Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and TrailsAccessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trai ls Janet Zeller National Accessibility Program Manager Ruth Doyle Cibola National Forest Recreation, Engineering, Archaeology, Lands, and Minerals Staff Officer Kathleen Snodgrass Project Leader USDA Forest Service Technology and Development Center Missoula, MT 9E92A86 Update to the Accessibility Guidebook August 2012 The Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture (US DA), has developed this information for the guidance of its employees, its contractors, and its cooperating Federal and State agencies and is not responsible fo r th e interp retation or use of th is information by anyone except its own employees. The use of trade, firm, or corpo rati o n names in this document is for the information and convenience of the reader and does not constitute an endorseme nt by the Department of any product or service to th e exclusion of othe rs th at may be suitable. The U.S. Department of Agricult ure (USDA) prohibi ts discrimination in a ll its programs and activiti es on the basis of race, color, national origin , age, disability, and where applicable, sex , marital status, familial status, parental status, rel ig ion , sexual orientation , genetic information , politica l bel iefs, reprisal , or because all or part of an individ ual's income is derived from any public assistance program . (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with d isabilities who requ ire alternative means for communication of progra m information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USD.A:s TA RG ET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TD D). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington , D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) o r (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity p rovider and employer. Acknowledgments During the revision of this document, the authors worked closely with the staff of the U.S. Access Board and would like to thank them for their cooperation. The U.S. Access Board is an independent Federal agency devoted to accessi- bility for people with disabilities. About 30 employees and a governing board of representatives from Federal Departments and public members appointed by the President have these key responsibilities: • Developing and maintaining accessibility requirements for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommu- nications equipment, and electronic and information technology • Providing technical assistance and training on these guideli nes and standards • Enforcing accessibility standards for federall y funded facilities The authors deeply appreciate the contributions of the following people who provided advice and information for this updated version: • Christopher Douwes, Federal Highway Administration • Bill Botten, U.S . Access Board • Peter Jensen, Peter S. Jen sen Associates , LLC • Jaime Schmidt, Forest Service ii The authors would like to express their grateful appre- ciation for the contributions of these individuals and orga- nizations: Forest Service employees Carl R. Bauer, Nancy Brunswick, Jasmine Budrow, Mark Conn, Donna Graham, Barth Hamberg, Maureen Hanson , D ave Hatch, Kay Hopkins, Alison Koopman, Katrina Kuchenbecker, David Kuykendall, Donna Marks, Ann May, Iran Martinez, Douglas Reeves, Jan Spencer, Jim Steward, Ron Vance, Mike VanHorn, Brian Wil- liams, James Wyatt, and Lois Ziemann provided photographs or sketches for this version, as well as Mary Watne, MT; Axess Outdoors, MT, <http ://www.axessoutdoors.com>; Jamestown Advanced Products Corporation, NY, <http://www.jamestown advanced.com>; Northeast Passage, NH, <http://www.nepas sage.org>; Trac About, Inc., KS , <http://www.tracabout.com>; and Di sabled Sports USA , MD, <http://www.dsusa.org>. The authors thank the Missoula Technology and Devel- opment Center (MTDC) publications and support staff who created an attractive and easy-to-read report: Geraldine Wolf, Sunni Bradshaw, Claudia Ruple, and Amanda Determan. The authors are grateful for the informative illustrations produced by Deb Mucci. ( Contents Acknowledgments ......................................................................... ii Introduction ............................................................................... 1 The Outdoors Are for Everyone-Fundamentals of Outdoor Recreation and Trails Accessibility ......... 3 Why Accessibility Is Important .............................................................. 3 What Terminology Should Be Used? ......................................................... 4 Pro viding Appropriate Information About Accessibility ............................................ 5 Legal Requirements ...................................................................... 6 Universal Design ........................................................................ 7 Prog ram Accessibility ..................................................................... 7 Trans ition Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Access ibili ty Evaluation Surveys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Applying Accessibility Guidelines to Your Site ................................................. 13 The History of Accessibility Guidelines ...................................................... 13 Current Accessibility Guidelines That Apply to the Forest Service .................................. 14 \!) What if the Guidelines Appear To Conflict With Each Other? ...................................... 14 ~ Railings-Guardrails, Handrails , and Safety ............................................... 15 ~ i::: Trash Receptacles and Wildlife ......................................................... 16 8 Handpumps and Water Systems ........................................................ 16 Foot Travel on Closed Roads ........................................................... 17 Important Tools for Accessible Recreation .................................................... 19 Buil t Environment Image Guide ............................................................ 19 Recreation Opportunity Spectrum and Recreation Site Scale ..................................... 19 W ilderness Access Decision Tool ........................................................... 20 Appa lach ian Tra il Conservancy's "Backcountry San itation Manual " ................................. 20 Appa lach ian Trail Conservancy's "Increasing Opportunities for Access on the Appalachian Trail: A Design Guide" ..................................................................... 20 Access ibili ty Gu id ebook for Outfitters and Guides Operating on Public Lands ........................ 21 Ac cessibilit y Gu id ebook for Ski Areas Operating on Public Lands .................................. 21 Cooperative Publications ................................................................. 21 Standard Forest Service National Trail Specifications ........................................... 22 Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook ................................................. 22 Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access ................................................... 22 Planning and Designing Outdoor Recreation Fac iliti es for Horses .................................. 22 The Facilities Toolbox .................................................................... 22 Natural Resource Manager ............................................................... 23 Recreation and Heritage Resources Integrated Business Systems ................................. 23 Deferred Maintenance ................................................................... 23 Construction and Maintenance Practices ..................................................... 24 iii Designing Access Into the Outdoor Environment ............................................... 29 Terminology ........................................................................... 29 The Purpose of FSORAG and FSTAG ....................................................... 30 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines .......................... 31 Using the Cond itions for an Exception in FSORAG ............................................. 31 Documenting Exceptions .............................................................. 35 Getting From Here to There-Outdoor Recreation Access Routes ................................. 35 Surfaces for Outdoor Recreation Access Routes ............................................ 36 Slopes and Resting Intervals for Outdoor Recreation Access Routes ............................ 38 Clear Tread Width and Passing Spaces for Outdoor Recreation Access Routes .................... 39 Tread Obstacles on Outdoor Recreation Access Routes ...................................... 40 Openings in Outdoor Recreation Access Route Surfaces ..................................... 41 Protruding Objects and Outdoor Recreation Access Routes ................................... 42 Gates and Barriers .................................................................. 42 Providing Comforts and Conveniences-Constructed Features ................................... 44 Reach Ranges and Operability Requirements ............................................. 45 Grab Bars ......................................................................... 47 Recreation Site Layout ................................................................... 48 Vehicle Parking ..................................................................... 48 Camping Units ...................................................................... 51 Picnic Units ........................................................................ 52 Viewing Areas ...................................................................... 53 Use of the International Symbol of Accessibility and Other Signs ............................... 56 Constructed Features in Recreation Sites .................................................... 58 Picnic Tables ....................................................................... 58 Fire Rings , Grills , Fireplaces , and Wood Stoves ............................................ 60 Tent Pads and Tent Platforms .......................................................... 63 Benches ........................................................................... 64 Trash, Recycling , and Other Essential Containers ........................................... 65 Telescopes and Periscopes ............................................................ 66 Utilities at Recreation Sites ............................................................ 67 Water Hydrants ..................................................................... 67 Outdoor Rinsing Showers ............................................................. 69 Utility Sinks ........................................................................ 70 Buildings in Recreation Sites .............................................................. 70 Camp Shelters ...................................................................... 70 Toilet Buildings and Pit Toilets .......................................................... 71 Getting to the Water-Beach Access Routes .................................................. 74 Exceptions to the Guidelines That Apply to Beach Access Routes .............................. 76 Notifying the U.S. Access Board About Exemptions ......................................... 76 Surface and Clear Tread Width on Beach Access Routes ..................................... 76 Slopes and Resting Intervals for Beach Access Routes ...................................... 77 iv Tread Obstacles on Beach Access Routes ................................................ 77 Openings in Beach Access Routes ...................................................... 77 Protruding Objects on Beach Access Routes .............................................. 78 Elevated Dune Crossings ............................................................. 78 Gates and Barriers on Beach Access Routes .............................................. 78 Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines ...................................... 81 Trails Are Not Outdoor Recreation Access Routes .............................................. 81 Trail Terminology ....................................................................... 82 Trail Construction Techniques ............................................................. 84 Conditions for an Exception in FSTAG ....................................................... 84 General Exceptions in FSTAG ............................................................. 87 Short Hikes and Interesting Features ........................................................ 90 Documenting Exceptions and Notifying the U.S . Access Board About Exemptions ..................... 90 Technical Requirements for Accessible Hiker/Pedestrian Trails .................................... 91 Surfaces of Trails .................................................................... 91 Clear Tread Width of Trails ............................................................. 92 Trail Slopes ........................................................................ 92 Resting Intervals on Trails ............................................................. 93 \I) Passing Spaces on Trails .............................................................. 94 ~ cu Tread Obstacles on Trails .............................................................. 94 .µ Protruding Objects and Trails ........................................................... 95 Openings in Trail Surfaces ............................................................. 95 Trail Facilities ....................................................................... 96 Gates and Barriers on Trails ........................................................... 96 Trail heads ......................................................................... 96 Trailhead Signs ..................................................................... 98 Overview of FSTAG Implementation Process ................................................. 99 Step 1: Determine the Applicability of FSTAG .............................................. 99 Step 2 : Identify the Presence of Limiting Factors ........................................... 100 Step 3: Apply the Accessibility Provisions ................................................ 103 Step 4: Calculate Cumulative Deviation Percentage ........................................ 104 The FSTAG Implementation Process Flowchart. .............................................. 105 Resources .............................................................................. 107 Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Definitions ........................................................................... 108 Links ................................................................................. 111 Appendix: FSTAG Implementation Process Flowchart. ........................................ . 115 v s::: 0 u vi Introduction T his publication is an updated version of the original "Accessi bility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails" (2006 edition). The original guideb ook was released the same day the U .S. Department of Agricul- ture (USDA), Forest Service accessibility guideline s were finalized as the legal standard for the agency. At that time , the Outdoor Developed Areas Accessibility Guidelines (ODAAG) under the Architectural Barriers Act were sti ll under development by the U .S. Access Board . Now that ODAAG has been finalized, the 2006 For- est Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FS ORAG ) and Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (F STAG ) have been revised and streamlined , incorporating the applicable section s of ODAAG . FSORAG and FSTAG they contain useful concepts to help other age ncie s and orga- nization s maximize accessi bility wi thout changi ng the setti ng in outdoor recreation areas and on trails . Thi s g uideb ook was written to help designers and man- agers apply FSORAG an d FSTAG to their work and to pro- . vide guidance for integrating accessibility into outdoor rec- reation site and trail projects. When recreation professionals und erstand what is needed, accessibility becomes integrated into the thinking, planning, desig ning , construction, and maintenance of every project from the beginning . Accessi- bility always is more difficult and costly to implement as an afterthought. Forest Service direction is to integrate accessi- bility from the start of each project. Continued coordination among Forest Service employ- look much the same as they did before revision and are still ees and with partners is essential to successfu ll y implement individual documents that integrate universal de sign, as well FSORAG and FSTAG . The Forest Service is co mmitted to as agency terminology and proce sses. These guidelines are incorp orating FSORAG and FSTAG into National Forest legally enforceable on National Forest System lan d s. Whil e System projects and ensuring inclusive outdoor recreation the guidelines are official policy onl y for the Forest Servic e, opportunities . 2 The Outdoors Are for Everyone-Fundamentals of Outdoor Recreation and Trails Accessibility The Outdoors Are for Everyone- Fundamentals of Outdoor Recreation and Trails Accessibility I t's all about people having the opportunity to enjoy the out- doors. Public lands offer a wide range of recreation settings and opportunities from highly developed campgrounds to untouched wilderness areas. Visitors may choose both the type of recreation they want to pursue and where to pursue it. Of course, recreationists must alway s check to make sure that what they want to do is allowed where they want to recreate. Why Accessibility Is Important The Forest Service is committed to integrating and maxi- mizing access ibility into the full ran ge of recreation oppor- tunities while protecting natural re so urces and maintaining the character and experience of the settin gs so that all people have the opportu nity to enjoy the great outdoors. Thi s com- mitment is establi s hed in Forest Service policy. How does accessibility fit into thi s ran ge of opportuni- ties? We certainly don 't want to pave the wilderness. However, when the deci s ion is made to co nstruct or alter a building , trail, recreation s ite, or other facility , we mu s t ask, "How can we des ig n, purchase, or build it to ensure all people hav e an eq ual opportunity to use thi s facility ?" The key is to ask thi s question before the fac ility has been designed and built or purchased. Then we can provide faci litie s for use by all people. For more in format ion o n Forest Service rec reation opportunities , visit <http://www.fs.fed .us/recreation/>. How many people benefit from accessible faci liti es? At the time of the 2010 cens us, 54 million people (about l in every 5 people in the United States) had a di sability that signific a ntly limited one or more major life activities , such as walking, seeing, hearing , breathing , and thinking . Of that numb er, 7 percent used wheelchairs, and 2.1 percent used crutches, cane s, walkers, or other ass istive devices . Seventy- five percent have di sabilities that are not obvious at first g lance. People with di sa bilities constitute the largest minority in the country. Additionall y, the population of the United States is aging. B y the year 2030, more th an 80 million people will be 65 or older. As people age, impairments are more likely to hind er ac tiviti es. If yo u liv e long enough , you are likely to join the ranks of people with di sa bilities. Recreation Opportunities on National Forests and Grasslands There are national fore st and gras s land s in all but six of the States and in Pu erto Rico and the Virgin Islands. • 155 natio nal forest s and grasslands {> 193 million acres (78.l million he ctares) to enjoy • 439 congressionally designated wilderness areas {> 37 .6 million acre s (15 .2 million hectares) in which to experience so litude and a pri stine enviro nment • 156 ,000 miles (251,000 kilometers) of trail s to hike • 122 wild and scenic rivers {> 4 ,927 miles (7 ,929 kilometers) of bea utiful water to float or fi s h • 19 ,6 11 recreation sites and 23,000 recreation buildings {> 5 ,000 campgrounds in which to pitch a tent or set up a trailer or recreational vehicle • Thousands of miles (or kilometers) of scenic byways to drive • 172 milli on visits each year 3 The Outdoors Are for Everyone-Fundamentals of Outdoor Recreation and Trails Accessibility If anyone in a group has a di sability, accessibility is an issue for the whole group (fig ure 1.) This influences where the group will go and what they will do together. Ski areas learned many years ago that each skier who has a disability is usu ally accompanied by three or four additional skiers who don't have disabilities . They all want to buy lift tickets , rent gear, eat lunch , and ski together. Accessibility is good customer service and good for busines s. Just as recreational preferences vary among the general population , people with disabilities enjoy different types of outdoor recreation. We must make sure that facilities allow all visitors to choose their own recreational activities . Figure I-Although the Blackberry Crossing Campground in the White Mountain National Forest is not highly developed, it 's a great place for this group of friends to enjoy camping together. Photo credit: Northeast Passage, Durham, NH What Terminology Should Be Used? Although people who have disabilities refer to themselves in many different ways and numerous "buzz words" have been used to describe people with disabilities over the years, direc- tion for terminology was provided in the early 1990s. The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) uses the phrase persons with disabilities and the word accessible. When Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was renewed and amended in 1992, its terminology was corrected to include accessible and persons with disabilities. Federal agency regulations , policies, and documents have used terminology that matches ADA and the Rehabilitation Act since that time . A disability is a medically definable condition that causes a limitation in one or more of a person's major life activities, such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breath- ing, thinking, and so forth. Person-first terminology is used because the person is more important than his or her disabil- ity. Examples include: A person who is blind-not "a blind person" • A person who uses a wheelchair-not "a wheelchair- bound person" or "a wheelchair person" A handicap is a barrier or circumstance that makes progress difficult, such as a flight of stairs that may be impassable for a person using a wheelchair or a negative attitude toward a person who ha s a disability. The word "handicapped" has negative connotations and has been around for centuries, though it wasn't used to refer to people with disabilities until the late 1800s. Many people believe Disability Etiquette • Use common sense and extend common courtesy to everyone. • Don't patronize anyone; treat adults like adults. • Be patient. Some people need more time to express themselves or move about. • Relax and be yourself. It's okay to use common phrases such as "see you later" when talking with a person who is blind or has limited vision. • Speak directly to the person and maintain eye contact, don't speak through a companion or interpreter. • Use person-first terminology. Don 't use words like handicapped, victim, or afflicted to describe a person who has a disability. • Offer assistance to persons with disabilities, wait for their response, and follow their specific directions. • Do not pet, feed, or distract service animals without fust asking permission. They are working animals, not pets . 1 1 The Outdoors Are for Everyone-Fundamentals of Outdoor Recreation and Trails Accessibility that "handicapped" was first used in relation to persons with disabilities when Civil War veterans (with injuries that prevented them from working) were begging on the streets with "cap in hand." Standard references do not support this story. But becau se the story has become legend and begging for a living is degrading, describing people with disabilitie s as "handicapped " is offensive to most people with disabilitie s. The word "handicapped " should be eliminated from vocabulary, publications , and other materials. Accessible facilitie s comply with the accessibility guide- lines and stan dards . A site, facility, or program is either accessible or it is not accessible. For instance, figure 2 illus- trates one type of trail that complies with accessibility guide- lines. The only way to evaluate accessibility is to evaluate the facility's compliance with the guidelines in effect at the time it was designed , constructed, or altered. There are no shades of accessibility. For instance, a parking space complies with the standards and is accessible, or it doesn't comply with the standards and is not accessible. The specific technical requirements of the standards for surfacing, slope, and the size of the parking space and walkway connection must be met, regardle ss of the conditions around the parking space Figure 2-Two friends enjoy a trail that comp lie s with the guidelin es and allows them to hike through the rain forest. Other phrases concerning accessibility that are not cor- rect include: partially accessible , accessible with assistance, barrier free, ADA accessi ble, and handicapped accessible. A facility is either accessible or it is not accessible. If the facil- ity is not accessible, the visitor or employee needs to know which specific areas are not accessible. "Partially accessible" and "accessibl e with assistance" imply some accessibility problems, but don 't provide enough information to be help- ful. "Barrier free " isn't legally defined or commonly under- stood. "ADA accessible" confuses laws with accessibility standards. "Handicapped accessible" is a common phrase, but it is offensive to many people with di sabilitie s and should not be used . "Handicapped acce ssi ble" is also a contradiction because a handicap is a barrier and accessible means there aren't any barriers. The best terminology is simply accessible and not accessible. Providing Appropriate Information About Accessibility Forest Service policy is to provide nonjudgmental infor- mation about programs and facilities so that visitors may choose the areas, activities, and facilities that best meet their interests and needs. The goal is independence, integration, and dignity for all visitors. When composing copy for Web sites, brochures, and other public information so urces , consult with forest recreation staff or forest accessibility coordinators to ensure appropriate and accurate information is con- veyed and displayed. • When de scribing a specific site or area, use the term accessible only if all facilities , constructed features, and conne cting routes are in full compliance with the applicabl e accessibility guidelines. Accessible refers only to specific facilities, constructed features, or routes that have been constructed or altered in com- pliance with all of the requirements of the applicable accessibi lity guidelines. Electronic copies of these guidelines are avai lable at <http://www.fs.fed.us/ recreation/programs /accessibility/>. ~ Don't use the terms "ADA," "partially," "barrier free," or "handicapped." 5 6 The Outdoors Are for Everyone-Fundamentals of Outdoor Recreation and Trai ls Accessibil ity • Provide specific details abo ut what people can expect to encounter. For instance, include minimum width, maximum slope , and condition of the tread surface (is it firm and stable?) on information about trails. All information is for all users. ~ Don't prejudge or assume what a person can or cannot do by adding comments such as "some people may need assistance," etc. These notes, even though well intended, are patronizing. ~ Don't assign accessibi lity -related difficulty levels to recreation opportunities, such as camping, boat- ing, fishing, hiking, etc. Individuals will deter- ~ Destination and length of the trail or trail segment ~ Surface type ~ Typical and minimum tread width ~ Typical and maximum running slope ~ Typical and maximum cross slope ~ A statement that the posted information reflects the condition of the trail when it was constructed or assessed, including the date of the construction or assessment mine which opportunity best meets their interests Legal Requirements and abilities after reviewing the specific informa-The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) became law in tion about that opportu nity. 1968. The act <http://www.access-board .gov/about/laws • Whenever standard outdoor recreation symbols are /ABA.htm> mandates that all facilities designed , built, used on maps and other information sources, use the altered, bought, rented, or leased by, for, or on behalf of a color blue to ind icate accessible units. For instance, if the tent symbol is used to show the location of camp- grounds on an area map, the tent symbol indicating Federal agency must be accessible. In 1973 , the Rehabilitation Act became law. Section 504 <http://www.access-board.gov/enforcement/Rehab-Act-lex t campgrounds with accessib le units should be blue, but /title5.htm> of the act applies to programs and activities that the tent symbol for campgrounds without accessib le units should be a different color, such as brown. The legend for the map sho uld include the information that blue indicates accessi bility. ~ Don't use the international symbol of accessibil- ity on information. This symbol only should be used on signs at six legally defined faci lity loca- tions when they are in full compliance with the applicable accessibility guidelines : toilet, parking space, entrance if not the main entrance, loading zones, areas of refuge in a building, and route of egress out of a building. More information about use of the international symbol of accessibility is availab le in "Use of the International Symbol of Accessibility and Other Signs" of this guidebook. • On newly constructed or altered trails, whether the trail complies with the accessibility guidelines or not, include the following trail information , in addition to other information typically provided for hikers, on trailhead signs : are conducted by Federal age ncie s and by entities that receive funding from, or operate under a permit from , Federal agen- cies. Section 504 requires that these programs and activities provide an eq ual opportunity for individuals with di sabilities to participate in an integrated setting, as independently as possi- ble. The only exception to the requirement is when the program would be fundamentally altered if changes were made solely for the purpose of accessibility. An example of a fundamental alteration to a program wo uld be allowing use of a motor vehi- cle in an area not designated for motorized-vehicle use. