being dropped off at the other (main) head-house where the drop-off area is? Theoretical riders who could use this end via foot, are going to be getting there via at least a ~1/2 mile walk. There's maybe 100 houses closer than that and aren't closer to the other end.
You're right, I don't think long ramps are great for accessibility. I just don't think accessibility at this end of the platform serves much purpose beyond the minimum required for legal compliance, and if you want redundancy I'd rather see 4 elevators stuffed into the main head-house instead and not have a whole second set of structures.