Are curb ramps required to have detectable warnings?
Originally, ADAAG required detectable warnings, a distinctively bumpy surface detectable by cane and underfoot, on the surface of curb ramps to provide a tactile cue for persons with vision impairments of their approach to streets. This warning was required since the sloped surfaces of curb ramps remove a tactile cue provided by curb faces. They were also required at hazardous vehicular areas, reflecting pools, and the edges of boarding platforms in transit facilities. The Board temporarily suspended these requirements (except those applicable to boarding platforms) in 1994 due to concerns raised about the technical specifications, the availability of complying products, maintenance issues such as snow and ice removal, usefulness, and safety. DOJ and DOT joined the Board in this action, which effectively removed the requirement from the enforceable standards. During the two-year suspension, the Board conducted further research on the need for detectable warnings at curb ramps, which sh