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) imp lementation guidance for Section 504 is Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regu- lations, Part 15 (7 CFR 15) that was finalized in 1994. Subpart 15e <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/7cfrl5e _03.htrnl> applies to programs conducted by the Forest Service. Subpart 15b <http://www.access.gpo .gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/7 cfr15b_03 .html> applies to programs operating with Federal agency funding, under special use permits, or under other agreements with the agency. If a building or structure must be entered for someone to participate in the activity at the site , the building must be accessible. The Outdoors Are for Everyone-Fundamentals of Outdoor Recreation and Trails Accessibility The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) be came law in 1990. Exce pt for Titl e V, Section 508 (c), ADA <http:// www.access-board.gov/about/laws/ ADA.htm> doe sn 't appl y to Federal age nci es' facilit ies and programs. Federal agen- cies were already required to be accessible under ABA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act before ADA became law. ADA app lies to State and local government se rvice s, to publi c acco mmod atio ns such as motel s and hotel s, and to organizations that are o pe n to th e public. Titl e V, Section 508(c) of ADA ap pli es to Federal wilderness areas. It reaf- firms the 1964 Wilderness Act and clarifies that age ncie s aren't required to c hange the character of wilderness areas Since the early 1990s, th e Forest Service ha s followed the un iversal de sign poli cy th at all new and reconstructed facilities, pro gram s, and associated elements are to be acces- s ible to th e g reatest ex tent possi ble . This co mmitment often exceeds the minimum requirements of the Federal access ibil- ity g uidelines . Th e result of uni versal design is independence, integration, and dignity for everyone. More inform atio n on accessibility guid e lin es is provided in th e next part of this guidebook. to provide access ibility. Section 508(c) also defines a wheel-Program Accessibility chair and states that wheelc hairs meeting that definition ma y For the purp oses of evaluating accessibility, a "program" be used in Federal wilderness areas . is an activity in which people may parti cipate. Bas ica ll y, the program is the re aso n a perso n vis its an area and may include opportunities such as: Universal Design The best way to integrate accessibility is to use the prin - ci pl es of universal design. Universal des ig n is simply de sig n- ing programs and fa cilities to be usable by all people, to the gre atest exte nt po ssible , without se parate or segregated access for people with disabilities (fig ure 3). Using universal design principles is Forest Service policy, as stated in Fores t Service Manual (FSM) 233 0 .3. These directive s are available at <http://www.fs.fed.us/irn/directives/>. Figu re 3-Friends enjoy a break during a stroll o n a boardwalk throu gh a wetland s area. A trail built on universal des ign pri ncip les makes it possib le for a whole group to e njoy the same ex perie nce . • Camping in a cam pgroun d • Viewing the scenery at an overlook (fig ure 4) • Swimming at a beach • Enjoying so litude in th e wilderness • Gathering information at a visitor ce nter • Learning about an area on an interpretive trail Th e 1994 USDA regulations-7 CFR 15e <http ://www .access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wais idx _03/7c frl5 e_03.html> and 7 CFR 15b <http://w ww.access .gp o.gov/nara/cfr/wai sid x _03/7cfrl5b_03.htrnl> gove rn USDA impl ement ation of Figure 4--Interpre tati on is for everyo ne. Signs must be placed so that everyone can see and un derstand th em. 1 The Outdoors Are for Everyone -Fundamentals of Outdoor Re creation a nd Tra ils Acce s sibility Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. They prescribe the "Reasonable accommodation" does not apply to access requirements for ensuring access to programs. to programs. Reasonable accommodation only applies in If a program is provided inside a building or structure, employment and invol ve s making the modifications or adjust- everyone must be able to enter the facility to participate in ments to a job or the work environment so a specific qualified the program. All facilitie s need to be constructed according a pplicant or employee with a di sability c a n participate in the to the applicable accessibility guidelines. Even historic struc-application process or perform e ss ential job function s . It does tures are required to be as accessible as can be accomplished not apply to programs under Federal agencies, including rec- without destroying the hi storic significance of the structure. reation facilities and trails . Unfortunately, some historic structures are not yet accessible, Questions often ari se concerning th e u se of wheelchairs and a few cannot be made accessible without destroying their or other mobility devices in areas that re strict or prohibit hi storic integrity. If a facility is not accessible, relocate the pro-mechanical device s or motorized vehicle use . A s clarified in gram or provide it in another manner (an alternative program). Title V, Section 508 (c ), the legal definitio n of a wheelchair i s: Any alternative program must allow everyone to participate together. Separate segregated programs just for people with dis abilitie s aren 't permitted. For example, if an evening pro- gram at a campground previously has been held in an amphi- theater that is n 't acces sible, move the program to an accessible location until the amphitheater is accessible. Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and 7 CFR 15 , acce ss to programs that don't depend on constructed facili- ties also are required to provide equal opportunity to all. Peo- ple with di sabilities may not be denied the opportunity to par- ticipate in a program if they meet the criteria to participate and their participation doesn 't fundamentally alter the program. All participants must meet the essential eligibility criteria for the program and abide by any restrictions for that program in that area, including those of the forest land management plan. While all people are to have an equal opportunity to participate in programs and to strive to gain the same benefits offered by tho se programs, no guarantee of success is required. The laws require equal opportunity; they don't require exceptional opportunity. For example, roads , trails , or other areas on national fore sts and grasslands that are not desig- na ted for motorized vehicle use under a forest travel man- agement plan are closed to all motorized vehicles, including those used by people with disabilities. Access to programs must be viewed through the lens of the entire program, not through the eyes of an individual . Access to the program is to be provided so long as doing so doesn 't fundamentally alter the program . That is, providing acce ss doe sn 't change the primary functions of the program. Allowing motor vehicles in a nonmotorized area would be a fundamental alteration of the recreation program for that area. A devi ce d es igned solely f o r use by a mobility- impaired p e rso n for lo comotion th at is suitable f o r use in an indoo r p edestrian area Thi s is a two-part definition . "Designed solely to be used by a mobility-impai red person for locomotion" means th a t the wheelchair was originally de signed and manufactured solely to be used for mobility by a person with a di sability. The aftermarket retrofit of a motorized unit to make it us able by a person with a di sability does not meet thi s part of the definition. The second part of the defi nition requires the device to be "suitable for use in an ind oor pedestrian area" (figure 5). This means usable in side a home, courthou se , or other indoor pedestrian area, suc h a s the food court of a mall. Fi g ure 5-To meet th e defini ti on of a wheelchair, a dev ice mu st be suita bl e fo r use in an indoor pedestri a n area, such as th is foo d court where two fri end s take a break from sho ppi ng. Like ma ny wheelc hairs, th e dev ice show n here al so is useful fo r outdoor recreation , as show n in fig ure 11. Photo credit : Trac A bout, Inc., Newton , KS The Outdoors Are for Everyone-Fundamentals of Ou tdoor Recreation and Trai ls Accessibility The device must meet both parts of this definition in order for it to qualify as a wheelchair. Figures 6 through 11 show six examples of device s that meet the definition; figures 12 and 13 show two examples that do not. A person who se di s ability requires use of a wheelchair or mobility device may use a wheelchair or mobility device Fig ure 7-Ph oto credit : Axess Outdoors, Great Fall s, MT that meets both parts of the definition in the preceding para- graph anywhere foot travel is permitted in the National Forest System, in accordance with Title V, Section 508(c) of ADA ; 36 CFR 212.l ; and FSM 2353.05 and FSM 2320 .05. Wheelchairs or mobility device s, including battery-powered wheelchairs that meet both parts of the definition , aren 't categorized as motor vehicles or mechanical devices . Figure 13 Fig ure I I-Photo credi t: Tra c Abou t, Inc ., New ton , KS 9 The Outdoors Are for Everyone-Fundamentals of Outdoo r Recreation an d Trails Accessibility To determjne whether a dev ice meets the definit ion of a www.fs .fed.us/recreation/nationalforeststore/>. Visitors can wheelchair, eva luate it against the tw o parts of the definition. check the "Motor Vehjcle Use Map" to learn where th ey may Ask yourself the following questions: use devices th at don't meet the defi ni tion. l. Was th e dev ice designed so lely for mobility by a per- son w ith a di sability ? <>-If "no," the device doesn't meet the definition and does n't qu ali fy for use as a wheelchair. <>-If "yes," ask the seco nd question . 2 . Is it s uitable for use in an ind oor pede strian area ? Consider whether it co uld be used in a mall, co urt - hou se , or s imil ar area without the security personnel directing the user to leave. <>-If "no ," th e device doesn 't meet the definition and does n 't qualify for use as a wheelchair. If the answer to both questio ns is "yes," the device meets th e definition of a wheelchair or mobility device and may be used wherever foot travel is all owed . Some devices th at don 't meet both parts of th e definition (see figures 12 and 13) are useful tools for so me people wi th di sabilities to move about in th e outdoo r environm ent, but th ey mu st follow the require- ments for th e appropriate class of motor vehjcle . A "Motor Verucle Use Map" th at shows routes (roads and trails) and Transition Plans Since the 1968 pa ssage of ABA , facilities designed, built, altered , bought, rented, or leased by, for, or o n behalf of a Federal age ncy have been required to be access ibl e . Unfort u- nately, some Federal facilities are not yet access ibl e. In the early 1990s, the Forest Service cal led for all units to comp lete transition plans identifying the changes need ed to make eac h facility accessi ble and the timeline for complet- in g those chan ges. Funding to complete the transition plan s wa s provided to the regions in 1992 , 1993, and 1994. The regulation requiring tran sition plans for the exist- ing fac iliti es of all USDA age nci es is 7 CFR 15 e , sec tion 150 "Program Acce ss ibility : Existing Facilities." It requires a tran s ition pl an to be developed and implemented fo r any facility housi ng a program that is not accessi bl e. The regula- tion required transition plans to be completed by December 31 , 1997. Section 150(d) of7 CFR <http ://www.access.gpo areas designated as open to motorized travel with allowed uses .gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/7cfr l5 e_03 .html> detai ls the spe- identified by ve rucl e class is availabl e at national fore st and cific require ment s for transi tion pl ans and their co ntents. national grassland offices . These maps also may be avai lab le The transition plans cove rin g man y Fores t Service areas through each fo rest or grassland 's Web site <http ://www.fs .fed were completed up to 20 years ago. The filed hard copies have .us/> or through th e National Forest Store Web site <http :// been difficult to update and cannot be effectively entered into 10 I -rerminology lip Why wheelchairs are not motor vehicles. In Title 36 of th e Code of Federal Regul atio ns, Part 212.1, a motor ve rucle is defined as any verucle that is self-propelled, other than: • A verucle th at i s operated on rails • Any wheelchair or mobility devic e, including one that is battery pow ered, that is designed solely for use by a mobil- ity-impaired person for locomoti on , and that is sui table for use in an indoor pedestrian area Wheelchairs th at meet thi s legal definition may be used anyw here foot travel is al low ed within the National Forest Sy stem. Mobility devices that do not meet that definition are considered to be motor ve hicles within the National For- est System and may only be used where that class of motor vehicle is a llowed . The Outdoors Are for Everyone-Fundamentals of Outdoor Recreation and Trails Accessibility the National Re so urce Manager database that was later devel- oped. To assure that their transition plans are current, Forest Service units are now re s urveying facilities and recreation sites and recording the results e lectronically so that the database will contain accurate, current information . No standardized format was provided in the regulation for the tran sitio n plan s. Each region and so me national forests developed their own transition plan format. Check with your accessibility coordinator or yo ur regional recreation accessibil- ity coordinator <http://www.fs .fed.u s/e ng/toolbox/acc /documents/coo rd.htm#l eaders> or <http://fsweb.mtdc.wo.fs .fed.us/toolbox/acc/documents/coord .htm> (available only to Forest Service employees) or your region/station facilities pro- gram leader <http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/eng/documents/fac _leaders.htrn> (available only to Forest Service employees) to Accessibility Evaluation Surveys During an acce ss ibility evaluation survey, compare each portion of a structure to the accessibility standards , and record compliance and deficiencie s. For example, check doorw ays to see whether they have at least 32 inch es (815 millim eters) of clear width (figure 14). This information is imp ortant for developing tran s ition plan s a nd for providing useful information about the wide range of Fore st Service facilitie s. A U.S. Forest Service Acce ss ibility Database has been developed to facilitate the gath ering, retention, upd ating, and use of the s urvey information . Check with your unit 's acces- sibility coordinator or your regional recreation accessibi lity coordinator for more information about this database and about opportuniti es to have the accessibility of the recreation find out whether your local unit has developed a format. If not, facilities on your unit s urve yed. The Youth Con servation request a sample of th e formats used by other units. At a mini-Corps Inclusive Toolbox Project offers one way to have s ur- mum, the transition plan mu st include vey s cond ucted and the resulting data e ntered into th e acces- • A li st of obstacles to accessing the facility and pro-sibility database. gram as identifi ed in the accessibility evaluation s urvey • A detailed de scription of the methods that will be used to provide accessibility • The sc hedule for implementing the plan , including the actions that will be taken each year if th e work take s more than a year • The s ignature of the official res pon s ible for imple- mentation of the transition plan En s ure transition plans are avai lable to the public . Fi g ure 14-All doorways mu st have a minimum of 32 inches (8 13 millime te rs) clear width . 11 The Outdoors Are for Everyone-Fundamentals of Outdoor Recreation and Trails Accessibility 12 Applying Accessibility Guidelines to Your Site Applying Accessibility Guidelines to Your Site H W did we end up with so many accessibi lity guide- lines and standards? Which guidelines an d stan- dards apply to your site? The following information will demystify accessibility guidelines and standards. The History of Accessibility Guidelines As explai ned earlier in this guidebook, accessibil ity law s have been enacted and updated since 1968 . Here is a brief hi sto ry of the g uid elines for buildings , recreation facilities , and trails: • American National Standards Institute (ANSl)- 1969 to 1980. The first accessibility guidelines used by Federal agencies und er the Arc hitectural Barriers Act (ABA). • General Services Administration Accessibility Guidelines-1980 to 1984. The General Serv ices Administration (G SA) developed its own set of guide- line s for all buildings other than those of th e U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the U.S. Postal Ser- vice. Those agencies developed th eir own g uid e lines. • Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS)- 1984 to 2006. These standards upd ated and expanded the GSA accessibility g uid elines. The standards were adopted under ABA and applied to all federally funded facilitie s, unless there was a higher standard of accessibility for that type of structure required by other legal standards or guidelines. • Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (A DAAG)-1991to2010. ADAAG explains how to apply th e Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 in the built environment. These guidelines apply to services provided by State and local governments, and public accommodatio ns, s uch a~ m. tels and hotel s . • Americans with Disabilities Act/Architectural Bar- rier Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADA/ABAAG) of 2004. Issued by the U.S. Access Board, these g uid elines were developed as a merger and update of UFAS and ADAAG requirements. Chapters 1 and 2 contain appli- cation, administration , and scoping requirements. The 100 and 200 series app ly only to those entiti es covered by ADA, (State and local government entitie s and pri- vate entities open to the public) and are NOT for Fed- eral agency use. The FlOO and F200 series app ly onl y to facilities constructed by, for, or on behalf of Federal agencies. Chapters 3 through 10 provide the technical s pecification s that apply to all entities, unl ess the State or Federal agency has its own accessibility g uideline s that are an equal or higher standard. • Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards (ABAAS) of 2006. The GSA, standard-setting agency for Forest Service facilities, adopted the ABA por- tion of ADA/ ABAAG as the standard for all agen- cies und er its stan dard-setting jurisdiction . The new ABAAS replaced UFAS. • ADA Standards for Accessible Design (ADASAD) of 2010. The U.S. Department of Justice adopted th e ADA portion of ADA/ ABAAG for use by State an d local government entities and private entities open to the public. ADASAD is effective as of March 15, 2012. • Outdoor Developed Areas Accessibility Guidelines (ODA AG) of 2012. The U .S . Access Board developed ODAAG as a component of ADA/ABAAG. It contain s accessibi lity g uideline s for outdoor developed recre- ation areas and trai ls that are federall y funded . Federal agencies may develop and use their own guid elines only if th ey are an eq ual or higher standard. • Forest Service Outdoor Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG) and Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG), 2012 Updates. These guide- lines are an equal or higher standard than ODAAG for outdoor recreation facilities and trails on the National Forest System. These guideli nes must be used for the design, constructio n, alteration, purchase, or replace- ment of recreation sites, facilities , constructed features, and trails that meet FSTAG cri teria on the National Forest Sy stem (FSM 2330 and FSM 2350). 13 \I) ().) c ~ ~ :::s ~ Applying Accessibility Guidelines to Your Site Current Accessibility Guidelines That Apply to the Forest Service The Forest Serv ice and those workin g with or for the Forest Service on National Forest System land mu st comply with the f II w in nforceable g uid elines and tandards wh n designin g, constructing, or altering any facility or compo ne nt addressed by those standards on National Forest System land. Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards What if the Guidelines Appear To Conflict With Each Other? It may appear that some accessibility guideli nes conflict with other g uid e lin es or codes, or with the realities of the out- do o r nvir nm nt . Railin gs must b hi h enough to protect visitors from a drop ff, but rn iling i; rh 11.1 hi h m i h lim it th viewing opportunity for a person usin g a wh eel ka.h•. . h h requirement takes priority? Trash receptacles are supposed to (ABAAS). Forest Service drinking fountains , toilet faci liti es, be accessi bl e so that everyo ne can use them, but then how do parking lots and spaces, cabin s, and administrative building s are among th e components covered by ABAAS. T he com- plete ABAAS is avai lable at <http://www.access-board .gov /ada-aba/aba-standards-gsa.cfm>. Forest Serv ice Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG) and Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG). These guid elines mu st be used for the design, con- struction, alteration, purchase, or replacement of recreation sites, facilitie s, constructed features, an d trails on the National Forest System. The complete FSORAG and FSTAG are available at <http://www.fs.fed .us/recreation/programs/accessibi Ii ty I>. Table 1 s hows examples of different facilities that are covered by ABAAS, FSORAG, an d FSTAG. we keep bears out? Handpumps are vital to drawing water in campgrou nd s where the water system isn't pressurized, but operati ng the lon g hand le of the traditional pump require more force and a lo nger reach than allowed by accessibil- ity provision s . Roads that have restrictions or clo s ur es to use by motorized ve hi cles may be open to foot trave l, so how can a road be gated or bermed to keep out vehic les but still allow access by a perso n using a wheelchair? When you are faced with th ese types of situation s, stop and think carefully about the iss ues. The so lution a lways comes back to ensuring safety, abi din g by the regulations , and doing so in a manner that includes the needs of all peopl e. £ Table I-Accessibility guid elines quick g uid e (which accessibil ity guideli nes apply where). A BAAS FSORAG FSTAG (Apply only within National Forest (Apply only within National Forest System boundaries) System boundaries) Buildings, Boating, and Fishing Recreation Site Features Hiker and Pedestrian Trails All buildings, including: • Administrative offices • Residences • Crew quarters • Visitor centers • Entrance stations • Parking lots Building components such as: • Restrooms with and without water • Work stations • Doors • Operating controls (do or handles, faucet controls , thermostats , etc .) • Drinking fountains Boating and fishing facilities, including: • Boating facilities • Docks • Fishing piers and platforms 14 New or reconstructed: • Picnic areas • Fire rings • Picnic tables • Grills • Woodstoves • Benches • Cooking surfaces • Pedestal grills • Fireplaces • Beach access • Outdoor recreation access routes • Camping units (eating and cooking a reas , parking spurs , tent pads) • Campground utility connections • Water hydrants • Outdoor rinsing showers • Pit toilets in remote areas • Trash and recycling containers • Viewing areas and overlooks • Telescopes and periscopes Trails that are new or altered and • Have a Federal Trail Data Standard (FTDS) Designed Use of Hiker/Pedestrian and • Connect either d irectl y to a trailhead or • Connect directly to a trail that sub- stantially complies with FSTAG J , Applying Accessibility Guidelines to Your Site Railings-Guardrails, Handrails, and Safety si g ns. When sign s indicate a scenic viewpoint and a pathway Accessibility never supersedes the requirements for begin s at the parking lot , visitors are likely to stop , pile out safety. Thi s issue most commonly arises at overlook areas , of their vehicle , and head down that pathway, often with the on viewing structures , and in similar locations. For safety, the children running ahead . Because of the high level of devel- International Building Code (IBC), <http://www.iccsafe opment at the entran ce to the pathway, vi sitors expect that .org>, section 1003.2.12 contains requirements for guardrail the viewpoint will have a similar hi g h level of development, height and the spacing of rails where there is a drop off of 30 including safety features. Development should be consistent inches or more . These requirements provide opportunities for at both end s of the pathway. creative design and for managers and designers to think seri- ously about the level of development that is appropriate for the setting . The creativity challenge is to provide safety when designing the railing or structure adjacent to the drop off, while maximizing viewing opportunities . Method s of solv- If the area isn 't developed , such as a waterfall in the fore st with no sign s or constructed trail to it , it may not be appropriate to develop a viewpoint. Some scenic area s should remain natural so that people have the opportunity of adven- ture and solitude . The safety and acces sibility requirements ing this challenge are di scussed in "Viewing Areas" of thi s only apply when con structed feature s are added to the setting. guidebook. While the access ibility guidelines for outdoor recreation Recon sidering the level of development at a site may be areas do not require handrails at stairs, con sider the safety another way to balance safety and accessibility issue s. It may of the people using the stairs and the setting when decid - not always be appropriate to provide paths and interpretive ing whether handrail s are appropriate . What is the expected I Terminology Tip What's the difference between a guardrail, a handrail, and a grab bar? The following explanations of terms are based on the International Building Code and the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards. Keep these explanations in mind and use them to communicate more effectively. • Guardrails protect people from dropoffs higher than 30 inches (760 millimeters). Guardrails must be at least 42 ~· (200 mm) inches (1 ,065 millimeters) high . If the guardrail has openings that are less than 34 inches (865 millimeters) above the walking surface, they must be small enough (8 to prevent a 4-inch (100-millimeter) sphere from passing through them (figure 15). Requirements for guardrails I T 34" 65 mm) I =- I 42" ~ (1065 m MIN :1 j ...;:::: MAX 4" (100 mm) OPENINGS TO 34" (865 mm) HEIGHT are detailed in the International Building Code, section 1003 .2.12. Figure 15-Dimension s required for guardrail s. • Handrails provide a steady support for persons who are going up or down stairs or inclines . Handrail s must be between 34 inches (865 millimeters) and 38 inches (965 millimeters) above the walking surface and be easy to grip. Details about acceptable configurations for handrails are provided in the International Building Code, section 1003 .3.3 .11 and in the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards, section 505. m) • Grab Bars provide stability and allow people to use their arms to help them move short di stances. The most common location for grab bars is in restrooms. The required locations of grab bars are explained in the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards , chapter 6. Details about grab bar configuration and attachment are provided in the Archi- tectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards, section 609 and in the International Building Code, chapter 11 . 15 Applying Accessibility Guidelines to Your Site amount of use ? The determination must be made on a case-by case basi s. For example, a handrail might not be necessary where there are a few regularly spaced stairs to an individual camping unit. However, handrails on stairs in a high-traffic recreation site may be important for safe use of the stairs. If the decision is made to install handrails at a recreation site, con- sider how the appearance of over development can be avoided while providing for safe use of the stairs. Choose materi- als carefully; determine how many railings will be provided based on safety considerations rather than convention, and so forth. When it is determined handrails are needed for safety at a specific site in an outdoor recreation area, use the technical requirements for handrail s located in ABAAS , section 505. Trash Receptacles and Wildlife Safety is also the primary issue when it comes to the accessibility of trash receptacles. In bear country, use trash and recycling containers designed to keep the bears out to minimize contacts between bears and humans. Operating controls for these types of containers require more force than is allowed for accessible operation . Until bear-resistant trash and recycling containers that comply with the technical requirements for accessible operating control s are available from more than one source , recreation areas where bears and other large animals pose a risk to hum ans are exempt from this requirement. Incidentally, dumpsters-the big containers that are mechanically lifted and tipped to empty into com- mercial garbage trucks-are exempted from accessibility guidelines. More informatio n about tra sh receptacles is in "Tras h, Recycling , and Other Essential Containers" of this guidebook. Handpumps and Water Systems Handpumps also have been a concern (figure 16). Because of the pi sto n-like pump mechanism, handpump s require a long reach . As the depth of the well increases , so does the force necessary to draw water, so most handpumps require a force greater than 5 pound s (2.2 newtons) to operate. An access ible handpump is now available for purchase. For shallower wells, this pump can draw the water while remaining in full compli- ance with the grasping, turning, and pressure restrictions of the 16 Figure 16-Not all campers can operate a standard handpump. accessibility guidelines (figure 17 ). More information about the new pump is available at <http://www.fs.fed .us/recreatio n/programs/accessibility/>. For wells with a static water depth of 40 feet (12 meters) or le ss, the accessible hand- pump can be used for new or replacement installations . Acces- sib le pumps for deeper wells are bein g developed and should be used when they become available. In the meantime, the accessibility requirements for handpump operating controls are under an exception explained in "Water Hydrants" of this guidebook. Figure l 7-With an accessible handpump, the choice of who does the pumpi ng is up to the campers. Solar powered water sys tems (figures 18 and 19) are an excellent sustai nable solutio n that can provide drinking water throughout the recreation seaso n. In addition, a fa ucet that fully complies with the accessi bl e operating contro l req uire- ments can be used (figure 20). Even national forests in North- ern States are having good s uccess with their solar sys tems. Figure 18-The water pump inside the pumphouse at Vermilion Falls Recreati on Area on the Superior Natio nal Forest is powered by the so lar pane ls on the roof. People can obtain drinking water without us in g a handpump at this site th at has no electric service. Figure 19-The water pumps for many campgrounds , such as this campground in the deep, narrow Icicle River Valley of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, can be housed in small pedestal enclosures and powered by solar panels on an adjacent pole. The pedestal enclosure also houses so lar batteries. Applying Accessibility Guidelines to Your Site Figure 20--Thi s water spigot is operated by first pu shi ng the handle to o ne s ide, then pressing the push button. The water wi ll stop when the button is no longer depressed . Foot Travel on Closed Roads When gates, barriers, or berms are installed on a road to close it to motorized traffic or for other purposes , but foot travel is encouraged b yond the closure, people who use wheelchairs must be ab le to get behind the closure, as required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Ac t of 1973 . As exp lained in "Program Acces sibility" of this guid ebook, a wheelchair is permitted anywhere foot travel is permitted . When foo t travel is enco uraged beyond a clos ure, the Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Agri- culture has determined that a minimum of 32 inches (815 millim eters) of c lear passage mu st be provided aro und the gate, berm , or other restrictive device (figures 21 and 22) to e ns ur e that a person who uses a wheelc hair can particip ate Fig ure 21-This road closure gate does not provide enough clearance to a ll ow pede strian passage. 