Are stairways and raised medians acceptable under universal access or are they barriers to wheelchair users?
A good transportation system typically has many redundant routes. As long as most routes are accessible to wheelchair users, a few redundant routes to the same destinations need not be. Stairways often provide more convenient routes between areas of different elevations than do ADA-compliant ramps. Quick-footed pedestrians often choose to cross streets in places where curbs and medians are not easily made accessible to wheelchairs. This serves the majority of pedestrians better while still serving the needs of wheelchair users as long as good alternate accessible routes are available.