17 Applying Accessibility Guidelines to Your Site Fi g ure 22-0ne way to get aro und a vehicle road cl os ure gate: a pa ved by pass. in the opportunity behind the restriction . This clear pas- sage is required by the acces s ibility guidelines as explained in "Gates and Barriers" of thi s guidebook. Th i s width is the minimum required for a door under ABAAS . Variou s methods can provide pede strian passage around a restrictive device , but prevent pass age by animals or vehicles that are 18 not allowed beyond the gate or barrier. The Fore st Service has developed designs for the tech tip "Accessible Gates for Trails and Roads." These gate designs can be lo ca lJ y con- structed from material s appropriate to the setting . The plans are available at <http ://www.fs.fed.us/recreation /programs/accessibility/pubs/htmlpubs/htm06232340/index .htm> and <http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/>. Indications that foot travel is encouraged include : • Destination signing A pedestrian recreation symbol without a slash • A Forest Service map that highlights an opportunity behind the clo s ure • A trail management objective or road management objective stating that pedestrian use is encouraged In areas where foot travel isn 't encouraged , but occa- sional pedestrian use i s allowed before and after installa- tion of the restriction device , work with individuals who use wheelchairs to determine the best solution. Important Tools for Accessible Recreation Important Tools for Accessible Recreation T he fo llowin g tool s work together with the accessibil- ity g uidelin es whe n accessib le recreation faci lities and programs are bein g deve lo ped and managed . Built Environment Image Guide The "Built Environment Im age Guide" (BEIG) pro vides g uidan ce for improving th e image, aestheti cs, s ustainability, and overall quality of the Forest Service's built e nvironment. It emphasizes key element s to showcase th e Fore st Ser- vice 's national identity and an im age of quality and service. Within eight geographically defin ed arc hitectu ral c haracter ty pes, BEIG e mph asizes design th at projects the overall For- es t Service image while echoin g local valu es, heritage , and culture. Use of BEIG co ntributes to an integrated a pp roach to plannin g and des ign, inc ludin g early co ll aborat ion among planners, de signers , speciali sts, man agers , and maintenance perso nn el. Th e goal of BEIG is to influence the design , co nstruc- tion , and maintenance of buildin gs an d other co nstructed fea- tures so they will : • Fit on the land • Reflect sensit ive site pl annin g and a co nce rn for natu- ral processes • Harmo ni ze with the lo cal landscape and cli mate • In corporate the principles of s ustainability as an inte- gral part of th eir arc hitectural c haracter • Be access ible • Be durable and low mai nten a nce BEIG s pecifically requires use of uni ve rsal de sig n prin- ciples and points out that if univ ersal design principles are applied to a s ite or facility de sig n from th e outset, th ey rarely, if ever, have any obviou s effec t on arc hitectura l character. When th e principles of unjversal desig n are ski ll fu ll y exe- cuted , facilities ca n still fit sea mle ssly within the natural and ..,_,; ' 11 Yii nrn em " M ore i nformatio n a bo ut BEIG is avail- aDre af <nftp://www.fs.fed.u /recreation/prograrn s/b eig/>. Recreation Opportunity Spectrum and Recreation Site Scale Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) classificatio ns provide gu idan ce on the: • Amo un t of deve lopment that is acceptab le at any give n s it e • Amo un t of deviation from the site 's natural character- istics th at is appro pri ate duri ng development • Types of materials that are appropriate for the setting • Typ ical re creation activities in each se tting classifica- tion (figure 23) Fi g ur e 23-This free-style climber ap pea rs to e njo y the c hall e nge, se lf-re li ance, a nd independence c haracteristic of se mi -primitive and primitive recreat ion opportunity s pectrum settin gs. Photo credit : Di sabled Sports USA , Rockville, MD The s pectrum assigns class ification s of Urban, Rural, Roaded Natural , Semi-Primitive Motorized, Semi-Primitive No n-Motorized , and Primitive based on id entified setting char- acteristics. Some uni ts also includ e a Roaded Modified clas- sification . Maps should be availab le at di strict or sup ervisor's 19 Important Tools for Accessible Recreation offices showing ROS classification for th e National Forest System lands administered by that unit. More information about ROS is available at <http ://www.fs.fed.us/cdt/carrying _capacity /ro sfieldguide/ro s_primer_and_field_gui de .htm>. The amount of development at a site is de scri bed usi ng a six-le ve l recreation s ite planning develo pment scale ranging from 0 (no site modificatio n) to 5 (extensive site modifi ca- tion ). Site modification s are provided for visitor conveni ence and comfort in recreation sites with characteristics meeting the criteria for scale level 3, 4, and 5. Ru stic or rudimentary site modifications may be provided for re source protection at level 2 or le ss. Definitions of each leve l of the Forest Ser- vice 's recreation site scale are included in the Forest Service Manual Chapter 2330, exhibit 01. Although neither ROS classifications nor the recreation Appalachian Trail Conservancy 's "Backcountry Sanitation Manual " This compreh e nsive manual explains the basic iss ues of remote area sanitation, including health, aesthetics, and regu- lations, but it focuses on the construction and maintenance of moldering and composting toilets, and includes case stud- ies and design plans. The "Backcountry Sanitation Manual " <http://www.appalachiantrail.org/docs/trai l-maintainers -corner/2011/04/14/backcountry-sanitation-manual.pdf> is a cooperati ve proj ect of the Green Mountain Cl ub and th e Appalac hian Trail Conservancy. Reso lving problems of backcountry sanitation is a co ntinuous cha ll enge for trail clubs and land managers. This manual was created in site scale determine accessibility requirements , take both into the belief that all remote recreation areas account when designing site improvements . For instance, yo u wi ll benefit from an expanded discussion of may need improvements for resource protection in primitive backcountry sanitati on. and semi-primitive settings at recreation sites meeting th e cri- teria for scale level s 1 or 2. In urb an , rural , and roaded natural Pete Antos-Ketcham, Director of Operations, settin gs, yo u may wa nt to provide improvements for vis itor Green Mountain Club comfort and convenience at recreation sites meeting the crite- ria for scale levels 3, 4 , or 5. Appalachian Trail Conservancy's "Increasing Opportunities for Access on the Appalachian Wilderness Access Decision Tool Trail: A Design Guide" Detai ls and implementation guidance for apply in g Title V, Section 507(c), the section of ADA th at applies to Federal agencies and to the pro grams and facilities on fe derall y man- aged lands, can be found at <http://ww w.wilderness.net/i nd ex .cfm ?fuse=toolboxes&sec=accessibility>. Federal managers of wilderness areas can use this matrix to make appropri- ate, objective, and consistent dec i sions th at meet the le gal requirement to provide equal opportunity for all individuals, while ensuring no fund amental change to the wi lderness experience for all individuals, in accord an ce with th e 1964 Wilderness Act. 20 Using the Forest Service's FSTAG and FSORAG, this design g uide inc orporates real-world Appalachi a n Trail examples as case studies that represent opportu niti es that can be used on other pedestrian trails. The guide's theme-uni- versal design-transcends iss ues so lely related to access for persons with di sabilities by describing how universal desig n reduces resourc e damage and mai ntenance, sav ing money. The gu id e is available free of charge at <http://www . appalachi an trail .org/ docs/what-we-do/trail-management -support/volunteer-toolkit/reference-materials>, (Appalachian Trail Conservancy 2007). Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails January 7, 2013 Text Errata Page 13, line 31 20 , line 31 32, design tip, line 7 42, design tip , line 12 66 , lines 15 and 16 74, line 1 78 , lines 3 and 4 84, line 16 91 , line 17 95 , lines 20, 21 , and 22 98 , line 19 109, line 4 Reads Outdoor Accessibility Replace existing Web link Recreation Guidelines 76 millimeters 5 inches (25 millimeters) inches wide an beach access route or resting Replace existing Web link Barriers Accessibility Replace existing sentence locate railhead FSTAG and FSTAG Should read Outdoor Recreation Access ibility http://www.appalachiantrail .org/docs/trail-maintainers-corner /increasing-opportunities-for-access-on-the-appalachian-trail -a-design-guide.pdf Recreation Accessibil ity Guidelines 75 millimeters 6 inches (150 millimeters ) inches (915 millimeters) wide a beach access route or resting interval and interval that http://www.fs .fed .us/eng/pubs/htmlpubs/htm07232804/index.htm Barriers Act Accessibi lity However, you should follow the specific Trail Management Objec- tives for each trail that address protrusions, obstacles, and clearing widths and heights. locate !railhead FSORAG and FSTAG Illustration Errata I 16'(4.88m) ~A~ t= ~~ 8 .33'7'o MAX~ ~'\) 2' _Z%MA /~~ o'1 h.RKING AREA 50' (15 .2 m) -y ... ~o_o"t-V VEHICLE DRIVEWAY ~~{J Page 48, figure 57 27" (685 mm) I MAX ~~ CF ..-J / ../ Reads 4.6m 6" (150 mm) Should read 4.88 m FIRE- BUILDING SURFACE Page Reads Should read 63, figure 91 (230 TO 865 mm) MIN (380 TO 865 mm) MIN Page Reads Should read 66, figure 98 27" 27" (685 mm) 19" 19" (485 mm) -----30" 30" (760 mm) -----9" 9" (230 mm) 5" 6" (150 mm) 1223-2806P-MTDC Acces sibility Guidebook for Outfitters and Guides Operating on Public Lands Thi s guidebook contains a framework to help outfitters and guides who operate under a special-use permit from the Forest Service provide high-quality services for all visitors (figure 24). The guid ebook addresses basic facility acces- si bility issues, but focu se s primarily on program and activity accessibility. Outfitters and gu id es w ho operate businesses on pu blic lands are governed by ADA because they are pro- viding publi c accommodations and are al so governed by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act because th ey are oper- ating under special-u se permits from Federal agencies. The guidebook identifies legal req uirements and provides sugges- tions and practical tips for co mpl ying with ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The guidebook is avai lable at <http ://ww w.fs.fed .u s/recreation/programs/accessi bility/>. Figure 24-0utlitters and guid es pro vide the logistics and support for vis it ors to enjoy a wide ran ge of opportunities on nat io nal forest s, including fi shing . Important Tools for Accessible Recreation Accessibility Guidebook for Ski Areas Operating on Public Lands This guideb ook provides a fra mew ork to help ski areas operating under special-u se permits from the Forest Service better serve all visitors (fig ur e 25). The guidebook addresses facility and pro gram accessi bil ity. Ski areas located on pub- li c lands are governed by ADA because they are providing public acco mmodatio ns and also are governed by Section 504 of the Rehabilitatio n Act and related regulations because they are operatin g under s peci al-use permits from a Federal agency. The guidebook includes legal mandate s, suggestio ns, and practical tip s for co mpl y in g wi th laws and regulations and providing hi gh-quality services . The guidebook is avail- ab le at <http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs /accessibility/>. Figure 25-Ski area s that operate on public land must provide equal opportunity to access their serv ices . Cooperative Publications The Federal Hi ghway Administration (FHWA) cooper- ates with the Forest Service to provide Forest Service publi- cations and videos to the publi c. Many publications are avail- able at <http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/index .htm> in HTML and PDF (Acrobat) formats. Print copies for some publications can be ordered at <http://www.fhwa .dot .gov /enviro nment/rectrails/trailpub .htm>. 21 Important Tools for Accessible Recreat ion Standard Forest Service National Trail Specifications The engineering management publi cation "Standard Specifications for Construction and Maintenance of Trails" (EM-7720-103) provides a uniform set of spec ifications for contracted trail work throughout the Forest Service. Although these specifications do not address accessibility, they can be used in conjunction with FSTAG. The publication is available at <http://www.fs.fed.us/database/acad/dev/trails/trails.htm>. Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook The Missoula Technology and Development Center's ''Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook" co ntain s basic trail building information. It is available at <http://www .fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/07232806/index.htm>. Although this document doesn't address accessibi lity, ~ it is an important tool that you can use in conjunction with c '.µ FSTAG during trail construction and plannin g. !t:l z (I) <.) ·s: s... (I) (.f) ~ ~ ~ 1: !t:l ~ t: !t:l .µ (.f) Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access FHWA's "Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access" is a two-part report on pedestrian accessibility, (Beneficial Desig ns Inc. 1999 and 2001). 22 • Part 1, Review of Existing Guidelines and Practices (1999), lays out the history and the practices of apply- ing accessibility concepts to sidew alks and pedestrian trails. This report is out of print and avai lable on ly at <http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sidewalks /index .htm>. • Part 2, Best Practices De s ig n Guide (2001), provides recommendation s on how to de sign sidewalks, street crossings, intersections, shared -use paths, and recre- ational pedestrian trails. This report is out of print and available only at <http://www.fh wa.dot.gov /environment/sidewalk2/index.htm>. • A Tran smittal Memorandum and an Errata Sheet are available at <http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment /bikeped/ gu idan ce.htm# Access>. Accessibility g uideline s and practices, as well as con- struction and maintenance techniques, have evolved since these reports were published. More current information is available in other reports and guidance. For examp le, see the U .S . Access Board's public rights-of-w ay Web site <http:// www.access-board.gov/prowac />, which includes g uidance documents and other resources. Documents avai lab le at the U.S . Access Board 's Outdoor Developed Areas Web site <http://www.access-board.gov/outdoor/index.htm> include reports, s uch as th e "Special Report: Accessible Public Rights of Way Planning and Designin g for Alterations" and guidelines about outdoor developed areas. The U.S. Access Board also is considering "Shared Use Path Accessibility Guidelines" <http://www.access-board.gov/sup/anprm.htm>, for trails that are part of a transportation network . FHWA has additional accessibility information on its Accessibility Resource Library Web si te at <http://www.fhwa.d ot.gov /accessibility/>. Planning and Designing Outdoor Recreation Facilities for Horses "Equestrian Desig n Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds," a comprehensive technical resource, details those elements of planning , design, and co nstructio n that are s pecific to equestrian trail s, trailheads, and camp- grounds . The report is avai lab le at <http ://www.fhw a.do t.gov /environ me nt/fspub s/072328 16/index .htm>. The Facilities Toolbox The "Facilities Toolbox" is an interactive Forest Service faci lity management Web s ite de signed to help line officers and their staffs manage facilities effectively. The toolbox focuses o n issues at admi nistrative site s, but also contains topics s uch as accessibility, partnership s, recreational fees, historic facilities, and water and wastewater. The toolbox can be accessed at <http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/toolbox/>. Important Tools for Accessible Recreation Natural Resource Manager Deferred Maintenance Natural Resource Manager <http://basenet.fs.fed.us/> Maintenance work includes improving accessibility as (available only to Forest Service employees) is the Forest well as compliance with building codes. Include the costs for Service corporate integrated data management tool developed any uncompleted work that is needed to bring a building into for the purposes of inventory, asset management, and upward compliance with the provisions of ABA that were in force at reporting of information concerning constructed feature s, the tim e of construction or major improvement to the build- including their associated financial data . The site-spec ific ing in the Natural Resource M anager database deferred main- accessibility data field s (number of accessible units, etc.) tenance costs. are on the Recreation Site module 's Site Core 2 tab . It is an If the transition plans to bring the structures into compli- annual national requirement that this information be kept up ance with ABA provisions have not been completed, include to date . Feature-specific accessibility data entry (fields are o n the cost to complete them in the deferred maintenance figure the Recreation Site module 's Features tab) is not a nation al beca use the plan s were due for completion before the current requirement; data entry in those fields is optional and it is up fiscal year. The transition plan process (per 7 CFR !Se, sec- to region s or forests to decide if they want to record data. tion 150) is as follows: Recreation and Heritage Resources Integrated Business Systems Thi s recreation re so urce s management sys tem identifi es customer standards that the Forest Service expects to pro vide across all recreation and heritage resources program areas. Standards form the base line for estimating the total cost for quality v isitor opportunities and services. Compliance with the acce ssibi lity guidelines (figure 26) is an important qua!- • Evaluate the facility. • Record improvements needed to meet accessibility standard s. • Develop the transition plan, including: <:;-Items to be improved. <:;-Schedule with completion dates for improvements that will take more than 1 year to finish. When the transition plan is completed and approved, includ e the costs to implement accessibility code improve- ments in the deferred maintenance figure. How and when the ity meas ure within the national standards for recreation sites costs are included as deferred maintenance depends on the under the responsiveness key mea sure. The Natural Reso urce sc hedulin g recorded in the transition plan. Costs for actions Manager database hou ses recreation information includin g sc hedul ed for th e current year are immediately included in inventory, operation and maintenance costs, recreation use the deferred maintenance figure . Co sts for actions that are data, and information on accessibility. The database is used to past du e as of the current fiscal year are also included in the implement the recreati on resources management sys tem. Figure 26-The perfect phot o spot-a spectacular view and th e ri ght mix of resource protection, site developme nt , and accessibility. deferred maintenance figure. Co sts for actions sc heduled for future years aren't added to the current year's deferred main- tenance fig ure. These costs are added as deferred mainte- nance in the year they are sc heduled for completion. As work is completed , it should be shown as an accomplishment in the Natural Resource Manager database for that fiscal year. 23 Important Tools for Accessible Recreation Construction and Maintenance Practices recreation perso nnel will know not to put a chair or garbage Even the be st uni versal de sign can be ruined, often unin-receptacle beside the door of an accessible restroom stall that tentionally, by construction or maintenanc e practices that would prevent the door from opening fully an d thus render tum accessib le de sign features into barriers. Construction the stall inaccessible. They will know that picnic tables fas- engineering and inspection personnel must have a thorough tened to the floor of a picnic she lter to prevent theft must be understanding of the design intent and of accessibility iss ue s spaced far enough apart so that everyone can use them. They or they must check with the designer before allowing any will know not to allow gravel walkway material to erode deviations from the design. Field changes, such as increas-away from the entrance to a campground restro om , creat- ing the slope on a walkway to reduce the cost of asphalt pav-ing an elevation change that makes the restroom inaccessible ing or increasing the drop at an exterior door threshold to (fig ure 27). reduce issues with driving rain, can make the entire project Maintenance also can be an opportunity to improve inaccessible. accessibility. A series of small changes can make a big difference. Avoid unintended consequences. Consider accessibility when construction is in progress. Any change order intended to so lve one problem could create another. For example, standard speed humps can slow speeding traffic in a camp- ground, but they can also become barriers if the main pedestrian access route through the campground is the roadway. Stagger speed humps to block only one lane at a time or limit them to the center of the road, leaving 32 inches (815 millimeters) of clear passage at each side . Both of these approaches will slow traffic without blocking access. Maintenance and operatio ns activities can help or hinder accessibility. Provide information on accessibility when train- ing maintenance personnel. When employees understand how their work can affect accessibi lity, they can look for ways to improve accessi bility. For example , trained maintenance and 24 Figure 27-At this campground restroom entrance, the gravel walkway material has sunk or eroded, making the restroom inaccessible due to the difference in elevation between the walkway and the concrete. Important Tools for Accessible Recreation Use the VanHorn Roll to minimize maintenance. Consider how time and normal weathering will affect accessibility when designing recreation areas. For instance, at the point where the concrete pad for a restroom meets the gravel outdoor recreation access route that connects it to the rest of the campground, gravel often erodes away from the concrete, leaving a drop in grade that doesn 't meet accessibility requirements. Solve this problem by rolling the edge of the concrete down under the gravel surface of the outdoor recreation access route, as shown in figure 28. This is known as the "VanHom Roll ," named for the Unita- Wasatch-Cache National Forest recreation technician who invented the concept. A similar design can be used to keep the junction between asphalt and concrete surfaces accessible over time, as shown in figure 29. SOFT SURFACE 6" (150 mm) MATCH BOTTOM OF SOFT SURFACE WITH TOP OF HARD SURFACE ROLL TOP OF HARD SURFACE HARD SURFACE CONCRETE SURFACING NOTCH TOP TO BURY UNDER ASPHALT TRAIL 11/2" (38 mm) ASPHALT TRAIL OVERLAP CONCRETE AS SHOWN 3 1/2" (89 mm) AGGREGATE BASE Figure 28-The VanHorn Roll is a design strategy to prolong the time a junction between concrete and gravel pedestrian surfaces meet the accessibility requirements without importing additional gravel to replace material that has eroded away. Figure 29-Differential settlement is less likely to occur between adjacent asphalt and co ncrete walking surfaces if the asphalt is overlaid onto a notch of the adjacent concrete surface. 25 26 Important Tools for Accessible Recreation I Maintenance Tip Improve accessibility through maintenance. Improved accessibility doesn't always mean new construction or major renovation. Maintenance and routine ser- vice present many opportunities to improve accessibility. An accessible surface is firm and stable. Use caution with the size and depth of gravel when maintaining unpaved s urfaces. Generally, smaller gravel with some fine material can be compacted to a firmer surface than larger gravel or gravel that is all the same size. Depending on the surfacing material, mixing in some soil stabilizer may provide an accessible, natural-appearing surface. Practical Approach The surface is probably firm and stable if ruts are not left by : • Someone riding a bicycle with narrow tires • Someone pushing a 3-year-old in a folding stroller with s mall plastic wheels On paved parking lots , designating the required accessible spaces is relatively easy when repainting the parking lot stripes , especially right after the lot has been seal-coated. Ensure that the appropriate wide, striped access aisles are provided next to each designated accessible parking space. The key to accessible parking is the striped zone next to it that ensures adequate space next to the vehicle to allow people to get into and out of their vehicle even if they use a wheelchair, crutches , or a walker. Designating acces sible parking spaces on gravel lots can be a problem because paint won't stay in place. If you designate accessible parking spaces only with a sign, designate end location s closest to the entrance. Ensure that ac- cessible parking sign s are 60 inches (1 ,524 millimeters) hig h and curb cuts are located appropriately-next to , not in the parking space or access aisle. Building entries must be within 111 inch (6.4 millimeters) of being flu sh with the grade of the outside access route and have a beveled doorsill that isn 't more than V2 inch (13 millimeters) high. Sometimes it's fairly easy to add surfacing material , shim up the deck or porch boards, or use asphalt or concrete to bring the access route up to the building floor . The surface at the base of water hydrants at recreation areas must be at least 72 inches (1,830 millimeters) by 48 inches (1,220 millimeters) and must be firm and stable. Consider building a grate and drain, or a paved s urface, around hydrants if a soil or gravel surface can 't be made firm and stab le. If yo u don't have funding for a major site renovation, repair the area around a few hydrants at a time. When operating controls need replacing, think abo ut accessi bility. To comply with accessibility guidelines, all con- trols must be operable by one hand without pinching, grasping, or twi sting the wrist and with no more than 5 pounds (2.2 newtons) of pressure. When accessible parts are ordered, consider ordering extra parts for future replacements . Figure 30-Push button control. ' \ Important Tools for Accessible Recreation Improve accessibility through maintenance (continued). Practical Approach If you can operate the contro l with one closed fi st and with le ss than 5 pounds (2 .2 newton s) of pressu re, the control is access ibl e. Three ways to provide accessi bility : push button , se nsory-operat- ed , and lever hand le control s (fig ure s 30, 3 1, and 32). Figure 3 1-Sensory-operated control. Figure 32-Lever hand le contro l. 27 Construction and Maintenance Practices ... ------....... --.......... -..._ ___ .............. _....._ -· -+ De s igni ng Access Into the Outdoor Environment Designing Access Into the Outdoor Environment T hi s part of the guidebook explains how to incorporate the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG), the Forest Service Trail Acces- sibility Guidelines (FSTAG), and the applicable sections of the Americans with Disabilities Act/ Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAfABAAG) into the outdoor rec- reation environment. The portion of ADN ABAAG that applies to Federal agencies is also known as the Architectural Barri- ers Act Accessibility Standards (ABAAS) and is available at <http://www.access-board.gov/ada-aba/aba-standards-gsa.cfm>. Suppose you are assigned a project to reconstruct portions of a picnic area or to design a trail, but the work doesn't include any buildings. Based on previous information in this guidebook, you know to use FSORAG and FSTAG , rather than ABAAS , because FSORAG and FSTAG include accessibility provisions for all the features that will be part of the project. As you read through FSORAG and FSTAG, however, you may have ques- tions about how to apply all the technical requirements , excep- tions to the technical provisions, and conditions that allow for an exception. This part of the guidebook will help designers understand the rationale behind each of the provisions and how to apply the guidelines . Terminology Some phrases and words as used in the context of FSTAG and FSORAG may not be familiar. Examples include: Conditions for an exception from a technical require- ment are circum stances found in natural environments , construction practices, or certain laws that may make compliance with the requirements difficult. Exceptions to the requirements are allowed under certain circumstances and are identified in paragraphs labeled exception in FSTAG and FSORAG. Practicable means work that can be completed within the limits of the applicable conditions for exception and results in a useful improvement for all. Provisions are the sections of accessibility guidelines and standards that explain what is required for specific situations and facilities (parking, picnic tables, trails, and so forth). Scoping means figuring out when , how much , and where the guidelines apply. Technical requirements state the specific numbers, conditions , and measurements that are required (percent that must comply, dimensions , reach ranges , grades, trail width, and so forth). Specific phrase s and words include: Construction is building a new trail, recreation site, or facility where there was none before . An alteration of a trail is a change in the purpose, intent, or function of the trail. An alteration of a recreation site, building, or facility is a change to a portion of a recreation site, building , or facil- ity that is address ed by the accessibility guidelines and that affects the usability of the site , building, or faci li ty . Maintenance means routine or periodic repair of existing trail s, recreation s ites , or facilitie s . Maintenance doesn 't change the original purpose, intent, or function of a faci l- ity. Maintenance isn't covered by FSORAG or FSTAG . Maintenance includes but isn 't limited to: • Repairing or replacing deteriorated, damaged , or vandalized trails, facilities, or components, such as repainting, removing graffiti, and repairing or replacing components of facilities with new compo- nents similar to the original ones . Components can be sections of bridges or boardwalks , signs , fencing and railin gs, siding , windows , and roofing . • Removin g debris and vegetation , such as fallen tree s or broken branches ; clearing encroaching vegetation from trail s, pathway , lawn s, or land - scaped areas; and removing rock slides. 29 Designing Access Into the Outdoor Environment • Maintainin g trail tread and access routes, such as filling ruts, reshaping a trail bed , replacing or reshaping s u1facing material , repairing washouts, installing riprap to retain cut and fill slopes, con- structing retaining walls or cribbing to support trail tread, and repairing concrete or asphalt paving. • Performing erosio n control and drainage work, such as replacing or installing drainage dips or culverts and realigning sec tion s of trail to reduce erosion or avoid boggy areas. While FSORAG and FSTAG don't apply to maintenance, it is Forest Service policy to improve accessibility wherever the opportunity arises. Where practicable, resource managers are encouraged to improve accessibility through maintenance and repair activities as explained in MAINTENANCE TIP- Improve accessibility through maintenance. The word "recon struction" is n 't used in Federal acces- si bility guidelines or FSORAG and FSTAG , even though it is frequentl y used in the recreation and trail s communities. For the purposes of FSORAG and FSTAG, actions are catego- rized as construction, alteration, or maintenance. The Purpose of FSORAG and FSTAG FSORAG and FSTAG provide guidance fo r maximizing accessibility while recognizing and protecting natural settings , which can be challenging. Some basic assumptions: 30 • Access ibility is to be considered up front, not as an afterthoug ht. • The Forest Service policy of uni versal design is inte- grated into FSORAG a nd FSTAG. • All new construction and alterations for Forest Ser- vice outdoor recreation facilities and trails must meet the requirements of FSORAG and FSTAG. • FSORAG a nd FSTAG incorporate ABAAS section s that are appli cable to o utd oor developed areas. • Compliance with FSORAG and FSTAG does not mean th a t all recreation areas and trails will be acces- sible to all persons with di sabi liti es; in some loca- tion s, the natural e nvironme nt wi ll prevent full com- pliance with so me of the techni cal requirements. FSORAG and FSTAG have sections explaining when, where, and how mu c h of the recreation area or trail is included (scoping); what has to comply with the g uidelines; definition s of term s; and technical requirements defining the physical characteristics of accessible features, s uc h as width, height, slope, len gth , surface conditions , and so forth. The building blocks for access ible des ign are based mostly on wheelchair dimen sions, clear space, maneuvering room, and reach ranges found in ABAAS because the dimensions, mul- tiple moving surface contact points, and wheels of a wheel- chair are the most difficult to accommodate. If someo ne in a wheelchair can use a n area, most other people can too . Each section of FSORAG is explained in practical terms, followed by a s imil ar explanation of FSTAG. Applying the Fore st Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines T he fir st step in app lying Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelin es (FSORAG) is to know when and where complian ce is req uired. Section 1.0 "App li cation" states that new ly constructed and altered camping facilitie s, picnic areas, con structed fea- tures , beach access route s, and outdoor recreation access routes un der Forest Service juri sdiction mu st comp ly with FSORAG. When we build so mething, we need to build it for everybody (figure 33). FSORAG, however, does n 't require the in stallation of any particul ar feature . For example , if we build a raised tent pl atform , it mu st comply with FS ORAG requirements, but FSORAG do es n 't req uire providing rai sed tent pl atform s. Figure 33-Thi s water fo untain works for mos t peop le. Using the Conditions for an Exception in FSORAG FSORAG is ba sed on th e realities of the outdoor envi- ronment. It recog ni zes that accessibility isn 't poss ibl e every- where becau se of the limitation s imposed by natural terra in , ex isti ng vegetatio n, or other constraints. To ensure that the uniqu e characte ri stic s of th e outdoor enviro nment and recre- ation opportunity at a s ite aren 't compromised or fund amen - tally altered, FSORAG sectio n 1.1 req ui res ac hi ev in g comp li- ance with the techni cal acces sibility requirements only to the exten t practicable where certain circumstances (co nditi o ns for an exception ) apply. Th ese cond iti on s a ppl y only where an exception is s pecifically allowed in the tec hni cal require- ment sections for a particular recreation feature . Extra cost is not an excuse. If making a new or ren ovated recreation area ac- cessible adds to the cost, the increase cannot be seen as an "undue financial burd en ." When a Federal agency, s uch as the Forest Service, is funding a project, cost cannot be used as the reason for failing to make the proj ect accessible, unles s the cost of doing th e wo rk required by th e access ibility guidelines would have a s ignifica nt adverse impact o n the age ncy's entire bud ge t. (,'.) <( ~ 0 <J) u.. s:: s:: 0 +i 0.... ~ I.,) x ll.l s:: ~ s.. ~ If) s:: 0 +i ~ s:: 0 <...> ~ ..s:: +) I'S) s:: Conditions for an excepti on are not a blanket exemption ·ij) ::l from the technic al req uirem ents. Thoroughly exp lore all oth er des ign optio ns that com pl y with the technica l req uirements and mai ntain th e nature of th e settin g and ex perience before us in g deviation s. When one or more of the fo ll owi ng cond i- tion s for an exception ex ist s in an outdoor recreation area, you may use a deviation from a s pecific technica l require- ment , but o nly where that condition exi sts. If that co nditi o n exists o nl y on part of the feat ure or location, the tec hnical requirement mu st be met for the res t of the feat ure or lo ca- tion . All the other techni cal require ments that are not affec ted by th e condition for an exception s till apply as we ll. The fo llowin g four co nditi ons all ow for deviation s from specific technical requirements where exce pti o ns are pro- vided in the guidelines. Examples are provided to explain the inte nt of the condition s for each exception . 31 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Condition for an Exception 1: Where compliance with the technical requirement is not practicable due to terrain . I Terminology 1ip What's practicable? The phrase "is not practicable" in thi s condition for exception refers to something that isn 't reaso nable , rather than to somethi ng that is technically not possible. The intent of this condition is that the effort and resources required to comply shouldn 't be di sproportionately high relative to the level of access established. Using heavy construction equipment may make it possible to provide an outdoor recreation access route that is in compliance with the technical requirements for running slope in an area of steep terrain. However, extensive cuts or fills may be required , and that would cause drainage and erosion problems in highly suscep - tible soils . If compliance with the technical require- ments would require building something that would be difficult, if not impossible, to construct or maintain properly, it is not practicable . Condition for an Exception 2: Where compliance with the technical requirement cannot be accom pli shed with the prevailing construction practices. This co ndition for an exception may apply where con- struction methods that would be needed to comply with a might be necessary to remove a rock outcrop to meet the technical requirement would require the use of equipment or technical requirement for width of an outdoor recreation methods other than those typically use d in th at se tting. For access route . Becau se blasting typically would not be used in instance, in an area where small equipment is normally used this situation, thi s condition for an exception would apply. If to minimize impact on a se nsitive adjacent stream, blasting the work could be done using small equipment, the condition for an exception wouldn't apply. 32 j Design 1ip Determine where the conditions for an exception apply. The following provides a good example of how designers may decide where a condition for an exception applies and where it might not. A renovation project at San Antonio Campground in the Santa Fe National Forest in the South- western Region includes a walk-in camping unit where a portion of the outdoor recreation access route is located on extremely steep ground, and there 's no way to relocate the route to flatter land. The terrain makes it impossible to meet the technical requirement for running slope without severe cuts or fills. Using the definitions in Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Guidelines (FSORAG), the project is an alteration. Section 2 .1 General Exception 2 of FSORAG allows a deviation from the slope requirement at existing recreation sites that are being altered , where a condition for an exception exists. A review of section 1.1 "Conditions for an Exception From the Technical Requirements" indicates that Condition for an Exception 1 applies to the section of the outdoor recreation access route that is on steep ground because compliance with the technical requirement for slo pe (grade) is not practicable due to terrain. A deviation from the running slope requirement is permitted for the steep section of the outdoor recreation access route. However, all other technical requirements for the route, such as width, surfacing, and cross slope, must be met. Where the terrain is flatter and the cuts and fills aren't an issue, the technical provision for slope must be met. The exception to the slope requirement for the outdoor recreation access route to this particular walk-in campsite doesn't apply to other campsites at this campground . The outdoor recreation access route to each campsite must be examined individually to determine if a condition exists that would permit an exception to any requirement. App ly ing the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines This condition for an exception isn 't intended to exempt an area from the technical requirements simply because of a preferred construction practice. A contractor may prefer to use a large mechanical roller for efficiency rather than a smaller vibrating plate or impact-type compactor. A contrac- tor's or designer's preference for the larger equipment doe sn 't by itself trigger the condition for an exception. A deviation from a specific technical requirement only is allowed if the equipment is essential to complete construction and if the work cannot be completed using the prevailing construction practices from similar locations. Condition for an Exception 3: Where compliance with the technical requirement would fundamentally alter the function or purpose of the facility or the setting . Public lands provide a wide variety of recreational set- tings, from highly developed campgrounds with plenty of opportunities for relaxing with family and friend s to wilder- ness areas th at provide opportunities to experience primitive and challenging condition s (figure 34). FSORAG recogni zes the value of a wide array of recreational opportunities by allowing deviations from the technical requirement s when compliance would unacceptably change the nature of rec- reation opportunities or conflict with the land and resource management plan for the area. Figure 34-Peo pl e like th ese rafters who recreate in primiti ve are as may be looking for ch all enge. Look at the full range of issues. Designers and managers need to examine the larger context and intent of the project to determine whether this condition for exception applies. Consider the full range of management and design issues during planning and continue throughout all stages of design development. Consider existing and desired levels of develop- ment and site modification as identified in ROS clas- sifications, visitor expectations, customer service, and so forth. Take into account how the site will be used. Will it be a jumping off point to a wilderness area where campers bring lightweight, compact equip- ment? Will it be a social gathering place where visitors bring a good portion of their worldly possessions and expect to have a place to set them up? This condition for an exception would apply dif- ' ferently for a setting that has little or no human-influ- enced modifications than for a setting that has already been moderately or heavily modified, such as a highly developed recreation site. Campers in a primitive setting experience the outdoor environment in a nearly natural state. These campers gener- ally de sire more challenge so they can rely on their outdoor survi val skills. Manufactured building materials or engineered construction techniques that are used to comply with acces- sibility requirements could change the natural or undeveloped nature of the setting . You are not required to change the charac- ter of the setting and , therefore , change the nature of the recre- ation opportunity itself solely for the purpose of accessibility. Condition for an Exception 4. Where compliance is precluded because the cultural , historic, or significant natural features are protected or are eligible for protec- tion under Federal, State, or local law by: • Endangered Species Act (16 U .S.C. 1531 et seq.) • National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 33 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessi bility Guidelines • National Historic Preservation Act (16 U .S .C. 470 et seq.) • Wilderness Act (16 U.S .C. l 131 et seq .) • Other Federal, State, or local laws that preserve threatened or endangered species , the environment, or archaeological , cultural, historical , or other significant natural features Cultural features include archeological sites such as burial ground s and cemeteries, traditional cultural proper- ties, tribal protected sites , and other properties considered sacred by an organized religion . Historic features are proper- ties listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places or other places of recognized hi storic value. Significant natural features are objects s uch as a large boul- der or rocky outcrop , body of water, or unique vegetation that are regarded as distinctive or important locally, regionally, or nationally and , therefore , have been placed under legal pro- tection (figure 35). Thi s includes wilderness areas designated by Congress and area s protected under Federal or State laws , such as habitat for threatened or endangered species or de sig- nated wetlands. 34 Fi gur e 35-Properly deve loped rec reati o n fe atures do n't harm uniqu e veg et ation; ancient trees are carefull y protected . Determine the extent of impact. Only consider the additional impact of increasing the size, relocating the recreation feature , or imple- menting other changes to provide accessibility. For example, a proposed campsite may require that a num- ber of trees of an uncommon species be removed. Removal would cause substantial harm to the tree grove. This condition for exception wouldn't apply if 15 trees must be removed to make way for a campsite that is not accessible and only three more trees must be removed to provide for one that is . The majority of the proposed damage to the grove is due to con- struction of the campsite, not due to compliance with accessibility requirements. In this case, an alternate location should be selected for the campsite. Examples of s itu ation s in which thi s exception may apply include: • In wilderness areas designated by Congress, if work necessary to comply with a technical requirement can 't be accompli s hed us in g handtools (use of mecha- nized equipment is prohibited by law) • Areas where imported material s, s uch as soil stabi - lizers, are prohibited to maintain the integrity of the natural ecosys te m or historic res ources • Designated wetland s or coastal areas where con struc- tion method s and material s are strictly limited • Tribal sacred sites where the undi sturbed physical condition of th e la nd is an important part of the sacred observance • Area s where water cros sing s ar e res tricted to safe- guard aquatic features or species protected under Fed- eral or State law s Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Documenting Exceptions Recording and retaining documentation of determina- tions of the basis for exceptio ns for any outdoor recreation feature is a good practice. These records will become very valuable accoun ts of decisions and rationale when future changes are req uired or the public inquires about conditions. Documentation is especially important for exceptions taken due to Co nditi on 4. Federal laws a nd applicab le State or loc al laws spec ifi ed in Condition 4 prescribe certain activi- ties or require certain analyses or procedures to be followed when planning to construct or a lter faci litie s that may affect the cultural, historic , or natural features or species protected by that law. When work necessary to meet the technical requirements wou ld directly or indirectly substantially harm the protected aspect, document the rea so n for the determina- tion and then app ly the exception . The documentation also may need to be included in the analysis or procedure records if required by specific laws. Documentation of the basis for exception s is required only when a conditi on for an exception prohibits full com- pliance with technical requirements on a portion of a trail or beach access route. An exp la nation of the condition that resulted in the determination that full compli ance could not be achieved , the date the deci s ion was made, and the name of the indi viduals who made the deci sio n must be recorded and the documentation must be retained with the records for the construction or alteration project. For trails or beach access routes o nl y, if the e ntire trail or route mu st be exempted from the technical requirements because extreme or numerou s conditions for exemptions make it impractical to provide a trail or route that meet s the requirements, documentation must be se nt to the U.S. Access Board . More information abo ut thi s requirement is available in "Notifying the U.S . Access Board About Exemptions" and in "Documenting Exception s a nd Notifying the U.S . Access Board About Exemptions" of this guidebook. Contact infor- mation for the U.S . Access Board is avail ab le at <http://www . access-board . gov>. Getting From Here to There-Outdoor Recreation Access Routes Providing acce ss ibility in developed areas requires that people be ab le to get to feature s intended for public use. Outdoor recreation access route s are pedestrian routes that a llo w almost everybody to move around in a recreation area independently. Section 1.2 of FSORAG defines an outdoor recreation access route as "a continuous, unobstructed path designed for pedestrian use that connects constructed fea- ture s in a campground, camping unit , picnjc area , trailhead, or other recreation s ite where modifications are provided for visitor convenien ce and comfort." Fig ure 36 shows an out- door recreation access route connecting a parking lot and sce- nic overlook. Section 2.0 of FSORAG contains the technical requirements for outdoor recreation access route s. Outdoor recreation access routes are not required whe n camping facilitie s, picnic facilities, viewing areas , or out- door constructed features are provided on trails. The routes connecting tho se facilities are to co mpl y with the technical requirements for trails. Figure 3~All people mu st be ab le to get from the parking area to the viewing area for the Mendenhall G lacier in Alaska; th e same is true for other recre- ation sites in the National Forest System. 35 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Outdoor recreation access routes ensure that visitors can move independently from their car or their cam ping or picnic spot to the other constructed features provided at a recreation area. When individual elements or constructed features are altered or replaced at existing recreation areas , Forest Ser- vice policy requires that they be accessible . However, if the ground under the element isn 't changed as part of that reno- vation or replacement project, this work doesn't trigger the requirement for outdoor recreation access routes . Design outdoor recreation access routes to meet tech- nical requirements for running and cross slopes, resting intervals, surface, clear tread width, passing spaces, tread obstacles, protruding objects, and openin gs. If a condition for an exception prevents full compliance with a specific techni- cal requirement on a portion of an outdoor recreation access route that is part of an alteration project, that portion of the outdoor recreation access route only ha s to comply with the specific technical requirements to the extent practicable. This deviation is not allowed for new construction; outdoor recreation access routes are required. When planning for a new outdoor recreation area or viewi ng area, the natural ter- rain and the general accessibility of the natural environment should be part of the site selec tion criteria. Because individuals usually arrive at recreational vehicle (RV) dump stations by vehicle, there is an exception to the outdoor recreation access route connection requirement. A connecting outdoor recre ation access route isn't required if an accessible vehicle pullup space is provided at the RV dump station. The outdoor recreation access route may be provided within a roadway if the roadway is the only general circula- tion path for pedestrians at a recreation site. The outdoor rec- reation access route in the roadway isn't required to comply with outdoor recreation access route technical requirements for grade, resting, or passing intervals, but clear passage of 32 inches is required around or through speed restriction devices, gates, or other barriers . 36 Surfaces for Outdoor Recreation Access Routes The s urface of an outdoor recreation access route and the surface surrounding constructed features must be firm and stable. No exceptions are allowed. Slip resistance is not required because leaves and needle s, dirt , ice, snow, and other surface debris and weather conditions are components of the natural environment and would be difficult, if not impo ssi ble, to avoid. • A firm surface resists deform ation by indentations. • A stable surface is not permanently affected by expected weather conditions and can sus tain normal wear and tear from the expected use(s) of the area between planned maintenance cycles. Firm and stable surfaces prevent assistive devices from sinking into the surface. Surfaces that are not firm and sta ble make travel difficult for a person using crutches , a cane, a wheelchair, or other assistive device . In the accessibility guidelines, the standard assistive device is the wheelchair because its dimension s, multiple moving surface contact points and four wheels often are difficult to accommodate. If a person u sing a wheelchair can use an area, most other peo- ple also can use that area. During the planning process, potential surface materials should be evaluated for noticeable distortion or compression during the seaso n(s) of managed use and for stabi lity under normal weather conditions and expected uses. If the surface won't remain firm and stable, another surface material should be used. If the natural soils won 't provide a firm and stable sur- face, soil sta bilizer or artificial surfacing will be needed. The Forest Service technology and development report, "Soi l Stabilizers on Universally Accessible Trails ," contains infor- mation about the effectiveness of soil stabilizers. It is avail- able at <http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/pub s/pdf/00231202.pdf> or <http ://www.fh wa. dot. gov /environment/fspubs/00231202/>. Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Use a rule of thumb to estimate firmness and stability. What sort of surface is firm and stable? If the answer to both of the following questions is yes, the s urface is probably firm and stable. Could a person ride a narrow-tired bicycle across the surface easily without making imprints? (Bicycle tires are similar to the large rear wheels of a wheel- chair.) Could a folding stroller with small, narrow plastic wheels containing a 3-year-old be pushed easily across the surface without making imprints? (A stroller's wheels are similar to the front wheels of a wheelchair.) While this method for determining firmness and stability isn't scientifically accurate, it has proven to be effective. Provide appropriate walking surfaces for the setting. A firm and stable surface does not always mean concrete and asphalt. The provision states that surface material should be appropriate to the setting and level of development. Some natural soils can be compacted so they are firm and stable. Other soils can be treated with stabilizers without drastically changing their ap- pearance. Many surface materials that appear natural and that meet the firm and stable requirements also are available on the market. Investigate these options and use surface materials that are consistent with the site's level of development and that require as little mainte- nance as possible. I Construction Tip Use better surface materials. Generally, the following materials are more likely to provide firm and stable surfaces: • Crushed rock (rather than uncrushed gravel) • Rock with broken faces (rather than rounded rocks) • A rock mixture containing a full spectrum of sieve sizes, including fine material (rather than a single size) • Hard rock (rather than soft rock that breaks down easily) • Rock that passes through a Y2-inch (13-millirneter) screen (rather than larger rocks) • Rock material that has been compacted into 3-to 4-inch (75-to 100-millimeter) -thick layers (rather than thicker layers) • Material that is moist (not soggy) before it is com- pacted (rather than material that is compacted when it is dry) • Material that is compacted with a vibrating plate com- pactor, roller, or by hand tamping (rather than material that is laid loose and compacted by use) 37 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Slopes and Resting Intervals for Outdoor Recreation Access Routes Running slope is the lengthwise slope of an outdoor rec- reation access route, parallel to the direc tion of travel. Out- door recreation access route sections of any length may have a runnin g slope ratio of up to 1 :20, a 5-percent grade (figure 37). Steeper terrain may make thi s difficult to ac hieve. M any visitors can negotiate steeper slopes for short distances, so short segment s of outdoor recreation access routes may be steeper, as shown in table 2, but the slope of an outdoor rec re - ation access route may never exceed 1: 10 , a IO-percent grade. In this gui debook, the terms running slope and grade often are used interchangeably. Cross slopes-the side-to-si de slope of an outdoor rec- reation access route-must not exceed 1 :33 (3 percent), as show n by figure 37. However, if the surface of the outdoor recreation access route is paved or built with board s, the cross slop e mu st not be steeper than 1 :48 (2 percent). Re sting interval s are relatively level areas t hat provide an opportunity for people to catc h their breath before continu- ing along the outdoor recreation access route . These interval s are required between each outdoor recre ation access route Figure 37-The basic slo pe requirements for outdoo r recreation access ro utes and beac h access ro utes. The cross slope requirement depends on what material is used. Those who use a mobility device know that as cross slope increases, travel becomes more difficult. This is becau se working against the sideways pull of the cross slope can double the effort needed to make forward progress. However, in an outdoor environ- ment, the cross slope has to be steep enough that water won 't accumulate o n the travel surface. While slope and drainage can be precisely controlled on surfaces that are paved (asp halt, concrete, paving block s, and so forth) or built with board s (wood planks , heavy timber, concrete, fiberglass, or other manufactured ma- terial), it 's more difficult to ensure drainage on natural or gravel surfaces. When water accumulates on natural or gravel surface s, they often become muddy and impassible. That's why the cross slope is allowed to be steeper on natural or gravel surfaces than on surface s that are paved or built with board s. seg ment any time the running slope ratio exceeds 1 :20 (5 per- cent) as show n on table 2. A res tin g interval mu st be at le ast 60 inche s (1,525 millimeters) lon g and at least as wide as the widest seg ment of the outdoor recreation access route leadin g into it , if the re stin g interval is within the outdoor recreati o n access ro ut e . If the resting interval is be si de the o utd oor rec- reation access route , it has to be at le ast 60 inche s (1,525 mil- limeters) long and at least 36 inches (9 15 millimeters) wide. Depending on th e de sig n and locati on, the intersection of two outdoor recreation access routes may act as a re sting interval. The slop es of a resting int erval may not exceed a ratio of 1 :33 (3 percent) in a ny direc tion (figure 39). However, if Tab le 2-0utd oo r rec reation access route (O RAR) runnin g slo pe and segme nt length. 1 :12 (8 .33 percent) 1 :10 (10 percent) 30 feet (9 meters) 38 Applying the Forest Service Ou tdoor Recreation Acce s s ibility Gu idelines I Construction lip Slope and grade terminology. Slopes are often described as a ratio of vertical di stance to hori zontal distance, or rise to run. For in stance, a slope ratio of I :20 means that for every 1 foot of vertic al rise, there are 20 feet of horizontal di stance; for every meter of vertical rise, there are 20 meters of horizontal distance (fig ure 38). When the slope ratio is stated as a percent, it is referred to as the grade. A 1 :20 slope stated as a percent would be a 5- percent grade . @ ~ @ = @ SLOPE PER FOOT (METER) 100 X @ = SLOPE % @~®=@ SLOPE RATIO= 1 :@ Figure 38-Determining the slope ratio . the surface is paved or is built with board s, the slope can 't be steeper than 1 :48 (2 percent) in any direction. Grade req uirements for a n outdoor recreation acces s route may be more difficult to meet when altering an existin g site than during new construction. Access ibility was seldom Figure 39-Th e ba sic re stin g interva l require ment s for outd oor re creati on acce ss route s. considered when o ld er recreation sites were des igned . Many campgrou nd s and picnic areas were located in spectacularly scenic settin gs, but on steep terrai n. Complying with the grad e requirement in these areas may be difficult without a fundamen- tal change to the recreatio n environment. A deviatio n is allowed for alteratio n projects where a conditio n for an exception exists. In alterations only, if a condition for an exception pre- vents full compliance wi th a specific technical requirement on a portion of an outdoor recreation access route at camp- in g a nd picn ic facilities and at trai lh eads, that portion of the outdoor recreation access route is required to co mply with th e specific technical requirement only to the extent practicable. Thi s deviation from the technical requirement is not allowed to be used for new construction at camping and pic- ni c facilities or at trailh eads. When planning for a new o ut- door recreation area, the natural terrain and the general acces- sibility of the natural e nvironment s hould be part of the site se lection criteria because compliance with outdoor recreation access route requirements is required for new co nstruction. Clear Tread Width and Passing Spaces for Outdoor Recreation Access Routes Clear tread width means the w idth of the traveled surface on the grou nd and also above the gro und between obstacles (figure 40). The minim um clear tread width of an o utd oor rec- reation access route is 36 inches (915 millimeters), which is wide enough to allow unobstructed passage by a wheelchair. When a condition for an exception exists , such as where an mil/11111 ~ 32" (815 mm) ORAR WIDTH Fi gure 40--The clear trea d width is th e unobstru cted width of the trave ling surface. 39 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines outdoor recreation access route must be routed between two large boulders that can 't be removed , then th e clear tread width may be red uced to not less than 32 in ches (815 millimeters) for a maximum distance of24 inches (610 millimeters). All outdoor recreation access route s in a recreation site don 't nece ssari ly have to be the same width. Consider the number of peop le who will use the route at the same time and how they wi ll want to use it-single file or walking and talking side by side-and design accordingly. For example, a 60-inch (1,525-millimeter) -wide main route may be designed to connect a gro up of campsites to important constructed fea- tures, s uch as a rustic outdoor amphitheater, to ilet building s, or water hydrants . Secondary routes, such as a spur from the main route to a quiet, intimate path along a stream , may be only 36 inches (915 millimeters) wide. Two people using wheelchairs need a 60-inch (1,525- millimeter) -clear tread width to pass comfortably and safely on an outdoor recreation access route. However, thi s width isn 't always appropriate or required. Where the clear tread width of a ro ute is les s than 60 inches (1,525 millime- ters), passing spaces are required at least every 200 feet (6 1 meters ). Pas sing spaces must be at least 60 in ches (1,525 millimeters) wide (including the route width) by 60 inches (1,525 millimeters) long (figure 41 ). Another option allows a T-intersection of two outdoor recreation access routes or other walking surfaces to be a passing space (fig ure 42) provided th at the arms and ste m of the T-shaped s pace extend at least 48 inch es (1,220 mil - limeters) beyond the intersec tion. Either config urati on wo uld Figure 41-Minimum required dimensions for a passing space for an outdoor recreation access route or a beach access route . 40 Access route width may vary. The 36-inch (9 15-millirneter) minimum clear tread wi dth is just that-a minimum. To determine how wide the outdoor recreation acces s route s in a project should be, look at the level of development of the site and how the site will be used. In a more highl y devel- oped are a , a 48 - or 60-inch (1 ,220-or 1,525-millime- ter) -wi de route may be appropriate , while a 36-inch (915 -millimeter) -wide tread may be a better fit in a less developed site. 36" (915 mm) MIN Figure 42-A T-i ntersection may be use d as a passing space on an outdoor recreation access ro ute or a beach access route if it has dime nsions as shown, or larger. provide eno ugh room fo r a perso n to move to th e sid e and let an oncoming person pass along th e ro ute. The cross slope of a passing space must not exceed 1:33 (3 percent). Wh ere the surface is paved or is bui lt wi th board s, the slo pe mu st not be steeper th an 1 :48 (2 percent) in any directio n . Tread Obstacles on Outdoor Recreation Access Routes A tread obstacle is any thing th at in terru pts th e evenness of the tread s urface . On outdoor recreation access ro utes, an obstacle may occur where a tree root or rock protru des above the s urface or where two different surfaces a but, suc h as when a concrete path joins an as phalt path . If they are pro nounced, Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines tread obstacles can pose a se riou s tripping hazard. Where Openings in Outdoor Recreation Access Route tread obstacles exist along an outdoor recreation access route, Surfaces they mu st not be more than 1 inch (25 millimeters) high . Openings are ga ps in the surface of an outdoor recre- Where the surface is paved or is built with boards, obstacles ation access route. Gaps include spaces between the planks mu st not be more than Y2 inch (13 millimeters) high . on a bo ardwalk or in a drainage grate. Openings that are big Avoid the use of stairs on outdoor recreation access routes. In new construction, stairs aren't allowed on out- door recreation ac ess routes except at viewing areas where there is a condition for an exception . For new recreation sites , select location s that will not require the use of stairs. Avoid the use of outdoor stairs wherever possible. Sometimes, an alteration project at an existing recre- ation site includes an area where stairs can't be avoided. When stairs are unavoidable, they should generally meet the requirements for stairs in Architectural Barriers Act Acce ssi bility Standards. Although these requirements are not mandatory for stairs that aren't part of a means of egress for a building, compliance will ensure the stairs are safe and comfortable to use. The accessibility guidelines for outdoor recreation areas do not require handrails for stairs. Con sider the safety of the people using the stairs and the setting when deciding whether handrails are appropriate, What is the expected amount of use? How can the appearance of overdevelopment be avoided while providin g for safe use of the stairs? When deciding whether handrails are necessary on outdoor stairs, al so consider how many should be provided. For example, a few step s at an individual campsite may not need a handrail. Where a handrail would be helpful , one handrail in the center may accommodate low-volume, two-way traffic. Tread s that are just wide enough for one-way traffic could have a handrail on one side. Two handrail s may be needed if stairs are provided in high- traffic areas. enough to allow wheel s, cane or crutch tips, or shoe heels to drop through or get stuck are hazard s that shouldn 't occur in pede stria n routes (fig ure 43 ). Openin gs up to a half of an inch (13 millimeters) wide are permitted. Place elongated openings that are more than a quarter of an inch wide wi th the lon g dimen sion perpendicular or di ago nal to the primary directi on of travel (fig ure 44). ! :~; .. ·~·~·:,:.~/>'::~~~") ... , {x\i;;it;f ~;~~\':: ... Figure 43-Big openings in o utd oo r recreation access route surfaces create prob lems. Figure 44-Elon gated openings mu st be perpendicular to th e direction of travel. 41 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Protruding Objects and Outdoor Recreation Access Routes Objects that extend into the travel way of an outdoor rec- reation access route from the side or from overhead can be hazardou s to people who are paying more attention to their companions than the travel route, as well as to people who are blind or have low vision. Protruding objects are defined as constructed features (such as signs) that extend into the clear width area of an outdoor recreation access route, rest- ing interval, or pas sing space and that are between 27 inches (685 millimeters) and 80 inches (2,030 millimeters) above the travel surface. Do not allow constructed features to extend into the clear width area more than 4 inche s (100 millimeters, figure 45). Accessibility guidelines do not consider natural elements (s uch as tree branches and rock formation s) to be protruding objects . Pro vide and maintain clearance from natural e le- ments around outdoor recreation access routes in accordance with yo ur unit 's standards, keeping in mind overhang in g haz- ards to people who are blind or have low vis ion , or are not focused on the route ahead. 42 I I I ' .. ,,<·;-· ::.··"'·4 11 MAX (100mm) Figure 45-Constructed featu res can't extend into the c lear width area more than 4 inches if th ey are between 27 and 80 inches (685 to 2,030 millimeters) above the wa lkin g surface. Edge protection may be used for outdoor recreation access routes. Edge protection is a raised curb, wall, railing, or other structure that defines th e edge of a travel s urface and may help keep people on the travel surface. Edge protection is not required for accessibility on outdoor recreation access routes, and it is not usually desirable in outdoor environments becau se it isn't as easy to see or detect objects near the ground. However, edge protection may be desirable for safety or other rea- sons. Edge protection c urb s (figure 46) in an outdoor e nvironment are required to be at least 3 in ches (76 millimeters) high. Figure 46--Edge protection is op ti onal on an outdoor recreation access route, but if present , edge protection must be at least 3 inches high . Gates and Barriers If gates or barriers are co nstructed to control access to outdoor recreation access route s, beach access routes, or trail s, include openings wide enough to allow hiker pa s- sage (figures 47 and 48) that complies with ABAAS , sec tion 404 .2.3. That section requires 32 inche s (8 15 millimeters) of clear width for mo st openings. If the barrier is more than 24 inches (610 millimeters) long in the direction of travel, make s ure the clear opening is 36 inches (915 millimeters) wide. If there is a gate, me as ure the clear opening width with the gate open 90 degrees. Do not allow projection s into the clear opening width between the trail surface and 34 inches (865 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Rec reation Accessibility Guidelines Figure 47-The wi ndin g configuration of this rusti c chicane where th e A ppal achi a n Trail crosses Te nn essee Highway 91 a nd th e Os born e fa rm all ows pedestrian s to pass th ro ug h th e fenc e to use the tra il but keeps motorized users out and horses in s id e the farm fe nce. Figure 48-A steel ki ss in g gate on the Prescott National Fores t prevents passage by motor vehicles . The desi g n bal a nce s th e principl es of th e Built Environme nt Image Guide with the needs fo r access control. Sturdy, vand al-res ista nt material s were needed to di scourage determined off-ro ad ve hicl e users. millimeters) above th e trai l s urface . Projections of more than 4 inches (100 millimeters) aren't allowed between 34 in ches (8 65 millim eters) a nd 80 inches (2,030 millimeters) above the trail s urface . ABAAS , sect ion 404.2 .3 al so contain s a ll ow- ance s for projections of closers and stop s that aren't lik ely to apply to trail barriers or gates . Examples of blockage by and passage aro und barri ers are shown in fig ures 21 and 22. The clear opening wi dth is the key. The travel s urface must meet the same requirements as the adj acent o utd oor recreat ion access route , beach access route, or trail. Gate hardw are must comply with ABAAS , section 404.2.7. This sectio n refers to the requirement in ABAAS, section 309, th at controls and o peratin g mec hani s ms have to be operable with one hand without tight graspi ng , pinching, or wri st twisting, using a force no greater than 5 pounds (2.2 newton s), as explained in "Reac h Ranges and Operability Requirement s." It also requires that operable parts of latche s mu st be lo cated between 34 in c hes (865 millimeters) and 48 in c hes (1,22 0 millim ete rs) above the trail surface . The oper- ating hardware for sli din g gates must be expo sed and usab le from both s ide s. In alteration s , a projection of five-eighths of an in ch ( 16 millim eters) into the clear width is al lowed for the gate latch stop. De s igns for several accessible gates (figure 49) are ava il - a bl e in the Forest Service publi cation "Access ibl e Gates for Trails an d Ro ads" at <http ://www.fs.fed.u s/php/library_card .php ?p_n um=0623 %2023 40>. The publi cation in c lud es drawings for gates that can be used to close roads and trai ls to motor ve hicle acce ss whi le still providing 32-inch-wide pas- sage for pedestrians and dev ic es that meet the definition of a wheelchair (see figures 6 throu gh 11 ), as we ll as other gate designs that al low pedestrian and equestrian pa ssage while prohibi ting motor ve hicle access. Fi g ure 49-This timber ki ss ing gate is one of the des ig ns avai lab le in th e Fores t Se rvi ce publication Accessible Gates for Trail s and Road s . 43 . 0 tdoor Recreation Accessibility Guideli nes Applying the Forest Service u Providing Comforts and Conveniences- Constructed Features Con structed feature s are the site furni shings and other elements provided in picnic areas, campgrounds, and other recreation sites . The requirements for constructed features are addressed in sections 3, 4 , and 5 of FSORAG. Section 3 "Recreation Sites " addre sses the layou t of recreation si te s, including vehicle parkin g, camping and picnic units, view ing de sign. For example ev . nit t~ pt rra\n r th I' condition in an alteration project at a recreation site preclude comply- ing with the slope requirements for the outdoor recreati on access route to a picnic table or camping unit, all the compo- nents and furni shin gs still must comply with the relevant sec- tions of FSORAG. Indivi duals can se lect the location where they want to picnic or camp without bein g limited by the location of acces sible features of the picnic or camping unit. areas, and use of the international sy mbol of access ibility and Thi s requirement includes all pi cnic tables, pedestal grill s, other signs . Section 4 "Con structed Features in Recreation and other feat ures in a picnic area or campground if they are Sites" addresses individual site amenitie s, including picnic purchased or constructed by or on behalf of the Forest Ser- tables; fire rings; fire grills; fireplace s; wood stoves; tent pad s vice. The few exceptions to thi s general rule are explained in and platform s; trash , recyc lin g, and other esse nti al co ntain- ers; tele sco pe s and peri scopes; utilities; water hydrants; util- ity sinks ; and outdoor rin sing showers. Section 5 "Buildings in Recreation Sites" addresses requirements for building s that are not included in ABAAS , such as camp shelters and pit toilets. These subj ects will be address ed in the same ord er in thi s document. Construct, purch ase, and in stall only elements and co n- structed features that compl y with the accessi bility g uide- lines, as directed by the Fore st Service policy of universal 44 I Construction 11p Determine if features are really accessible Manufacturers don 't necessarily und ers tand acces- si bility requirements . Some manufacturers advertise their products as "accessible" or "American s with Di sabilities Act compliant," even though they aren't. Accessible mean s a product is in compliance with the applicable accessibility requirements. Compare the dimen sio ns of the product to the applicable Architec- tural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards or Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Access ibility Guidelines requirements to make sure that a product, such as a picnic table or fire ring , is truly accessible. Ask the manufacturer for the shop drawing s or for the location of a retailer or campground near yo u where you can examine the product. th e sectio n for each feature . When individual elements and constructed features wear out or are damaged and mu st be replaced , the Forest Service requires that the renovated or replaced ele ments or features be accessi ble. However, if the ground und er the e lement isn 't changed, thi s wo rk doesn't trigger the surface and slope requirements for clear floor and gro und space . FSORAG doesn 't require that any particular constru cted feature be provided in a picnic area or campground . If there were no plans to provi de o utdo or rin sing s howers, util - ity sinks, or utility hookups at a campground, FSORAG wouldn't req uire them to be installed . However, if a feature is provided , FSORAG mu st be met. I Construction 11p Fix it while you're there. Bringing the surface and slope of the ground under an individually replaced element or constructed feature up to new construction standards isn't required . How- ever, yo u may be able to save time and money over the long haul by shapi ng and smoothing the surface before putting in the new table . If you integrate logical improvements every time you replace a component, accessibility may be ac hieved without a large con- struction project. Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines How to design features that are not addressed in Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines. If you want to provide a constructed feature that isn 't addressed in Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG), design it using the basic building blocks of accessible design, includ- ing clear space dimension requirements for a wheel- chair and reach ranges found in Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards (ABAAS). For example, lantern hooks are sometimes provided in campgrounds, but FSORAG doesn't address them. Using the information in ABAAS and the principles of universal design , design the hooks to be usable by the greatest number of campers. The hooks should be placed within the reach of a person who is seated, as well as a person who is standing. Use a hinged device to adjust the height of the hook or install two hooks at different heights. Con- sider safety when designing a post with multiple or adjustable hooks. Ensure the lantern hook has appro- priate clear space to allow a person in a wheelchair to approach it from the front or the side, and place the hook where it will not create an obstacle to people moving around the campsite. The clear space for the lantern hook shouldn't overlap the outdoor recreation access route. (1,220 millimeter) clear space around a pedestal grill. Do not allow the clear space at a constructed feature within a camp living area or picnic unit to overlap the outdoor recreation access route that connects the camp living area or picnic unit to the rest of the recreation si te . Also, do not allow the clear space to overlap any outdoor recreation access route that is adjacent to the camp li vi ng area or picnic unit but leads to a common use feature , such as a water hydrant. Ensure that individual constructed features, such as water hydrants, are connec ted by outdoor recreation access routes in developed recreation sites, by beach access routes on beaches, and by trails when features are located along a trail. More information about connectivity requirements is pro- vided in the parts of the guidebook on recreation si te layout and constructed features. Within individual camp li vi ng areas or picnic units, the slope, surface , and size of the required clear spaces of indi- vidual constructed features usually provide the required con- nectivity and eliminate the need for separate outdoor recre- ation access route s. The overlapping or adjacent clear spaces function as the outdoor recreation access routes, beach access routes, or trails. Sometimes features are spread apart to limit the amount of change to the natural setting , and the clear spaces for individual features are not adjacent or overlapping. In th ese cases, pro vide the appropriate outdoor recreation access routes, beach access routes, or trail s to connect the features. Reach Ranges and Operability Requirements In this guidebook, you will see the provision "Controls Clear floor or ground space is required around the usable and operating mechanisms mu st comply with the require- side s of each constructed feature, but the size of the clear ments for reach ranges and operability specified in ABAAS, space varies with the feature. The differences are based on how each feature is used and whether users need to approach j u st one side of the feature or all sides of it. For instance , users may only need to get to the front of a pedestal grill that doesn't rotate or to the front and sides of a water hydrant, but they need to get to all sides of a picnic table or fire ring. When several constructed features are grouped together, such as in a camp living area or picnic unit, their clear spaces may overlap . ore ample , the 48 -inch (1 ,220-millimeter ) d ear pace around a picnic table may overlap the 48-inch secti ons 308 and 309" whenever a site feature has button s, knobs, ha ndle s, or other controls or operating device s. One of the basic principles of universal design and accessibility is to provide control s th at most people can reach and use . ABAAS, section 309 require s that control s and operating mech anisms be operable with o ne hand without tight grasp- ing , pinching, or wrist twisting, usi ng a force no greater than 5 pounds (2.2 newtons). To te st a control, try operating it by applying light force with one closed fist, without bending your wrist. 45 IS) Cl.) 1-. ::s µ ~ ~ ~ cu µ u ::s 1-. µ \l) s:: 0 (.) I IS) cu u s:: -~ s:: Applying the Forest Service Ou tdoo r Recreation Accessibility Guid elin es Section 308 of ABAAS identifies the foll owing reach requirement s : • Unobstructed Reaches-When a forward or side reach is unob stru cted , the object to be reached must be no higher than 48 inches (1,220 millimeters) and no lower than 15 inche s (380 millimeters) above the floor or ground (figure s 50 and 51 ). Fo r side reache s onl y, a n object that is below the object to be reached and isn't more than 10 inches (255 mi lli meters) wide do es n't count as an ob struction. • Obstructed Forward Reach-When an object must be reached ov e r an ob struction, the clear floor space mu st extend beneath the ob struction for at least as far as the reach depth over the obstruction . The object to be reached is not allowed to be under the ob struc- tion . If the ob stru ction is 20 inche s (510 millimeters) deep or less , the object to be reached must be between the top of the ob struction and 48 inche s (1,220 millimeters) above the floor or ground (figure 52). If the obstruction is more than 20 inches (510 millime- ters) deep , the object to be reached must be between the top of the obstruction and 44 inches (1 ,120 mil- limeters) above the ground or floor (figure 53). The obstruction must not be more than be 25 inches (635 millimeters) deep. • Obstructed Side R each-For side reaches, obstruc- tions must not be more than 34 inches (865 millime- ters) high or 24 inches (610 millimeters) deep. The object to be reached is not allowed to be under the obstruction. If the reach depth is 10 inche s (255 mil- limeters) or le ss, the object to be reached mu st be 48 inches (1,220 millimeters) or le ss above the ground or floor (figure 54). If the reach depth is between 10 and 24 inches (255 and 610 millimeters), the object to be reached mu st not be more than 46 inches (l ,170 mil- limeters) above the floor or ground (figure 55). ~ s:: Understand forward reach and side reach terminology. 0 (.) ~ When the phrase s "forward reach" and "side reach" are used in the con text of accessibi lity, they don't refer to the s:: ~ object a person is trying to reach. They refer to the position of the person doing the reaching. A forward reach means IS) f that the person is facing the object and reaching forward toward it (fig ure 50). A side reach means that the person's ~ E side is closest to the object, and the person is reaching either to their right or left towards the object (figure 51). People (5 using wheelchairs can 't reach as far forward over their laps as they can reac h to the side. T hey also need correctly ~ sized spaces to position their wheelchairs to be able to reach objects from the front and from the side. That is why ~ ·s;: there are different height and clear floor space requirements for forward and side reaches. 0 ~ ,.... ef E E Oz E OO H 2x e:f N~ LO C:E ~ CX) "¢ Figure SQ.-The requirements for unobstructed forward reach . 46 ' \ \ I\ I I \ \ \ \ \ \ \\ \\ 1,~ 10 11 (250 mm) f---1 MAX ........._ E E oz OOH e~ Ln T"-4 Figure 51 -The requirements for un obstructed side reach . ~ E 2x N-.:( C:f CX) "¢ Applyin g t he Fo rest Service Ou tdoor Recreation A ccessibility Guidelin es i-----i 20 11 (510 mm) MAX Figur e 52-The req uire ments fo r o bstru cted hi gh forwar d reac h, narrowe r obs tacl es. 20 11 -25 11 (510 TO f- 635mm)I Figure 53-The req uireme nts for o bstruc ted hi g h fo rward reach, wid er obstac les. 10 11 (255 mm) r-J MAX Figure 54-Th e requ ire me nts fo r o bstru c ted high sid e reach, narrower obstacles . ~~~~~--7~~~---'-~i ~10"-24 " ~ (25 5 mm- 6 10 mm) MAX Figur e 55-Th e requ irements for ob stru cted hi gh side reac h, wider ob stacles . Grab Bars Grab bars are us uall y provided in buil di ngs to p ro- v ide sta bility a nd a ll ow peopl e to use th eir arms to assist in mo ve me nt over s ho rt di stances . T he most comm o n location for grab bars is in restroo m s. G ra b bars m ust com ply w ith th e reach ra ng e re qu ir e me nt s of A BAAS , secti o n 30 8, as ex pl ain ed in "Reac h R an ge s a nd Opera bili ty R equire me nt s." T hey mu st a lso compl y w it h th e size, stre ngth , fini s h, a nd pos ition re q uirem e nts in ABAAS , sec ti o n 609 as fo ll ows: G ra b bars with circ ul a r cross sectio ns mu st have a d iam e te r no less th a n 11/.i inches (32 mill i me te rs) an d no more th a n 2 in c hes (5 1 millimeters). G ra b bars w ith no ncirc ul ar c ro ss secti o ns mu st no t be more th a n 2 in c he s (51 millime ter s) across a nd mu st be 4 to 4.8 in c hes (100 to 120 m ill im e te rs) aro un d . Figure 56 shows how thi s is meas ure d . 2" (5 1 mm) MAX ACROSS -+---i 11/4" TO 4" TO 4 .8 " AROUND (100 TO 120 mm) 2" DIA "i (32 TO 51 mm) CI RCULAR NON- CIRCULAR OV AL OR ROUNDED RECTA NGU LA R Figure 56--The re qu irements fo r the di a meter and c ircumferen ce of grab bars. 47 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines • Grab bars and any wall or other surfaces adjace nt to grab bars mu st have rounded edges and are not allowed to have sharp or abrasive surfaces. comply with the requirements in section 4.1 of FSORAG. Parking spurs have two components; driveways and park- ing areas. The driveway is primarily a vehicle travel way that • Grab bars must be installed so they don't rotate within functions as an extension of the recreation site roadway. It their fittings. provides vehicular access and a transition between the recre- • Grab bars have to be stro ng enough to support 250 ation site road and a vehicle parking area. The vehicle park- pounds ( 1, 112 newtons) of pressure at any point on the grab bar, fastener, mounting device, and support- ing structure . • The space between the wall and the grab bar must be 1 Y2 inches (38 millimeters). There must also be a space of 1 Y2 inches (38 millimeters) between the grab bar and any projecting objects below or at the ends of the grab bar. There must be at least 12 inches (305 millimeters) between the grab bar and any projecting objects above it, except multiple grab bars only ha ve to be 1 Y2 inches (38 millimeters) apart. Recreation Site Layout Designing an attractive and functional recreation site is an art as well as a science. Accessibility is, of course, one of the many design param eters for any recreation site . Vehicle Parking Within recreation areas, ve hicle parking is normally either concentrated into parking lots for more than two vehi- cles at group areas or distributed into parking sp urs designed to hold one or two vehicles or trailers at an indivi dual pic- nic or camping unit. Vehicle parking lots and other parking spaces that aren't associated with an individual camping or picnic unit must comply with the same requirements as vehicle parking lots for buildings. These requirements can be found in ABAAS, sections 208 and 502. However, slip resis- tance is not required for parking in recreation areas because leaves and needles , dirt, ice, snow, and other surface debris and weather conditions are components of the natural envi- ronment that would be difficult, if not impossible, to avoid. Parking spurs for one or two vehicles, recreational ve hicle s (RVs), or trailers at individual picnic or camping units mu st 48 ing area is the section of the parking spur where vehicles (cars, vans, recreational vehicles, trucks , trailers, and so forth) are parked. These definitions are important becau se the scoping and technical requirements vary based on the specific part of the parking spur being addressed. Figure 57 show s the parts of a parking spur. ~ I 16' (4 .6m) ~A~ = £_~ a:33% MAX~ 1'> 2'.z:::-2% M _ L~......__ 0v~ ~ VEHICLE --7DRIVEWAY ~~r~ /PARKING AR~ 50' (15 .2 m) 7 ... ~n_O MAX ~~ CF ...-,, ../ Figure 57-The components of a campground parking spur. Because people use the parking spur to get to and from their ve hicle and to get around the recreation si te , ensure that the surface of the entire parking spur is firm and stable as explained in "Surfaces for Outdoor Re creation Access Routes " of this guidebook. Ensure each vehicle parking area that is adjacent to a camp living area is at least 16 feet (4.88 meters) wide. The 16-foot (4 .88 -meter) width is the same as the standard width for an accessible parking stall for vans. Sometimes, a sing le parking area for a double camping unit acco mmodate s two vehicles side-by-side . In these park- ing areas, the space between the two vehicles can be used to access both vehicles, so you can redu ce the total width of the two non-RV parking areas from 32 feet (9.76 meters) to 24 feet (7.32 meters). Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Gu idelines Determine parking requirements for walk-in camping units. ~~·.· .... ~.....,__~~--.--~~ .··: __...._, ·~·.;;...'°'. '":":.-."',.:____-.-_-. -.. -,.:-"'7 Fi gur e 58-An accessib le rec rea ti onal ve hi c le with a whe elch air li ft. around all sides of larger access ible RV s and trailers. The dime nsions are bas ed on an 8-foot (2.44-meter) -wide vehicle , an 8-foot (2.44-meter) -wide space on the passenger side for operation of the lift or ramp with room to maneuver and a 4-foot (1.22-meter) -wide clear space along the driver 's side. When parking areas for large access ible RV s accommodate two ve hicles side-by-s ide in a parkin g area serving a double For walk-in camping units, the required parking area width depends on whether the parking area is part of the camping unit or in a group parking lot. If the walk-in unit has it s own parking spur, then it falls under Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guide- lines parking spur requirements and the parking area should be 16 feet (4.88 meters) wide (as required by the vehicle parking area provision), or less if a condition for an exception applies . If the parking space is part of a group parking area such as a 10-car parking lot that is provided for eight walk-in units, the whole parking lot must meet the requirements of Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards, sections F208 and 502. In such a 10-car parking lot, 9 parking spaces would be standard width and 1 would be 16 feet (4.88 meters) wide to comply with the van-accessible specifications of an 8-foot (2.44-meter) -wide parking space and an adjoining 8-foot ( 2.44-meter) -wide access aisle. s:: 0 camping unit, th e s pace between the two ve hicles can be used to ~ Provide enough width for full size accessible RV s and trail - ers in campgrounds th at are designed to accommodate them (figure 58 ). A 16-foot (4 .88-meter) -wide parking area will accommodate cars , van s, and the majority of RVs and trail - ers. However, a vehicle parking area that is 20 feet (6 meters) wide is required to accommodate lifts, ramp s, and other ass is- tive equipment that all ow RV owners to enter, exit, and move access both vehicles . Less width is required to provide the same access, so you can reduce the to tal width of the two RV parking areas fro m 40 feet (12 meters) to 36 feet (11 meters). To maximize acce ss ibility while protecting the natural environment, only a limited number of vehicle parking are as in campgrounds with RV camping units mu st be 20 feet (6 meters) wid e. The minimum number of required 20-foot (6-meter) -wide vehicle parking areas is based on the total number of camping units provid ed in the RV campground (table 3). Tabl e 3-The number of recreati onal ve hi cle (RV ) parkin g areas req uired to be access ible. Number of Minimum Number of 20-foot (6-meter) -Wide Vehicle Parking Areas Camping Units Required in Campgrounds With Units Designed for Large RVs and Trailers 1 1 2 to 25 2 26 to 50 3 51 to 75 4 76 to 100 5 101 to 150 7 151 to 200 8 201 and over 8 plus 2 percent of the number more than 200 49 ti:; ~ u Cl.) Ol Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Basing the number of required 20-foot (6-meter) -wide RV parking areas on the num ber of RV camping units is similar to the approach used by ABAAS for accessible hotel rooms. The minimum required numb er of accessib le rooms is proportional to the total number of rooms in the hotel. Similarly, the mini- mum number of accessible RV parking areas is proportional to the total number of RV camping units in the campground. For example, in a 50-unit campground that accommo- dates large RVs an d trailers , a minimum of three vehicle parking areas must be 20 feet (6 meters) wide . The veh icl e parking areas for the remaining 47 camping units must be at least 16 feet (4.88 meters) wide , with the exceptions previ- ously noted. When designing a new campgro und , remember that table 3 shows minimum requirements. Larger RVs and trailers with bump-out sections are increasingly common. Areas where many recreationists use larger RVs and trailers may require providing more campin g units w ith a 20-foot (6-meter) -wide vehicle parking area. Some national forests have found the 20-foot (6-meter) -wide RV parking area to be an appropriate design standard for use throughout th eir RV campgrou nd s . If there are one or more co ndition s for an exception that prevent constructin g a full-width parking area (at least 16 feet (4.88 meters) wide or 20 feet (6 meters) wide as required by table 3), you ca n reduce the width to 13 feet (4 meters), the width of an access ibl e parking space for cars. Because new recreation site locations should be chosen carefully to e nsure accessibility req uirements can be met, this exception should hardly ever be taken. Even when co nditi ons for exception are numerous and extreme, at least 20 percent of parking areas must be full width . When only one or two non-RV parking areas are provided in a recreation area, no exception is per- mitted. When three to 10 non-RV parkin g areas are provided, at least two of the vehicle parking areas mu st be full width . There are separate slope requirements for vehicle park- ing areas and driveways because of th e different functions they perform. Do not allow the s lope of the vehicle parking area to exceed l :48 (2 percent) in any direction. However, when the surface is not paved or built with boards, slopes up to 1:33 (3 percent) in any directio n are allowed when needed for proper drainage . 50 Determine how long the parking area should be. Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibi lity Guidelines has requirement s for parking area or sp ur width , but not length . Length of parking area sp ur s depends on the terrain and the type of vehicles that are expected to use the parking area . Ordinary parking lots are normally designed with 20-foot (6-meter) -long parking spaces to accommodate passenger vehicles, so parking areas should be at least 20 feet (6 meters) long. A large trailer with a towing vehicle co uld be up to 60 feet (18 meters) Jong and a bus-style recreational vehicle (RV) could be up to 45 feet (14 meters) long. Some campgrounds include parking spurs of vari- ous lengths. This limits campsite choices for camp- ers with larger trailers or RVs, but also minimizes hardened surfaces and ground disturbance, especiall y on difficult terrain. Provide information online and at the campground regarding the length of parking areas. Campers with larger trailers and RVs will appreciate it. Th e running slope of a parking spur driveway may be up to 1:12 (8.33 percent) for 50 feet (15 meters). An exception for areas of steeper terrain permits the running slope to be up to 1: 10 (I 0 percent) for 30 feet (9 meters). In alterations of exi sting campgrounds only, a second exception permits the running slope to be up to 1: 10 ( 10 percent) for distances up to 50 feet (15 meters) if the first exception can 't be met because of a condition for an exception. Thi s second exception does not appl y to new con struction . The cross slope of a parking spur driveway must not exceed 1:33 (3 percent). However, the cross slope of driveways may be as steep as 1 :20 (5 percent) if needed for proper drainage or to provide a transition from the campground road to the ve hicl e parkin g area. For example, if a back-in parking spur is adjacent to an interior campground road th at has a running slope steeper than 1 :20 (5 percent), the driveway may need a steeper cross slope to make the tran sition fro m the running slope of the road to the relatively level vehicle parking area (figure 59). Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Figure 59-The trans iti on from a parkin g sp ur driveway to a campground road. Fi gur e 60-The component s of a camping unit. Allow for pedestrians in the driveway. Because people move around the vehicle parking ar- eas and along the driveways, parking spurs also have to be able to function as outdoor recreation access routes. Keep the running and cross slopes of driveways, even in alterations, as gentle as possible so that vehicles and people can easily and safely navigate into and out of the camping unit, erosion is minimized, and road design and construction standard s are met. Camping Units A camping unit is a part of a campgro und that is used by an indi vidual or gro up for camping separate from other parties using the recrea tion site. A campin g unit commonly includes the ca mp livin g area, a parking sp ur, and a space to pitch a tent (fig ure 60). FSORAG doesn 't require a s pecific numb er or type of camp units or constructed features , but all camp units a nd the site furni shin gs and constructed features in them mu st meet the applicabl e FSORAG requirements. The camp livin g area is th e space where table s, fire ring s, and grill s are located. This area is often adjacent to th e parking spur. The minimum size of a camp living area is determined by the type and number of construc ted feature s provided and the required clear space aro und each feature . Ensure the surface of camp living is firm and stable , and th at the surface material used is appro pri ate to the setting and lev e l of deve lopm ent. Do not allow the slope of the ground surface in camp li vin g areas to exceed 1 :48 (2 percent) in any direction , except when the surface is unpaved or is not built with board s. In tho se cases, th e slope may be up to 1:33 (3 percent) for necessary drainage. To meet outdoor recreation access route requirements, a route must connect all the features within each camping unit. Usually, the slope, surface, and size requirements for th e overlapping or adjacen t clear spaces of the constructed fea- ture s with in camp living areas eliminate the need for separate outdoor recreation access routes within the camp li vi ng area. When feat ures are s pread apart to limit th e amount of change to the natural setting , provide o utdoor recreation acces s route s to connect the feature s. There mu st also be an outdoor recreation access route connecting each campi ng unit with the common use features that are provided at the campground , s uc h as toil ets, show- ers, water hydrants, garbage receptacles, parking spaces, and beach access. Ensure this outdoor recreatio n access route does not overlap the clear spaces of the camp livin g area so th at people us in g the constru cted feat ures in the camp liv- ing area will not obstruct travel along th e o utdoor recreation access rou te . There are some exceptions to the requirement th at o ut- do or recreatio n access routes mu s t connect eve rythin g. 51 Applying the Fo r est Service Outdoor Rec r eation A cc essibility Guide lin es • When work is done to improve an ex isting camping or picnic facility or a trailhead and a condition for an exception prohibits full compliance with a specific technical requirement on part of an outdoor recreation access route, that part of the outdoor recreation access route only has to meet the technical requirement to the extent practicable. • When something is changed within an existing camp- ing facility, but the circulation path isn't altered, the path doesn't have to be brought up to outdoor recre- ation access route standards. • As stated in "Getting From Here to There-Outdoor Recreation Access Routes" of this guidebook, if an accessible vehicle pull-up space is provided at the RV dump station, an outdoor recreation access route is not required to connect the station to the camping units . • In campgrounds where the roadway is the primary route from the campsites to the restrooms and so forth, a separate outdoor recreation acce ss route to the same facilities is not required . That roadway is not required to meet the specifications for an outdoor Picnic Units A picnic unit is a part of a picnic area that contains one or more constructed features used for picnic s by an individual or a group. Each picnic unit may be used separately from other parties using the recreation site. All site furni shing s and constructed features that are provided in a picnic unit must meet the applicable FSORAG requirements . The minimum size of a picnic unit is determined by the required clear space around each feature and the type and number of provided constructed features Ensure all pedestrian routes that are provided in a picnic area meet outdoor recreation access route standard s. Use an outdoor recreation acce ss route to connect all feature s within each picnic unit. Usually, the slope, surface , and size require- ments for the overlapping or adjacent clear spaces of the unit's constructed features within a picnic unit eliminate the need for separate outdoor recreation access route s within the unit. When features are spread apart to limit the amount of change to the natural setting, provide an outdoor recreation access route to connect the features. If a picnic area only has one or two picnic units, con- recreation access route . However, there must be a nect all units with an outdoor recreation acce ss route to the minimum of 32 inche s of clear passage through or area 's common use features, such as toilets , showers, water around any constructed obstacles in the roadway, such hydrants , garbage receptacles, parking space s, and beach as speed bumps . acces s routes. If a recreation site has more than two picnic Even when they're not required , the Forest Service com-units , use an outdoor recreation access route to connect at mitment to universal design dictates that outdoor recreation access routes connect as many features as is practicable, given the specific natural con straints of the site , the level of development, and other con sideration s. When walk-in camping is provided in a campground, ensure an outdoor recreation access route connects the camp living area to the parking spur or parking lot. If the terrain is steep (or there's another condition for an exception) and the work is an alteration to an existing site , compliance with the slope requirements for the outdoor recreation access route to those walk-in units isn't required . When a camping unit is located near a tr ail (rather than in a campground accessed by vehicles), the connection between that unit and the trail and the connections between the constructed features within that camping unit must com- ply with FSTAG requirements for trails , not the outdoor rec- reation access ro ute requirements . 5 2 least 20 percent of the units (but never le ss than two ) to the common use features at the site. For example, in a picnic area with 20 units, all site furnishings (tables, grill s, etc.) mu st be acce ss ible , and a minimum of four picnic units mu st be con- nected by an outdoor recreation access route to th e area 's other common use features. When designing picnic areas, remember locating 20 per- cent of the units on an outdoor recreation acces s route is only a minimum requirement. Connect as many units with an out- door recreation access route to the major feature s of the site as practicable, given the specific natural site con straints, the level of site development, and other considerations. FSORAG recognizes that the natural terrain often pre sents a real obstacle in the outdoor recreation environment. At exi st- ing site s that are being renovated, you may not be able to pro- vide an outdoor recreation access route for all picnic units with- out affecting the fundamental nature of the picnic area and the Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Gu idelines recreation opportunity. When an existing picnic area is altered or reconstructed and a condition for an exception prohibits full compliance with a specific technical requirement on part of an outdoor recreation access route, that part of the outdoor recre- ation access route only has to meet the technical requirement to the extent practicable . When something is changed within an existing picnic facility, but the circulation path isn 't altered , the path doe sn't have to be brought up to outdoor recreation access route standards. Even though it's not required , these chan ges almost always provide you the perfect opportunity to bring the paths up to outdoor recreation access route standard s and follow the Forest Service policy of univer sal design. Viewing areas in recreation settin gs must be located along an outdoor recreation access route that connects to the other major feature s at the site, including the parking area. There are some exceptions to the requirement to connect everything with outdoor recreation access routes. Sometimes vistas can onl y be viewed from an area with difficult terrain . If a conditio n for an exception prohibits full compliance with a specific technical requirement for a portion of an outdoor recreation access route at a viewing area, you only must en sure that portion of the outdoor recreation access route complies wi th the technical requirement to the extent practi- cable. When something i s changed within an existing over- look or viewing area, but the circulation path isn 't altered, yo u don 't have to bring the path up to outdoor recreation Viewing Areas acces s route standards. Even though it 's not required, reno- Overlooks and viewing areas are de signed and constructed vations almost always provide yo u with the perfect opportu- to provide scenic vistas and unobstructed views of points of nity to bring the path s up to outdoor recreation access route interest, such as a mountain range , a val ley, a waterfall, or a standards so th at everyone can get to the viewing area or unique geologic formation (fig ure 61 ). Because overlooks and overlook . viewing areas are de stination points , they must be accessible En s ure each view ing area that is required to be acces- so all visitors can enjoy the viewin g opportu niti es. Ensure that sible has a clear gro und or floor space that is at least 36 each viewing area at an ove rlook and all the si te furnishings, inches (9 15 millimeters) by 48 inches (1,220 millimeters) constructed features , and buildings in it , complies with appli-and is po s itioned for either a forward or parallel approach cable FSORAG and ABAAS provisions. However, when work to the viewing location . Each accessible viewing area is done to improve an existing viewing area or overlook and a condition for an exception prohibits full compliance with a specific technical requirement for a clear ground space , unob- mu st also have at least one turning space that is 60 inches (1 ,525 millimeters) minimum in diameter (figure 62 ) or is a T-shaped space with a minimum 60-by 36-inch (1 ,525-by structed view, turning space, surface, or slope, you only have to 915-millimeter) arm and a minimum 36-inch (915-millime- meet the requirement to the extent practicable. Figure 61-The overlook on the San Juan Skyway , a sceni c byway in Colorado , allows all visit ors to enjo y the vi ew . ter) -wide by 24-inch (610 -millimeter) -long base (figure Figure 62-0ne way to meet th e requirements fo r turning space at a view ing area. 53 Applying the Forest Servic e Outdoor Recreation A cc essibility Guidelines 63). The clear gro und space and turning space may overlap. The turning space requirement is the same as ABAAS sec- tion 304.3. These spaces all ow so meone using a wheelchair or other assistive device to approach and move about the viewing area . Fi g ure 63-The requirements for a T-shaped turnin g space at a viewin g area. If there are several viewing areas , provide at least one accessible, unrestricted viewing opportunity for each distinct point of interest. An unrestricted viewing opportunity means a clear field of vision toward the vista or point of interest that extends at least from 32 to 51 inches (815 to 1,295 millime- ters) above the entire side of the c le ar floor or ground space of the viewing area . Ensure the slope of clear floor or ground s paces and turning spaces does not exceed 1 :48 (2 percent) in any direc- tion. When the surface isn 't paved or built with boards, allow grades up to 1 :33 (3 percent) in a ny direction if needed for proper drainage. Ensure the surface is firm and stab le and of a material that is appropriate to the setting and level of development. Restrict openings in the surface of clear gro und spaces and turning spaces to small enough that a Y2-i nch (13- millimeter) -diameter sphere can't get through them. Place elongated openings more than a quarter of an inch wide with the long dimension perpendicular to the primary direction of travel. Viewing areas often are adjacent to hazardous dropoffs. When there is a dropoff of more than 30 inches (760 54 millimeters), provide a guardrail or barrier th at complies with the height and opening requirements of th e International Building Code section s 1012 .2 and 1012 .3. Barriers such as wall s, guardrail s, or s ig ns in stalled for safety reasons could restrict views . However, neither accessi- bility nor safety mea sure s should be ig nored . Des igners need to con sider different way s of providing for safety without blocking the view. For example, narrow ve rtical rails , see- through panels or screened openings could be in stalled , or the de s igner may be able to build the overlook with a serie s of tiers or terrace s (figure 64). The placem e nt of interpretive signs may also help create a barrier to ke e p people back from the edge of the overlook without blockin g the view (figure 65). Fi gur e 64-This overl ook des ign ha s tw o leve ls so the ra ilin g ca n be lower at the upp er viewin g area . Fi gur e 65-Si gns pla ced to create a barri er at an overlook. Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Design guardrails for safety and views. Pro vidi ng safety while maximizing viewing opportunities is a challenge for those designing a guardrail or structure adjacent to a dropoff. It's pos sible to design two viewing levels (see figure 64), where the lower level would be less than 30 inches (760 millimeters) below the upper level. With this design, a tall guardrail isn 't required for the upper level. At the upper level, where the visitors gener- ally approac h the viewpoint, a low railing or wall can permit good visibility. The lower viewing level would have a tall guardrai l meeting the International Building Code requirements. This lower level provides the "catch" area for the primary level. If the area or structure doe s n't lend it self to a two-level approach, try a see-through 42-inch (1,065-millimeter) -high guardrail (fig ure 66). Place the vertical rails so that a 4-inch (100-millimeter) sphere can't pass through them . Visibility throu gh this type of guardrail is excellent. The eye level of most adults seated in a wheelchair is above 42 inches (1,065 millim eters), and children sitting on the deck can enjoy the view through the rails. The importance of vertical rather than horizontal rails can't be overemphasized. When children see horizontal rails, they regard them as an inviting ladder that encourages them to climb. A horizontal rail can't protect them from a fall (figure 67). Figure 66-This ra ilin g on an overlook at Sandia Crest on the Cibola National Forest is safe, meets code requirements , and provid es a great view for peopl e of a ll he ight s. Figure 67-Caution: Railings with hori zont a l rails make an in vi tin g ladder for small children. 55 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Use of the International Symbol of Accessibility and Other Signs words are required to be used with ISA. If words are used, use "accessible." Do not use "handicapped." Signs provide key information concerning the acces- sibility of programs and facilities. People often think of the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA) (fig ure 68) as an all-purpose sign to be used any time an accessible feature is available , which is not necessarily true. Where all constructed features and areas comply with the accessi bility provi sio ns, you may post ISA, but it is not required. Do not individually sign accessible sites with ISA because this can stigmatize and draw unwanted attention to the individuals using those sites. Figure 68-International symbol of accessibility. When only some constructed features and areas comply with the accessibility provisions, people need to know whether they will be able to use a particular campsite or picnic area. This can be accomplished using several methods , depending on the type of campground or picnic area. In accordance with ABAAS, section 216 , ISA must be posted at only six places: The Federal agency recreation reservation system (<http :// www.recreation.gov>) contains accessibility information about campsites and picnic areas that are registered in the system, including which individual sites are accessible. When using this system to reserve a si te, people are automatically notified if they are abo ut to reserve an accessible site. ISA also can be used to identify individ ual accessible sites on the recreation site map on the Web site describing the recreation site. These are both good ways to provide accessibility information to rec- reationists with Internet access. If so me-but not all-campsites or picnic areas are accessible and recreationists choose their site when they • At accessible parking spaces in parking lots with five or more designated parking spaces. arrive at the recreation area, provide accessibility information <;> Sign van accessible parking spaces in these lots as to recreationists as they enter th e area. ISA can be used to such. identify the individual units that comply with the accessibil- <;> Sign RV accessible parking spaces in these lots as ity guidelines on the recreation site map at the entrance kiosk, such. fee station , bulletin board , or registration area. Post the fol- <;> Do not post ISA at parking spurs provided at lowing type of statement on the regi stration information sign: camping units or other individual accessible "Units 2, 4, 6, and 10 are accessible. If no one in yo ur group features. needs an accessible site, please fill these units last." Forests • At accessible loading zones. that use this type of state ment on the registration sign report • At accessible re strooms and bathing facilities. that visitors generally have comp li ed. • At the main entrance to a building , with an arrow If some-but not all-campsites or picnic areas are directing people to the closest access ible entrance, if accessible and the sites are assigned by a person onsite who the main entrance is not accessible . can provide information abo ut each unit, you don 't have to • On the door to an accessible area of refuge inside post access ibility information. The accessible units should multi story buildings. be ass igned as requested by individuals . The accessible sites • At an accessible means of egress out of a building . that are not assigned to persons with disabilities should be filled last, keeping them avai lable in case they are needed. Except for the requirement to pos t the VAN ACCES-Do not ask people who request or reserve an accessible site SIBLE plaque at van accessible spaces, no other descriptive to state or show any type of verification of their disability. 56 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Their vehicles are also not required to display a licen se plate or placard indicating a disability. Thi s site re servatio n and assignment process complie s with the court-ordered process followed by hotels concerning their accessible rooms. There is no leg al requirement on federally managed lands for ISA sig ns to be blue and white, even at parkin g spaces . If ISA is used , post it on a vertical sign in accordance with ABAAS, section 703.7, in high-contrast colors with a non glare finish. A cream or pale yellow ISA on a brown If a sign or kiosk has material s to be handled , such as map s, brochures, fee envelopes, and so forth, design the sign or kiosk so that th e materials are displayed within the stan- dard accessible reach ranges in accordance with ABAAS section 308, as explained in "Reach Ranges and Operabil- ity Requirements" of this guidebook. Provide clear floor or ground spaces of 30 by 48 inches (760 by 1,220 millimeters) to allow a forward or parallel approach . Post the appropriate international symbols where vari- background complie s with this requirement and blends into ous modes of alternative formats, communication, or adaptive an outdoor setting . equipment are available. Large print, open captioning, sign If you want the local law enforcement agency to be able to lan guage interpreters, and so forth are each represented by a issue tickets for illegal parki ng at accessible parking spaces in specific sy mbol (figures 69 through 77). parking lots, display ISA in blue and white to comply with the If you have questions about app lying any of the above Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), sec- tion 2B.39. Although their use is optional, the only approved colors for pavement markings designating accessible parking spaces are blue and white (MUTCD, section 3B.18). Figure 69-Intern ational symbol for inform ation. Figure 70--lnternati onal symbol for teletypewriter (also referred to as "TIY"). Figure 71-lnternati onal symbol for a telephone with volume control. .ttt inform atio n, please contact your region's recreation accessi- bility coordinator. Current contact information is available at <http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/toolbox/acc/documents/coord .htm#leaders>. Figure 72-lnternational sy mb ol for video or film with closed captio ns. Figure 73-International sy mb ol to indicate audio description is avai lable . Figure 74-lnternational sy mb o l to indicate an assistive listening system is available . Large Print • • • • • • Braille Fig ure 75-International symbol to indicate sign language interpretation is avai la ble. Figure 76-International symbol to indicate large print (18 point) material is avai lab le . Figure 77-lnternational symbol to indicate materials are available in Braille. 57 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Constructed Features in Recreation Sites All new co nstructed features at Forest Service recreation sites mu st meet accessibility requirem e nt s. Depending on th e type of site, ensure a ll or a portion of the features are con- nected to the oth er features within th e recreation site by an outdoor recreation acce ss route as explained in "Recreation Site Layout" of th is guidebook. If constructed feature s are repl aced, but the gro und under the feat ur e isn 't changed, th e s urface and slope of the gro und und er the feature doe s n 't have to be brought into co n- formance with accessibility requirements for clear floor and gro und s pace. Because of the Forest Service policy of uni ve r- sal de s ign and th e cost savi ng s inhere nt in accomp li shin g al l a nticipated improvement work at an area at o nce, doing what- 10 ' TO 18'>-- -.........._ ___ (3 m TO 5 .5 m) ~ =2SPACES / -;c-..; Fi gur e 78 -At least two spaces must be accessib le at a I 0-to 18 -foot (3-to 5.5-meter) -long pi cni c table. ever is feasi bl e to imp rove access ibility while yo u 're worki ng from th e gro und or floor to th e bottom of the tabletop . Toe in the area is recommended. clearance of at least 9 inches (230 millimeters) above the ground or floor mu st exte nd at least an additio nal 5 inch es (25 millimeters) beyond the required knee clearance. Figure Picnic Tables 79 illustrates th e required knee and toe s pace. Toe clearance All new picnic table installations mu st compl y with is required to ensure that so meon e in a wheelchair is a bl e to requirements for accessible seatin g s paces, table cl earance, sit close to the tabl etop, regardl ess of the design of the picnic slope, and s urface. Thi s is true whether the table is in a ca mp-table . If th e table is constructed with o ne so lid leg on eac h gro und , picnic area, or other recreation s ite . "Recreation Site Layout" exp lain s how the tables in each of the se types of recreation s ite s mu st be co nn ected to th e oth er major con- structed fea tures at th e recreatio n area . If the picnic tables are provided o n trail s, ensure the routes co nn ecti ng them to any other major constru cted feat ures in the area com ply with the technical req uire me nts for trails . The number of wheelchair seatin g spaces that mu st be provided at eac h tabl e is based on th e length of the pi c ni c tab le (fig ure 78). Alway s ens ure at least one wheelchair seat- ing space. For larger tables, one wheelchair seating sp ace is required for eac h 24 linear fee t (7 .32 meters) of usa bl e s pace around the perimeter of the table. Practically speaking , ta ble s up to 9 fee t (2.74 meters) lon g u suall y require one space. Tables between 10 feet (3.05 meters) and 20 feet (6 mete rs) lon g usually require two wheelchair spaces, and so on for longer tables , s uc h as four spaces for tables that are 40 fee t (l2 meters) lon g. Knee s pace for wheelc hair seatin g must be at least 30 inches (760 millim eters) wi de, 19 inche s (485 millim eter s) deep , and 27 inches (68 5 millimeters) high, as measured 58 e nd , as opposed to an A-s hap ed frame or two indi vidu al leg s on each end of th e table that would allow the wheelchair to fit in between, th e toes of a perso n in a wheelc hair would hit th e table leg at th e end of the 19 -in ch ( 485-millimeter) knee space. Without additional toe cl earance, a perso n in a wheel- c hair wouldn't be ab le to get close enoug h to the ta bl etop to use it comfortably. 27" (685 mm) MIN 30" (760 mm) MIN 5" (125 mm) MIN Figure 79-The requ irements for kn ee and toe space at a picni c tabl e. Applyin g the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Ensure picnic tables are accessible. Manufacturers often claim their tables are accessible even though they don't meet accessibility require- ments. Check the dimensions to verify whether a table is accessible. Pro vide clear flo or or ground space that is 30 inches by 48 inches (760 millimeters by 1,220 millimeters) at each wheelchair seating space, positioned to accommodate a for- ward approach to the table (figure 80). No exceptions to the wheelchair seating space requirements are permitted. Figure 80-The requirements for clear space at a picnic table. In addition to the clear floor or gro und space for each wheelchair seati ng s pace, provide a 48-inch (1,220-mi llim eter) clear floor or ground space around the usable portions of th e table (see figure 82). Measure table clearance from the tabl e seat out. You may redu ce the table clear s pace to 36 inches (9 15 millimeters) if th ere is a condition for an exception. The slope of the required clear floor or ground s pace for wheelchair seatin g spaces and for table clearance is not allowed to exceed 1 :48 (2 percent) in any direction. Slopes not steeper than 1 :33 (3 percent) are permitted , however, where necessary for drainage on s urface s that are unp aved or not built with board s. The s urface of the clear floor or gro und space mu st be firm and stable. The type of s urfacing used should be appropriate to the settin g and level of developm ent. Design for appropriate picnic table height. There i s no height requirement in Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines for the table top surface of a picnic table or the top of the table benches. Architectural Barriers Act Acce ss ibility Standards require that top s of dining s urfaces be 28 inches (710 millimeters) to 34 inches (865 millime- ters) above the finished floor or gro und . Table top s may be constructed of a number of different materi- als, and some of them, s uch as heavy timbers , may be quite thick. The knee space for wheelchair seating at a picnic table mu st be at least 27 inches (685 mil - limeters) hi gh . User comfort is important. Generally, benches that are arou nd 18 inches (457 millimeters) above the ground with table top surfaces that are about 32 inches (813 millimeters) above the ground are rea- sonably comfortable for mo st people , accommodate common picnic table construction materials , and meet accessibility requirement s. If a co ndition for excepti on in an alteration proj ect at an existing s ite proh ibits full compliance with a s pec ifi c require- ment for clear floor or gro und s pace (s urface, slop e, size, or loc ation), the clear floor or ground s pace only ha s to comply with require ments to the extent practicable . Use different clear spaces for forward and parallel approaches. A forward approach mean s that th e person is facing the object (see figure 50. A parallel approach mean s th at th e person is beside the object (see figure 51 ). People need different-sized spaces to position their wheelchairs in front of an object and be side an object. That i s why there are different clear floor or ground space require- ments for forward and parallel approaches. 59 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Use the picnic tables recreationists prefer. The most popular accessible picnic tables look like ordi- nary 8-foot-long tables, but the legs are located slightly closer to the center of the table so that they meet wheelchair seating requirements at both ends. The benches are the same length as the tabletop (figure 81). The benches that extend the same length as the table top provide a seat at each comer beyond the table leg. The four comer seats are prized by individuals who may have difficulty stepping over the bench to be seated. At the comer seats, a person simply slides in. Figures 82, 83, and 84 show some examples of accessible tables that can be built by contractors or Forest Service crews . The tables can be locally constructed using the plans available at <http:// www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/accessibility> and also available to Forest Service employees at <http://fsweb.wo.fs .fed.us/eng/facilities/accrec/tables/>. Use the links to view the tables or to save AutoCAD drawings of the tables. Figure 81-This pi cnic table at Neva da Beach day use area in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Uni t is a popular design that all ows people who use wheelchairs to use either end without the appearance of "sepa- rate" space for peop le who use wheelchairs. A Forest Service shield is routed into the cross piece on eac h end, adding to the design appeal. Fire Rings, Grills , Fireplaces, and Wood Stoves An outdoor recreation access route mu st connect fire rin gs, grill s, fireplaces or woo d stoves that are provided in recreation sites to the other major constructed features at the recreatio n si te. If the fire rings , grills , fireplaces, or wood stove s are provided in an area accessed by rail (rather th an by vehicle), the routes connecting them to any other major 60 Figure 82-An access ible wood picni c table. Figure 83-An accessibl e steel leg picnic table. Figure 84--An accessible stone leg picnic table. constructed features provided in the area mu st comply with the technical requirements for trail s. Provide a clear floor or ground s pace around all usable sides of a fire ring, grill , fireplace , or wood stove so that so me- one isn 't forced to get too close to the heat or fire and ri sk get- ting burned . The clear space mu st extend at least 48 inches (1,220 millimeters) out fro m the feature and be at leas t 48 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines inches (1,220 millimeters) wide. In many cases, a 48-inch (1,220-millimeter) -wide ring of clear space must be provided all around (figure 85), because all sides are usable. For instance, if a pedestal grill can rotate 360 degrees and all positions along that rotation are usable , the 48-inch (1,220-millimeter) clear space must completely surround the grill. If the grill doesn 't rotate, clear space is only required on the sides from which access is needed to use the grill. Most fire rings are also usable on all sides. This space may be reduced to 36 inches (915 milli- meters) minimum where a condition for exception exists. \ Figure 85-The requirements for hei ght , clear s pace, and reach range for a pedestal grill. The slope of the clear floor or ground space must not exceed 1:48 (2 percent) in any direction . When the surface is unpaved or not built with boards, slopes 1 :33 (3 percent) and less are allowed where necessary for drainage. The surface of the clear floor or ground space must be firm and stable, and the surface material used should be appropriate to the setting and level of development. However, if a condition for exception in an alteration project at an existing site prohibits full compliance with a specific requirement for clear floor or ground space (sur- face, slope, size, or location), the clear floor or ground space only has to comply with requirements to the extent practicable. Ensure the fire-building surface within a fire ring is a min- imum of 9 inches (230 millimeters) above the floor or ground surface. Figures 86 and 87 show fire-building surfaces above the ground. This matches the low side reach range in ABAAS. Some "fire rings" are not constructed features and don't meet the criteria for applying these requirements. For exam- ple, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, people Figure 86-This manufactured fire ring has an internal grate th at elevates th e fire-buildin g surface 9 inches (230 millimeters) above the ground. Th e mes h rin g above the fire-building grate allows enjoyment of the fire and allows air supply to aid combu stion . The cooking grate sw in gs to th e side for access to th e )fl fire. Photo credit: Jamestown Advanced Produ cts Corporation, Jamestown, NY +.) m Fi gure 87-The Prescott National Forest uses standard manu fact ured stee l fire rings on fire-h ardened concrete bases so that th e fire-building surface meets access ibility require ments for hei ght abo ve the ground. sometimes assemble rings of rocks at popular campsites and build campfires in them. To reduce the risk of campfires becoming uncontrolled fires , they may so metimes be allowed to remain rather than being immediately dismantled by the agency. The accessibility requirements for fire rings do not apply to these temporary, u ser-built "fire rings." Controls and operating mechanism s for fire rings, grills (fig ure 88), fireplaces, and wood stoves must meet the requirements for reach ranges and operability s pecified in ABAAS , sections 308 and 309 that are explai ned in "Reach Ranges and Operability Requirements" of thi s guidebook. Several fire ring and grill manufacturers make models that comply with the reach range and operability requirements. 61 c c '.i3 Ill ~ I.) ~ 0£ c \!) ~ :l Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Fi g ure 88-This pedestal grill at a campground on the Coconino National Forest works well for just about everybod y. Accessible models of some other wood-burning devices are not yet readily ava ilabl e. For these devices, compliance with the accessibility requirements for operating controls isn 't required until models that meet the requirements are readily available from more than one so urce . Ensure that each cooking s urface, grill, and pedestal grill meets the requirements for cooking surface he ight, clear floor or ground space, slope, and s urface . The height requirements are based on the height for cou ntertop s and the minimum low forward reach range in ABAAS. Ensure the height of the cooking s urfac e is 15 inches (3 80 millimeters) to 34 inches 62 I Construction Tip Install pedestal grills at appropriate heights. Most pedestal grills have adjustable cooking heights . Make sure that the pedestal is installed at a height that allows adjustments to include cooking surfaces 34 inches above the ground or lower, but still provide a reasonable clearance between the cooking surface and the fire-building surface. (865 millimeters) above the floor or ground surface (see fig- ure 85). Practically s peaking , the lower range of the required height is associated with fire rings , not pedestal gri ll s. Adjust- able pedestal grills may be adjustable beyond the required range, but must include adjustments within the specified range. The adj ustments don't have to include the entire range of acceptab le heights for cooking surfaces. Some o utdoor fireplaces and custom-built fire rings have a raised edge or wall around the fire-building area , perhaps built out of bricks or mortared stone. In addition to meet- ing the requirement for a fire-building surface that is at least 9 inches (230 millimeters) above the ground or floor, make sure the width of the raised edge or wall does not exceed 10 inches (255 millimeters). Figures 89, 90, and 91 illustrate the requirements for fire rings a nd outdoor fireplaces. ~~'194-9" (230 mm) MIN Figure 89-The height, c lear space, and reach ran ge requirements for an outdoor firep lace. ALL AROUND Figure 90-The height and reach requirements for custo m-built fire ring s. Applying the Forest Service Outdoo r Rec reation Accessibility Guidelin es Figure 9 1-The height and reach requirements for manufactured steel fir e rings. Tent Pads and Tent Platforms En s ure that tent pads and tent platform s at single camp- ing unit s in a recreation area meet the following requirements and are connected to the area's other major constructed fea- tures by an outdoor recreation access route . At least 20 per- cent (but not less th an two) of the tent pad s or tent platforms in group cam ping units that contain more than one tent pad or tent platform mu st meet the following requirements and be connected to the area 's other major constructed feature s by an outdoor recreation access route. Provide a minimum 48-inch ( 1,220-millimeter) clear floor or grou nd space on all sides of tents on tent pad s and platforms that are required to be accessible. Where there is a condition for an exception, the clear floor or ground s pace only ha s to meet the size requirement to the extent practic ab le . There is no minimum tent pad s ize becau se the type s of tents commonly used in recreation s ites vary widely in differ- ent parts of the country and even in different parts of a s in g le district. For example, at a campground near a wilderness access point, small tents may be used . Large family tents may be common at a more developed campground with numerou s constructed features. Loc al campground managers are the best source of infor- mation a bout the s ize of tents commonly used in an area. Adding th e 48-inch (1,220-millimeter) or 36-inch (915-mil- limeter) clear space to the s ize of a typical tent will determine the minimum size of tent pads and platform s for that camp- ground. Desig ners may want to provide a range of tent pad or platform sizes to accommodate a variety of tents. Do not allow the slope of an accessible tent pad or plat- form to exceed l :48 (2 percent) in any direction, except when the s urface isn 't paved or built with boards, the slope may be up to 1:33 (3 percent) if needed for proper drainage. Figure 92 s hows the requirements for tent pad s and platforms . Ensure the s urface of an accessib le tent pad or platform is firm a nd stabl e, can accommodate the use of tent stakes or oth er devices to secure the tent, and is made of a mater ial that is appropriate for the level of development and setting (figure 93). Where there is a condition for an exception , the surface only has to be as firm and stable as is practicable. FSORAG doe s not require any framed tent platforms or raised tent pads to be constructed . The deci s ion to con struct te nt pads or tent platforms is a local deci sion that should be based o n what is appropriate for the setting . If tent pl atforms or raised tent pad s are co nstructed , they must comply with the 2'Yo MAX SLOPE ALL DIRECTIONS Figure 92-The requireme nt s for a tent pad . Figure 93-Campers are pitching their tent on a surface that is both accessible a nd a pp ropri ate for the setting. 63 Applying t he Fo re st Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines previously ex plained clear space, slope , and surface require- ments , as well as the following co nn ection requirements . Access ibl e surfaces for pitching tents may or may not be at ground leve l. A level connection th at meets outdoor recre- ation access route standards sho uld be provided to ground- level tent floor surface s . For above-grade platforms or rai sed tent pad s, the outdoor recreatio n access route may either slope up to the same level as the tent floor s urface or end at a clear space that is adj acent to and 17 to 19 inches ( 430 to 485 millimeters) lower th an the tent floor surface. This hei ght is suitable for transferring from a wheelchair to the te nt surface . Fig ur e 94-Th e requirements for benches. 17" TO 19" [ (430TO 4~~~),;/ m Benches ~ i'fi Ensure th at all benches provided along Forest Serv ice trail s All parts of the bench mu st be able to withstand 250 or beach access routes or at Fores t Service recreation site s (o ther pound s (1,112 newton s) applied vertically or horizo ntall y at than tho se inside a buildin g or in an am phi theater) meet the fol-any point of the seat, fastener, mounting device , or support- lowing requiremen ts. Connect at le as t 20 percent of benche s in g structure . Thi s requirement is th e same as th e AB AAS at a Fores t Service recreation area to th e area 's oth er major requirement for bench stre ngth in sec tion 903.6. features by an outdoor recreation access route. Benches in side Provide a clear floor or ground s pace that i s 36 by 48 buildings must co mpl y with sectio ns F221.2.l.l, F221.2.2, and inches (915 by 1,220 millimeters) adjacent to one e nd of 903 of ABAAS. Benches in amp hitheaters must compl y with each bench . Do not allow thi s clear space to overl ap the out- the requirements in ABAAS section F22 1 for assembly areas, door recreation access route, trail , or beach access route, so including wheelchair spaces, companion seats, designated aisle that using the bench or clear space doesn 't limit travel past seats , and lawn seatin g. Even if most benches in the amphithe-the bench and vice versa. Locate the clear space to provi de ater don 't have back s upp ort, co nsi der providing it at th e desig -shoulder alignment between a person sitting on the bench and nated aisle seats required by ABAAS, section F221.4. a person seated in a wheelchair occupying the clear space , so Ensure that the front edge of the bench seat is 17 to 19 inches (430 to 485 millimeters) above the ground or floor s pace. When more than one bench i s provided in a common area such as a scenic overlook, at least half of the be nches must have back supp ort that runs the full length of th e bench . Provide one armrest on at least half of the benches with back support. Consider the visitors who will use a particular area when deciding where to locate an armrest. For people who have difficulty standing up from a seated position , hav - ing an armrest can be helpful. However, armrests on both ends of the bench co uld prevent a person usi ng a wheelchair from being able to transfer onto the bench. A compromise de sign is a bench wi th back support an d one armrest placed in the th at transfers to the bench are convenient and conversations between people on the bench and be side it are comfortable. Shoulder alignment generall y can be achieved by po si - tioning th e back of the ben ch so th at it is 8 inches (20 0 milli- meters) closer to the o utdoor recreation access route , trail , or beach access route than the back of th e required clear floor or ground space adjacent to the end of the bench (see figure 94). Do not allow the slope of the clear floor or ground space to exceed 1 :48 (2 percent) in any directi on , except if the sur- face isn't pave d or built wi th board s, th e slope may be up to 1 :33 (3 percent) when needed for proper drainage. The sur- face mu st be firm and stable and made from a material that is appropriate to the settin g and level of development. middle of the bench. Figure 94 shows a bench that meets the se If a condition for exception in an alteration proj ect at an requireme nts. Another option is to pl ace a single armrest on the existi ng site prohibits full compliance with a spec ifi c require - end of the bench farthe st from the clear floor or gro und space . ment for clear floor or gro und s pace (s urface , slop e, size , or 64 Applying t he Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines location), the clear floor or ground space only has to comply with requirements to the extent practicable. Trash, Recycling, and Other Essential Containers Many recreation areas have trash and recycling contain- ers for vi sitors' convenience to protect the environment or to discourage vi s its to the area by wild animals. Some camp- grounds al so provide bear-resistant food storage containers. Each container must meet the requirements that follow . If containers are provided in a recreation site, connect them to the area 's other major features by an outdoor recreation access route . If containers are provided on trails , ensure that routes connecting tho se containers and the other major con- structed features comply with technical requirements for trails rather than outdoor recreation access routes. In a multibin container, only half the bins for each purpose must meet the acces sibility requirements . For example , if a trash container has four separate compartments , only two of the compartments are required to meet the technical requirements. But all the bins of a recycling container with four separate bins to collect four different types of recyclable materials must meet the requirements. Figure 95 illustrates these requirements . Provide a clear floor or ground space that is either 36 inches (914 millimeters) by 48 inches (1,220 millimeters ) positioned for a forward approach or 30 inches (760 mil- limeters) by 60 inche s (1,525 millimeters) positioned for a side approach to the receptacle opening at each container. operability specified in ABAAS , section s 308 and 30 9, and explained in "Reach Ranges and Operability Requirements" of this guidebook. An exception i s allowed for lid s and operatin g control s de signed to deter large animal s, s uch as grizzly bears (fi g- ure 96 ). Large anim al s po se a threa t to human s wh en th ey become accustomed to wanderin g throu gh re creation sites in search of food . Most containers equipped with accessibl e control s and operating mechani s ms can be opened b y deter- mined bears . Containers in recreation ar eas where bears and other large anim al s pos e a ri sk to human s don 't have to com- ply with access ibility provi sion s fo r operating controls until acce ss ibl e bear-proof containers are available from more than one source . Dump ster type tras h and recy clin g receptacles are not required to comply with th e o perability requirements. The clear s pace may overlap the clear space for adjacent con-Fi gur e 95-The requirement s fo r tras h and recyc ling co nt ain ers. tainers . It must be adjacent to and may overlap the outdoor recreation access route. The slope of the clear space must not be steeper than 1 :48 (2 percent) in any direction. When the surface is unpaved or not built with board s, slopes not steeper than 1 :33 (3 percent) are allowed if necessary for drainage . Ensure the s urface is firm and stable and made from a mate- rial consistent with the setting and level of development. However, if a condition for exception in an alteration project at an ex is tin g site prohibits full compliance with a specific requirement for clear floor or ground space (surface, slope, size, or location), the clear floor or ground space only has to comply with requirements to the extent practicable. Ensure controls and operating mechanisms for containers comply with the technical requirements for reach ranges and Fi gur e 96-Grizzl y bears have th e power and persistence to get food that is not sec ured properly. 65 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Telescopes and Periscopes Viewin g areas are so metimes equipped with mo unted tele- scopes or periscopes to provide the visitor with a better view of a point of interest. Whenever a tel escope or periscope is pro- vided, ensure that a separate telescope or periscope is availa ble for use from a sta ndin g position (60 inch es above th e floor or ground surface is s uggested) and from a seated position at eac h distinct view in g locati on. This allow s all visitors to ex pe ri- ence views similarly. Telescopes and periscopes that are usabl e from a seated position will provide th e widest range of view- in g opportu niti es for seated individuals, as well as children and people of short stature. The telescopes or peri sco pes at eac h location can be mounted se parately or on the same pedestal. Telescopes or periscopes for use from a seated position mu st be connected to the other major constructed features at the rec- reation area by a n outdoor rec reation access route and meet the fo ll owi ng re qui re me nt s . Ensure that co ntrols and operatin g mechanisms for tele- scopes and periscopes usa ble from a seated position co mpl y with the technical requirements for reach ranges and operabil- ity specified in ABAAS , section s 308 and 309, as exp lained in "Reach R anges and Operabi lity Require ments" of thi s guide- book . The eyepiece of each telesco pe or periscope usab le from a seated po sition must be 43 inches ( 1,090 millimeters) mini- mum and 5 1 in ches (1 ,295 millimeters) maximum above the floor or gro und surface. Although not required , an adj ustab le sco pe mount is id eal for access ibl e viewin g. Figure 97 shows one way to confi g ure an access ibl e te le scope area. Provid e a c lear floor or gro und space that is adjace nt to (and may overlap) an outdoor recreation access rou te at all APPROX . 60" (15 25 mm) SUGGESTED F igure 97-Requirement s for view in g areas with telescopes and peri scopes . 66 access ibl e tele sco pes and peri sco pes so th at so meone using a wheelchair or other assistive device can a pproach and move aro und them . Thi s ma neuvering space mu st be at least 36 in ches by 48 inch es (9 15 millimeters by 1,220 millimeters). Posi tion the clear floor or ground space for a forward approach to th e te le scope or peri scope and so that th e eyepiece of the te lescope or peri scope is centered on the space. Provide knee and toe clearance complying with ABAAS , section 306, under th e telescope or peri scope (figure 98). Knee space under the telescope or periscope must be at leas t 30 inches (760 milli - meters) wide, 19 inches (485 millimeters) deep , and 27 inches (685 millimeters) hi gh, as measured from the ground or floor to the bottom of th e structure that supports the telesco pe or perisco pe . Toe clearance of at least 9 inches (230 millimeters) above th e gro und or floor mu st extend at le ast an additional 5 inches (25 millimeters) beyond the required knee clearance. \ \J 27" l Fi gu re 98-Req uirem ents for knee and to e space at tele scopes and periscopes. Do not allow the slope of the clear floor or ground s pace to exceed 1 :48 (2 percent ). How ever, when the s urface is unp aved or not built with boards, grades not steeper than 1 :33 (3 percent) in any direction are allowed if required for prop er drainage. Ensure the surface of the maneuvering s pace is firm, stabl e, and made from a materi al appropriate to the leve l of developme nt a nd setting . If a condition for exception in an alteration project at an existing si te prohibits full compliance with a s pecific require- ment for c lear floor or gro und s pace (surface, slope, s ize , or location), the clear floor or gro und space only has to comply with requirements to th e extent practicable . Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Utilities at Recreation Sites In general, connect e le c tricity hook ups , drinking water faucets , outdoor rinsing showers, utility sinks, sewer hook ups, and other utilities that are provided in recreatio n site s to the other major constructed features at the recreation area by an outdoor recreation access route and ensure they meet the following requirements. However, if a condition for excep- tion in an alteration project at an existin g si te prohibits full compliance with a specific requirement for clear floor or gro und space (s urface , slope, size, or location), the clear floor or ground space only has to comply with requirements to the extent practicable. Ensure controls and operating mechanisms for utilities comply with the technical requirements for reach ranges and operability spec ified in ABAAS, section s 308 and 309 , which are explained in "Reach Ranges and Operability Require- ments" of this guidebook. Sewage hookups don't have to comply with the reach ranges of ABAAS , section 308 or operation requirements of sec tion 309 , but the slope and sur- face requirements must still be met. Provide a clear floor or ground space of at least 30 by 60 inches (760 by 1,525 millimeters) oriented for front or paral- lel approach to all usable si de s of utilities, except at water hydrants and outdoor rinsing showers. Hydrants and showers have th eir own requirements that are explained after thi s sec- tion. One full side of the clear floor or ground space around utilities must be adjacent to or overlap the outdoor recreation access route . The clear space also may overlap adjacent clear spaces. Figures 99 and 100 illustrate this requirement. Ensure the slope of the clear space required at utili - ties and water hydrants does not exceed 1 :48 (2 percent) in any direction . When the surface is unpaved or not bui lt with boards , grades up to 1 :33 (3 percent) are allowed if needed for proper drainage . The s urface of the clear space mu st be firm, stable, an d made of a material that is appropriate to the level of development and se tting . Ensure ope ning s in the s urface of the clear floor or ground spaces are not big enough to allow passage of a sp here more than a half of an inch (13 millimeter) in diam- eter. Pl ace elongated openings more than a quarter of an in ch wide with the long dimension perpendicular to the primary direction of travel. Figure 99-Thi s illu stration of a n e lectrical connection show s th e requirements for campground utilities. Figure 100--The clear space for utilities can overlap at campsites. Water Hydrants Water hydrants, including water faucets on posts and handpump s are th e outdoor devices from which people obtain drinkin g water. The opening where th e water discharges is called a water spout. Locate water spouts between 28 inches (710 millimeters) and 36 inches (915 millimeters) above the ground or floor surface on th e edge of a clear space that is at least 72 inches (1 ,830 millimeters) by 48 inches (1 ,220 mil- limeters). This clear space must be loc ated with its lon g side adjoining (and may ove rlap) an outdoor recreation access route , trail, beach access route , or anoth er clear ground space. Thi s permits a forward or parallel approach to the water spout and allows eno ug h room for someone in a wheelchair to turn around and leave. Locate water spouts 11 inches (280 67 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines millimeters) minimum and 12 inches (305 millimeters) maxi- mum from the rear center of the long side of the clear space. The requirements for the surface and slope of the clear space are the same as for other utilities. If the water hydrant is an unusual design with the handle and spout on different sides of the post, be sure that people can access both sides. In addition, if drainage grates are pro- vided, ensure that the openings in the grates comply with the outdoor recreation access route provision for openings. Fig- ure 101 illustrates these requirements. Standard handpump s require a force greater than 5 pounds (2.2 newtons) and a long reach to operate. Until hand - pumps that meet the accessibility standard for operating con- trols while adequately accessing the water supply are avai l- able from more than one so urce , handpump s are exempt from the requirements for reach ranges and operability in ABAAS, sectio ns 308 and 309.4. The Forest Service 's technology and deve lopment pro- gram has produced an accessible handpump that can be used when a well is 40 feet (12 meters) deep or less . This pump should be considered for new or replacement shallow well installations when the accessible pump meets the techni- cal specifications for the water supply. A deeper well pump is under development. Information about the commercially manufactured accessible handpumps (figure 102) is availab le on the Forest Service's internal computer network at <http:// fsweb.mtdc. wo.fs.fed.us/programs/eng/handpump.htm> or on the World Wide Web at <http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation /programs/ accessibility>. Clean water tests, energy efficiency, and accessibility compliance can be achieved at most location s using solar powered pumps. The Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota (see figure 18) and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in eastern Washington (figure 103) are among the forests that have successfully used solar pump syste ms for a number of years in campgrounds and picnic areas of all sizes. The water spout control for solar pumps easily can be designed to require 5 pounds (2.2 newton s) of pressure or les s using one closed fist (fig ure 104) to provides a sustain- able flow of accessible water. 68 Figure 101-The requirements for water hydrants. Figure 102-An accessible handpump deve loped by the Missoula Technology and Development Center. App lying the Forest Service Ou tdoor Re c r eation Accessibility Gu ide li nes Fi gure 103-Solar wa ter pumps and batteri es can be housed in small pedestal encl os ur es and powered by solar panel s on an adj ac ent pole . Figur e 104-A so lar pum p prov id es press ure for thi s wa ter spigot. A camper uses access ibl e co ntrols to fi ll his coffee pot. Outdoor Rin sing Showers Outd oor showers permit people to rin se off sand , dirt , and deb ris . They are not intended for bathin g. Th ey generally don 't offer privacy, an d people usuall y are not permitted to disro be when u sing them. If outdoor rin sing sh owers are provid ed in a recreation si te, provide at leas t one hand-held showe r spray unit with a hos e 59 inches (1 ,500 millimeters) lo ng minimum. The h an d-held sho wer spray mu st have at leas t on e fi xe d po sition located 15 inches minimum (380 millimeters ) and 48 inches (1 ,220 millimeters) maximum above the clear grou nd space . Becau se hand-held showerheads are vulnerable to vandal- ism and breakage, they are not a dura ble design choice for some recreati on site s. In th ese cases, provide a low shower acce ss ible to someone in a seated po sition and a high shower accessible to someone who i s standing (figure 105 ). Both showers mu st meet the clear floor and ground s pace and o ut- door re creation access route requirements that follow . For a low outdoor rin sing shower, mount a fixed showerhead 48 inches (1,220 millimeters) above the ground or floor. For a high outdoor rinsing shower, mount a fixed showerhead at leas t 72 in ches (1 ,83 0 mi lli meters) above the gro u nd or floor. If self-closing controls or operating mechanisms are u sed , the controls mu st remain open for at least 10 second s. Each acce ss ible outdoor rin sing shower must have a clear floor or ground space at least 60 inche s by 60 inche s (1 ,525 millimeters by 1,525 millimeters). Locate the clear space so that the shower pedestal or wall to which the showerhead is attached is at the center back of the clear space so that the water from the showerhead is directed toward the center of the clear space . The requirements for surface , slope , an d openings in the cl ear space are the same as for other utilitie s . Acce ss ib le outdoor ri sing showers mu st be connected to the area 's other major fe atures by an outdoor recreation access route . -~ ~---~ t -i =--~= -_f{-:_~ - -48" ---~-=---:: (12 20 mm) ----- ::... ~ J2" (1 830 mm)'""-- -__--: MIN ~-~--:: ,...__ --,..._ --- F igur e 105-The requirements fo r o utd oor rin sin g showers. 69 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Acce s sibility Gu idelines Utility Sinks A utility sink is deeper than a standard restroom ba s in or kitchen sink and can be used to clean large pots or equip- ment. Usually, utility sinks are provided only in highly developed recreation areas. If utility sinks are provided in a recreation facility that also contains a cook top or conven- tional range, at least 5 percent (but not le ss than 1) in each accessible room or space must comply with the following requirements. Utility sinks don't have to comply with the se requirements if they 're located in a space without a cook top or range. Ensure that the height of the counter or rim surrounding the utility s ink is not more than 34 inche s (865 millimeters) above the ground or floor s pace and that the bottom of the bowl is at least 15 inches (380 millimeters) above the ground or floor space. The requirements for surface, s lope , and open- ings in the clear space are the same as for other utilities. If hot water is provided, wrap or shield the pipe s to pre- vent someone from accidentally coming in contact with hot pipes. Ensure that sink controls and operating mechanisms comply with the technical requirements for reach ranges and operability specified in ABAAS, sections 308 and 309, and explained in "Reach Ranges and Operability Require ments" of this guidebook. Figure 106 illustrates these requirements. Figure 106-The requirements for utility sink s. Buildings in Recreation Sites Permanent buildings with wall s, roof, and a door at recreation areas must meet all the applicable provisions of ABAAS, as well as tho se of other applicable building codes. 70 However, so me buildin gs are only found in the outdoor recre- at ion environment, such as camp shelters and pit toilets. Acces- sibi lity requirements for those buildin gs are explained below. Camp Shelters Camp s helters are small structure s typically enclosed on three sides with a roof or overhang. They are often located on trails. Figure 107 s how s a typical camp shelter that provides some protection from the weather. Camp shelters aren't cab- in s. Cabins are typicall y fully enclosed and must co mply with ABAAS, section 806 for transient lod ging. Figure 107-The entrance to the Three Lakes camp she lt er at the Tongass National Forest is level with the ground. Ensure that each camp shelter meets the following require- ments, except in two circumstances. If a condition for an exception prohibits full compliance with a specific techni- cal requirement in FSORAG, section 6.1, the camp shelter only ha s to comply with the specific requirement to the exte nt practicable. When more than two camp s helters are gro up ed together in a camping unit , only 20 percent of them (but never le ss than two) are required to meet the requirements. For exam- ple, if five camp shelters are grouped, 20 percent is one s helter. Because of the minimum number required , however, this group must include at least two shelters th at meet the requirements. However, in a group of 15 shelters, 20 percent is 3 shelters. At the least, three shelters mu st meet the requirements. Remember that the requirements are minimum s, and the Forest Service commitment to uni versal design dictates that as many shelters as is practicable should meet the requirements. Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Co nn ec t camp she lte rs loc ated o n trail s to th e oth e r co n- stru cte d fea tures at th e s ite by a trail th at meets th e tec hni - ca l requi re me nt s in FSTAG . Conn ec t ca mp s he lte rs that ar e located in a ca mp gro und a nd a re not on a trail to oth e r con- structe d features in th e ca mpin g unit a nd to th e co mm on use fea tures that are prov id ed a t th e ca mp gro und , s uc h as to il ets, show e rs, water hydra nts, garbage rece ptacl es, par kin g spaces, and beach access by an o utd oo r recreati o n access ro ute . Provide a clear floor or ground s pace at least 36 in c hes (915 mill imeters) by 48 in c hes (l ,22 0 millim e te rs) a t th e entrance to the c amp she lte r. Th e lo ng sid e of th e cl e ar fl oor or ground space mu st be parall e l to th e camp she lte r e ntra nce. On e full , uno bstru cted s id e of th e cl ear g round s pace mu st adj o in or overlap th e trail or outd oor recreati on ac cess ro ut e (as appli cable) or an ot her c lear ground space. Wh e n a co ndi - tion fo r an excepti o n prohibits full complian ce with th e cl ear ground req uire me nt , t he clear g round s pace only ha s to co m- ply to th e ex te nt prac ti ca bl e. En sure th at th e surface of t he c le ar floor o r ground space at th e o pe n e ntrance s id e of th e shelte r a nd th e floor of th e s helte r is firm , sta bl e, and does no t s lo pe more than 2 pe r- cent (1 :48) in any directi o n. However, wh e n th e s urface is unp aved or not built w ith board s, s lo pes 5 pe rcent (1:20) o r le ss are a ll owed if necessary for drain age. Wh e n th e flo o r at th e e ntra nce to th e c a mp she lte r is rai sed a bove th e ground , e ns ure th a t th e floor i s 17 in c hes (430 mill imete rs) minimum to 19 in che s (485 millim e te rs) max imum , hi g her th a n th e adj oinin g cl e ar s pace at th e ope n e ntr a nce side (fig ure 108). Thi s he ig ht mu st be ma inta in ed fo r a le ngth of at least 48 inc hes (1,220 millim e ter s) bes id e th e cl ear space so th at so meo ne us in g a wh eelch air or oth e r ass isti ve dev ice can transfer to th e fl oor of th e shelter. If th e camp she lte r has a leve l e ntry, pro vide a turn- in g s pace that is 60 inc hes ( 1,525 millim e ters) minimum in di a meter (see fi g ure 62) or is T-s ha ped wit h a minimum 60- by 36-in ch (1,525-by 9 15-mi ll im e te r) arm and a minimum 36-in ch (9 I 5-millim e ter) -w id e by 24 -in ch (610-m ill im e- te r) -long base (see fig ure 63) in s id e th e camp she lte r. Thi s require men t is th e same as A BA AS, sect io n 304 .3 . The cl ear s pace an d turn in g space a ll ows so meo ne us in g a wheelch air or oth e r assis ti ve dev ice to a pproach and mo ve a bout th e camp she lte r. Fi g ure 108-The e ntrance to th e Hun ter S tati o n ca mp she lte r at th e All eg h- e ny Nationa l Fo rest is raised a bove the gro un d. Th e floor s urface w ithin th e can1p shelter mu st be fir m a nd sta bl e a nd mu st not slop e mo re than 2 pe rcent (1 :48) in an y direc tion . If a me nities s uc h as tables or wood stoves are prov id e d in camp she lter s, th ey mu st meet the re quire me nt s of FSORAG , secti o n 5. Toilet Buildings and Pit Toilets Toi le t buildin gs are provided for visitor conve ni e nce a nd co mfort in recreati o n site s th at meet th e c riteri a fo r leve l 3 o r hi gher o n the rec reati o n s ite developme nt scale . Va ult to il e ts, flu sh to il ets, or compo stin g to il e ts are ty pical at the se sites . R egard less of th e was te di s posa l sys te m or design of th e buildi ng, make sure th ey meet th e requirements of AB AA S . Sp ec ifica ll y, toil e t buildin gs at dev eloped recreation s ites with onl y on e ri ser mu st compl y w ith th e re quireme nt s fo r to il e t roo m s ize and clearances in section 603 of AB AA S a nd wi th the re quire me nt s for toil et seats, grab bars, contro ls, a nd d is pe nsers in secti o ns 604.4, 604 .5 , 604 .6 , and 604.7 of AB AAS. Toi let buildings with multiple ri sers mu st co mpl y with a ll of section 604 of ABAAS . If washin g sinks, s howers, o r oth er ameniti es are prov ide d in toi le t buildings, o r se par ate ch a ng in g or shower buildin gs, th ey mu st al so compl y with th e a pp ro priate secti o ns of ABAAS . Wh e n designjn g toil et buildin gs, be c areful not to confu se th e require me nt s for toi let sta ll s w ith tho se fo r sin g le ri ser to ilet room s. Pit toilets are located in rem ote areas . They are pro - vided primari ly for resource protection , rather than for visitor 7 1 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Gui d elines convenience and comfort . Pit toilets are primitive outhouses that may consist simply of a hole dug in the ground covered by a toilet riser (figure 109). The pit toilet riser may or may not be surrounded by walls and may or may not have a roof. Pit toilets may be permanent installations or they may be moved from one location to another as the hole is filled or the area has become overused . Waste disposal in pit toilets may be directly into the ground (pit) or may include moldering or composting processes . Figure 109-A fibergla ss ri ser for a pit to il et in the Boundary Water s Canoe Area. Do not confuse pit toilets with toilet buildings . Pit toilets are only provided in low development areas where it has been determined that they are necessary for resource or environmental protection. Pit toilets are never appropriate in a Forest Service recreation site with a development scale level of 3 or higher. Ensure each pit toilet meets the following requirements and is connected to the area's other major constructed fea- tures by an outdoor recreation access route. Connect pit toilets that are provided on trails to the area's other major constructed features by a route that complies with the trail specifications rather than an outdoor recreation access route . The design of pit toilets varies widely depending on the setting , the amount of expected use, and the sys tem used to manage the waste . If an accessible pit toilet has wall s, a floor, 72 a door, or a roof, the se components must comply with the appropriate provisio ns of ABAAS as follow s. If the pit toilet h as a ri ser and toilet seat, ensure that the total height of that seat and the riser it re sts on is 17 to 19 inches (430 to 485 millimeters) above the ground or floor. If the pit toilet has lightweight privacy screens or has no wall s, ensure that the ri ser has vertical or nearly vertical sides and a flat area on each si de of the seat that is about 3 inches (75 millimeters) wide. For pit toilets with lightweight privacy screens or no wall s, provide a clear floor or ground space that is at least 60 inches (1 ,525 millimeters) wide and 56 inches (1,420 mil- limeters) deep . Of the required width of clear floor space, ensure that only 16 to 18 inches (405 to 455 millimeters) is on one side of the centerline of the ri ser ; the rest must be on the other side. The depth of the clear space is measured from the back of the ri ser and extends in front of the riser (figure 110). If these clear sp ace requirements can 't be met due to a condition for an exemption , then the clear space must meet the techni cal requirements to the extent practicable. If there are sturdy walls around the p it toilet riser, stan- dard ri ser dimen sion s, placement, and grab bars are required as shown in ABAAS , sections 603 , 604 , and 609. Grab bar size, strength , fini sh , and position requirements are explained in "Grab Bars" of thi s guidebook . Grab bars mu st comply with the reach ranges required in ABAAS , section 308 , and explained in "Reach Ranges and Operability Requirements" of this guidebook. As required in ABAAS , section 604 .5, grab bars for toilets mu st be installed in Fi gure 110-Th e requi rement s fo r clear space at an un enclo sed toilet. Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines a horizontal position , 33 to 36 inches (840 to 915 millimeters) above the finished floor, measured to the top of the gripping surface. Ensure the grab bar beside the riser is at least 42 inches (1,065 millimeters) long, is located no more than 12 inches (305 millimeters) from the wall behind the toilet, and extends at least 54 inches (1,370 millimeters) from the rear wall. The grab bar behind the riser must be at least 36 inches (915 mil- limeters) long and extend from the centerline of the water closet at least 12 inche s (305 millimeters) on the side closest to the side wall grab bar and at least 24 inches (610 millime- ters) on the other side (figure 111). 12" (_305 mm) MAX f 33" TO 36" (840 TO 915 mm) ~ 36" (915 mm) MIN 12" \(305 mm) j MIN Figure 111 -The gra b bar placement requirements for pit toilets enclosed by walls. For pit toilets enclosed by walls, make sure the back of the riser is against the wall behind the riser. Provide a clear floor space that is at least 60 inches (1,525 millimeters) wide and 56 inches (1,420 millimeters) deep around the toilet. Of the required width of clear floor space, ensure that only 16 to 18 inches (405 to 455 millimeters) on one side of the centerline of the ri ser, and the rest is on the other side. Provide turning space of at least 60 inches (1,525 millime- ters) in diameter or T-shaped with a minimum 60-by 36-inch (1,525-by 915-millimeter) arm and a minimum 36-inch (9 15-millimeter) -wide by 24-inch (610-millimeter) -long base. Thi s requirement is the same as ABAAS, section 304.3. Portions of the turning s pace may overlap the toilet clear floor space (fig ure 112 ). T 60" (1525 mm) MIN Figure 112-The requirements for a T-s haped turning space for a pit toilet enclosed by walls. When there are walls, ensure doorways or wall open- ings that provide entrance to the toilet have a minimum clear width of32 inches (8 15 millimeters), in compliance with ABAAS , section 404.2.3 . Door swings must not obstruct the clear floor space inside the pit toilet. Doors that open out or slide use space efficiently to provide the required inte- rior clear space, but they are not allowed to block the access route to the building . Ensure door hardware , such as handles , Do not use grab bars with privacy screens. Lightweight privacy screens are sometimes provided for pit toilets in remote general forest areas. Screens may be provided in areas where vegetation or terrain doesn't provide enough privacy but where walls or sturdier enclosures would significantly change the recreational setting or adversely impact significant natural features or where it is difficult and expensive to pack in convention- al construction materials. These screens may be made from tent fabric or other lightweight materials and have only enough structural strength to stay upright. Never attach grab bars to privacy screens. Screens do not have enough strength to support a 250-pound (1,112-newton) load on the grab bars. Instead, position the screens outside the clear area required around the toilet to allow unobstructed access to the toilet area. 73 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Edge protection may be used for inclines in outdoor recreation environments. Edge protection is a raised curb, wall, railing, or other structure that defines the edge of a travel surface and helps keep people on the travel surface. Edge protection is not required for accessibility, and it is not usually desirable in outdoor environments. However, edge protection may be desirable for safety or other reasons, it should be a little higher in an outdoor envi- ronment than in an urban environment. It isn't as easy to see or detect objects near the ground in an outdoor environment, so edge protection curbs should be at least 3 inches (76 millimeters) high (see figure 46). pulls, latches, and lock s, complies with the technical require- ments for reach ranges and operability s pecified in ABAAS sections, 308 and 309 and exp lained in "Reach Ranges and Operability Requirements." Whether the pit toilet has walls or not , make sure the slope of the turning space and the clear floor or ground space does not exceed l :48 (2 percent) in any direction. When the surface is unpaved or not built with board s, grades 1:33 (3 percent) or les s in any direction are allowed if required for proper drainage. Provide a surface that is furn, stable, and made from material appropriate to the setting and level of inches wide, and not more than a I: 12 (8.33 percent) slope to the extent practicable . If an inclined connection meeting these requirements isn 't practicable because of a condition for excep- tion, steps are permitted-but only as a last resort. Provide a landing at least 60 inches by 60 inches (l,220 millimeters by 1,22 0 millimeters) outside the entrance door to the toilet struc- ture. Because it is an outdoor recreation environment, make sure the inclined surface is furn and stable. It doe s n't have to be slip-resistant, and handrails aren't required . Getting to the Water-Beach Access Routes Beach access routes allow pedestrians to get across the beach so they can play, sw im , or participate in other beach- related activities. A beach access route is a continuous unob- structed path that crosses the surface of the beach and provides pedestrian access to the water. Section 3 of FSORAG explains the requirements for beach access routes. Becau se beach access routes and outdoor recreation access routes perform similar functions , the requirements are similar. Beaches are grouped into three general type s: • Tidal beaches (figure 1 13) • River beaches (fig ure 114) • Lake , pond , and reservoir beaches (fig ure 115) Beach access routes must extend from an outdoor recre- ation access route or other beach entry point to the high tide development. When there is a condition for an exception that level at tidal beaches , mean high water level at river beaches, prohibits full compliance with the slope or s urface require-and the normal recreation water level at lake , pond , and reser- ments, they only have to be met to the extent practicab le. voir beaches. Locate the entrance to each pit toilet at ground level wher-Beach access routes are required when dune crossings, ever possible. For in stance, composting and moldering toilets stairways, or ramps leading from boardwalks to the beach have a "basement" area where waste is processed. The need to are constructed or altered; when parking facilities, pede s- service the area under the riser may make it difficult to provide trian routes, toilet facilities or bathing facilities that serve a ground level entrance to the toilet. In other areas, surface the beach are constructed or altered ; or when a beach nour- bedrock, permafrost, or other ground conditions make it dif-ishment project is undertaken. They mu st coincide with or ficult to dig a pit. In situatio ns where the pit toilet is elevated be located in the same area as other pedestrian access to the above the ground surface, make sure any inclined access from beach. Employ universal des ign wherever po ss ible so that all the conn ecting outdoor recreation access route or trail to the visitors use the same route to get to the water (figure 116). entrance of the toilet structure is furn and stable, at least 36 74 Figure 1 13 -The hi gh tide level at a coastal beach . Figure 11 4-The mean hi gh water level at a river. Figure 115-The norma l recreatio n water level at a lake . Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Figure 11 6---Everybody ough t to be able to get to the beach. When beach access routes are req uired , provide them for each half mile of man ag ed shoreline. However, the number of beach access route s doesn 't have to exceed the number of pedestrian beach access poi nts that are provided . Beach access ro ute s are not required where pedestrian access to the beach is not allowed. Beach access route s associated with beach nour- ishment projects are only required up to an expenditure of 20 percent of the costs of the beach nourishment project. Re movable beach access routes can be moved to a pro- tected storage area during storm s and other period s when the route s are s ubject to damage. Removable beach access routes are not requ ired to comply with the s lope and resting interval technical req uirements. Use temporary beach access route surfaces as necessary where restrictive permits are required in coastal and shoreline areas where seasonal tides or high flow s would remove a permanent structure , or in areas where the beach erodes or builds up each season, quickly turning a permanent beach access route into a hazard. Vehicular access or acce ss prov ided by an assistive device isn't an acceptable temporary beac h access route. 75 Applying the Fore st Service Ou tdoor Recreation Accessi bility Guideli ne s I Deeign 11p Extend beach access routes to a reasonable point on the beach. Access to the water at tidal beaches will vary con- siderably depending on geographic locations because the difference between low and high tides will vary from place to place. For example, a beach in Alaska may experience tidal differences of up to 30 feet (9 meters); beaches in Florida will have much smaller differences between the tides. The high tide mark is a reasonable location to stop constructed features; they are much more likely to wash out below this point. The same general guidance applies to mean high water level at rivers and the normal recreation water level at lake s. In some locations, it may make sen se to continue the beach access route below the mean high water level or normal recreation water level. In locations with significant variations in water level through the recreation season, visitors appreciate extended access routes where they can be constructed (figure 117). Fi gure 117-Some beach acce ss route s are partly inundated every year. 76 Exceptions to the Guidelines That Apply to Beach Access Routes When a condition for an exception prohibits full com- pliance with a specific technical requirement on a portion of a beach access route , that portion of the beach acces s route mu st still comply with the requirement to the extent practicable . (See "Using the Conditions for an Exception in FSORAG.") Document the reason that full compliance wasn 't achieved and file it with the project record s for the con struc- tion or alteration project. Notifying the U.S. Access Board About Exemptions Infrequently, an entire beach acces s route mu st be exempted from the technical requirements because extreme or numerou s condition s for exemption s make it impractical to provide a route that meets the requirements. In the se case s, document the reason for the exemption , the date of the deci sion, and the names of the individual s who made the deci sion. Retain documentation with the record s for the con struction or alteration project. Notify the U .S . Acce ss Board of the determination and the rea son for that deci sion. Contact information for the U.S . Access Board is available at <http ://www.access -board.gov/> The U.S . Access Board has drafted a form th at may be used to document and submit an exemption deci sion . The form will be avail a ble at <http://www.access-board.gov /outdoor/> when the U .S . Acces s Board final guidelines are publi shed. Surface and Clear Tread Width on Beach Access Routes A beach access route mu st have a firm, stable surface , and have a clear tread width of 60 inche s (1,525 millimeters) minimum. Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Slopes and Resting Intervals for Beach Access Routes Running slope , also referred to as "grade," is the len gth- wise slope of a beach access route, parallel to the direction of travel. Sections of beach access route of any length are allowed to have a running slope ratio of up to 1 :20 (5 per- cent grade) (see figure 37). Steeper terrain may make this slope difficult to achieve. Many visitors can negotiate steeper slopes for short distances , so running slopes up to 1: 12 (8 .33 percent) are permitted for up to 50 feet (15 meters), and run- ning slop es of up to 1: 10 (10 percent) are permitted for up to 30 feet (9 meters). To ensure that the beach access route isn't designed as a series of steep segments, no more than 15 per- cent of the total length of the beach access route may exceed a slope of 1: 12 (8.33 percent), as shown in table 4 . Cross slopes-the side-to-side slope of a beach access route-are not allowed to exceed 1:33 (3 percent, see figure 37). When the surface is paved or is built with boards, the cross slop e is not allowed to be steeper than 1 :48 (2 percent). Re sting intervals are relatively level areas that provide an opportunity for people to catc h their breath before continu- ing along the beach access route . These intervals are required between each segment of the beach access route any time the runnin g slope exceeds 1 :20 (5 percent). A resting interval mu st be at least 60 inches (1,525 millimeters) by 60 inches (1,525 millimeters). The slopes of a resting interval are not allowed to exceed 1:33 (3 percent) in any direction. When the surface is paved or is built with boards, the slope is not allowed to be stee per than 1 :48 (2 percent) in any direction. Tread Obstacles on Beach Access Routes Tread obstacles on a beach access route must not be more than 1 inch (25 millimeters) high. When the surface of the beach access route is paved or is built with board s, tread obstacles must not be more than a half of an inch (13 mil- limeters) high . Where possible , ensure obstacles on beach access routes are separated by at least 48 inches (1,220 milli- meters) so people who use wheelchairs can maneuver around the obstacles. Openings in Beach Access Routes Openings are gaps in the surface of a beach access route. Gaps include spaces between the planks on a boardwalk and drainage hole s in temporary or permanent surfaces. Open- ings that are big enough to allow wheels, cane or crutch tips, or shoe heels to drop through or get stuck are hazard s that shouldn't exist in pedestrian routes. Opening s up to a half of an inch (13 millimeters) wide are permitted. Place elongated openings more than a quarter of an inch wide with the long dimension perpendicular or diagonal to the primary direction of travel (see figure 44). 1 :12 (8.33 percent) 1: 10 (10 percent) 30 feet (9 meters) 17 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Protruding Objects on Beach Access Routes Outdoor accessibility guidelines define protruding objects as constructed features s uch as signs that extend into the clear width area of an beach access route or rest- ing interval that are betwee n 27 inches (685 millimeters) and 80 inche s (2,030 millimeters) above the travel s ur- face. Do not allow constructed features to extend more than 4 inches (100 millimeters) into the clear width area (see figure 45). Constructed features that extend into the travel way of a beach access route from the side or from overhead can be hazardou s to people who are paying more attention to their companions than the travel route, as well as to people who are blind or have low vision. Accessibility guidelines do not consider natural ele- ments such as tree branches and rock formation s to be pro- trudin g objects. Provide and maintain clearance from natural elements around beach access routes in accordance with your unit's standards; keep in mind overhanging hazards to people who are blind or have low vision or are not focused on the route ahead . Elevated Dune Crossings An elevated dune crossing with a slope th at exceeds 1 :20 (5 percent) that is part of a beach access route mu st ~ have handrail s and edge protection (figure 118 ). Locate ~ handrail s continuously along both sides of the dune cross- ~ \!) in g at a height of 34 inche s (8 65 millimeters) to 38 inches (965 millimeters) above the walking surface. Ensure the handrail s are easy to grip and comply with all the other requirements in ABAAS , section 505 . Provide a curb or barrier directly under the handrail that would prevent a 2-inch (50-millimeter) s phere on, or up to 2 inches (50 millimeters) above, the dune crossing surface fro m rolling under the handrail. The clear width of elevated dune cross- ing s ma y be narrower than the re st of the beach access route , but mu st be at least 48 inches (1 ,220 millimeters). Resting intervals are not required on elevated dune cross- ings . Consider including re sting interval s similar to those for outdoor recreation access routes if the elevated cross- ing is steeper than 1 :20 (5 percent). 78 Figure 118-The requirem ents fo r width , handrail s, and edge pro tectio n on an elevated beac h access route. Gates and Barriers on Beach Access Routes If gate s or barriers are constructed to contro l access to beach access routes , include openings wide enough to allow hiker pass age. Refer to the FSORAG for th e technical provi sion s for gates and barriers. These requirements are also ex plained in "Getting From Here to There-Outdoor Recreation Access Route s" of this guidebook. ----·· Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines Notes 79 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines 1 BO Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines T he first step in applying the Forest Service Trail s Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG) is to know when and where compliance is required. Section 7 .0 "Appli- cation" states that FSTAG applies to trails in the National For- est System that meet all three of the following criteria: • The trail is new or altered. • The trail has a "Designed U se" of "Hiker/Pede strian " as defined in the Federal Trail Data Standards . • The trail connec ts either directly to a trailhead or to a trail that meet s most of the accessibility requirement s. FSTAG doesn 't apply to existing trails unles s there is a change in the purpo se , intent , or function of the trail-an alteration , in other words. It doesn 't apply to trail s designed for all-terrain vehicle (ATV), eque strian , or an y other non- pedestrian use. FSTAG only applie s to trails that have been designed for "Hiker/Pedestrian" use in accordance with the Federal Trail Data Standards (FTDS). Information a bout FTDS is available at <http ://www.np s.gov/gi s/trail s/>. FSTAG doesn 't prescribe different "levels of acce ssibil- ity" based on trail class or any other grouping criteria . FSTAG provides guidance for maximizing accessibility, while reco g- nizing and protecting the unique characteristics of the natural setting , level of development, and purpose of each trail. Cost is not a valid reason for failing to make a trail accessible. (See BUDGET TIP-Extra cost is not an excu se ., page 31.) FSTAG won 't apply to mo st portion s of existing opportunities to hi ghl y developed interpretive trail s, po pular scenic ov erlook s, and more remote area s will be option s fo r every one (fi g ure 119). Fi gure 119-Compli ance with th e trai l access ibili ty guid elin es allows everyo ne to enj oy hilcin g. Trails Are Not Outdoor Recreation Access Routes An o utdoor re creation access route is a continuou s, unob stru cted path de sig nated for pedestrian use that co nn ect s pedestri an elements within a recreation site , such as a pi cnic area , camping are a, or trailhead . In contras t, a trail is defi ned for purpo ses of Fore st Service Outdoor Rec reation Ac ces- sibility Guideline s (FSORAG) and FSTAG as a route th at is primitive, long-distance trail s. It may, however, apply to new de signed , constructed, or de signated for recreational pedes - segments that pass through developed areas. FSTAG recog-trian use o r provided as a pede strian altern ative to vehi cul ar nizes , however, that there is no real benefit in making a newly routes within a tran sportation system . A trail is not an out- constructed or altered trail in the backcountry acce ss ible if door re cre ation ac cess route and is not s ubject to th e req uire- the only wa y to get to it i s by using an existing trail that isn 't ments fo r outdoor recreation acce ss routes found in sectio n accessible and probabl y can 't be made accessible. 2 .0 of FSORAG . Thi s guidebook explain s the ac cess ibility By applying FSTAG, you will en sure that the full range requirement s for trail s de signed for hiker and pede stri an use . of trail opportunities continues to be provided . Hiking 81 Applying t he Fo r es t Service Trails A cce ssibility Guidelines Trail Terminology Although this guidebook explains requirements in plain la nguage, some phrases and words are important to under- standing how FSTAG is applied. The following terminology isn't organized alphabetically; the phrases and words are grouped so that the distinctions between similar terminology are easy to understand. 82 Federal Trail Data Standards (FTDS) enab le national-, regional-, State-, and trail-level managers , and the public , to use mutually understood terminology for recording, retrieving, and applying spatial and tabular information. FTDS make it easier for trail in formation to be accessed, exchanged, and used by more th an one individual , agency, or group. The data standards are availab le at <http://www.nps.gov/gis/trails/Doc2/Federal_Trail _Data_Standards_Final_201 l1108.pdf. Designed Use is the "Managed Use" of a trail that requires the most demanding design , constructio n, and maintenance parameters. In co njun ction with the applica- ble "Trai l Class ," designed use determines whic h design parameters will apply to a trail. It is an FTDS term for the intended use that contro ls the geometric design of a trail and determines the leve l to which it should be main- tained. There is only one "Designed Use" per trail or trail segment. Although the trail may be actively managed for more than one use , the designed use determines the tech- nical specifications for the trail. For example, pack and sadd le stock require higher and wider clearances than do hikers, so a trail managed for both foot travel and horse use wou ld have a designed use of "Pack and Saddle" rather than "Hiker/Pedestrian ." More information about trail design parameters for the different designed uses is in Forest Service Tra il Design Parameters , availab le at <http://www.fs.fed .us/recreation/programs/trail -management/trail-fundamentals/> or available to Forest Service e mploy ees at <http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/rhwr/ibsc /docs/trails/national_design_parameters_2008-l 0-16.doc>. Managed Use is an FTDS term for the mode(s) of trave l for which a trail is actively managed . Managed Uses are the specific types of trail use th at are allowed by manage- ment decision or intent on a specific trail or portion of a trail. Each trail or trail segment may have more than one "Managed Use." For exa mpl e, a trail may be managed for both equestrian and hiker/pedestrian use in the sum- mer and for cross-country skiing in the winter. Constructed Features are commonly fou nd alo ng trails or as part of trails. • Associated Constructed Feature-A co nstructed element associated with a trail that provides sup - port for trail users but is not a part of the trail tread. Example s include camp shelters, pit toilets, fire rings, picnic tables , and tent pads . Refer to FSORAG for the technical provisio ns for associated constructed feature s. Trail Constructed Feature-A constructed feature that functions as part of the trail tread. Examples include pun- cheon , trail bridges , boardwalks, waterbars, and switch- backs. For a listing of trail co nstructed features, refer to the trail documentation avai lable at <http://www.fs.fed .us/recreation/programs/trail-management/index.shtml> or available to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Man- agement employees at <http://fsweb.wo .fs.fed.us/rhwr /ibsc/tr-cost.shtml>. A trailhead (for purposes of FSORAG and FSTAG) is a site designed and developed by the Forest Service or other Government age ncy, a trail association , trail main- taining club , trail partner, or other cooperators to provide a staging area for a trail. For purposes of FSTAG, trailhead s are not: • Junctions between trails where there is no other access • Intersection s where a trail crosses a road or where users have developed an access point, but no improve- ments are provided by the Forest Service, trail associ- atio ns, trail maintaining clubs, trail partners, or other cooperators beyond minim al markers or modifications for health and safety Trail classes broadly orga ni ze trails by desired man- ageme nt characteristics a nd th e level of development. They are based on forest plan direction and represent intended design and management standards. Trail classes take into account user preferences, the setti ng, protec- tion of sensitive resources, and management activities. Trail classifications range from Trail Class 1 trails that appear little different from animal path s and may di sap - pear intermittently, to Trail Class 5 trails that are usually wide , paved path s associated with highly developed envi- ronments. FSTAG does not change Forest Service trail classes. More information about trail classes is available at <http://www.fs .fed.us/recreation/programs /trail-management/trai l-fundamentals/>. Setting is the word used to describe the nature of the Applying the Fore st Service Trails Accessibilit y Guidelines washouts , installin g riprap to retain cut and fill s lop es, and constructing retaining walls or crib- bing to support trail tread <? Performing erosion control and drainage work, such as replacing or installing drainage dips or cul verts, and realigning sectio ns of trail to prevent erosion or to avoid boggy areas <? Repairin g or replacing deteriorated, damaged , or vandalized trail or trailhead structures or parts of structure s, including sec tion s of bridges, board- walks, information kiosks, fencing, and railings; painting ; and removing graffiti surroundings of a trail. On public land s outside rural While FSTAG doesn't apply to maintenance, Forest Ser- and urban setting s , the natural s urroundings are usu-vice policy is to improve accessibility wherever the oppor- ally the primary attraction for visitors . Improvements, tunity arises, includin g during trail maintenance and repair such as trails, should not adversely affect the setting . For activitie s . Every time a trail is maintained, there is an oppor- example, the desi gn for a trail crossing a glacial boulder tunity to improve access . field must protect the geo logic feat ures. Accessibility is The word "recon struction " is not used in Federal acces- incorporated to th e extent pos si ble without fundamen-sibility guidelines or FSTAG, even thou gh the term is used tally altering the natural environment. On the other hand , frequently by the trail s community. For the purposes of a trail de signed for a wide open, relatively level area FSTAG , actions are categorized as construction , alteration , or should follow the requirements of FSTAG to the hi ghest mainten ance. degree possible. The following words describe constructi on and mainte- nance work: • Construction is building a new trail or segment of trail where there was no trail before. • An alteration is work done to change the purpose, intent, or function of the trail. • Maintenance is the routine or periodic repair of existing trail s or trail segments to restore them to the standards or conditions to which they were originally de signed and built. Mainten ance doe s not change the original purpose , intent, or function for whic h the trail was designed . Trail maintenance work is n't covered by the FSTAG . Maintenance includes : <? Removin g debris and vegetation, such as fallen trees or broken branche s on the trail s, clearing the trail of encroaching bru sh or grasses, and removing rock slides <? Maintainin g trail tread , s uch as filling ruts , reshap in g a trail bed , repairing a trail surface or What do you call a reroute? If trai l work is grouped into only three categories- construction, alteration, and maintenance-what category do things like rerouting , recon struction , and extensions of existing trails fall into ? The key to answering thi s question is to concentrate first on the definition of alteration. Does the new work change the purpose, intent , or function of the trail? In other words, will the trail serve a new de stination? Will the trail's designed use change from horses to hikers, for example, after you're done ? Are you sig nificantly changing the overall trail grade, width, or s urface, or adding bridges where the trail used to ford strea ms or rivers? If the work doesn 't fit the definition of altera- tion, it's either cons truction (if there was no trail there before) or maintenance. 83 Applying the Fore st Service Trails Accessibi lity Guid elines Trail Construction Techniques Conditions for an exception are not blanket exemption s Information that is already available to Forest Service from all of the technical requirements for an entire trail. If employees is not repeated in this guidebook. The "Trail Con-a condition for an exception occurs only on part of the trail struction and Maintenance Notebook" includes practical tech -or trail component, the technical requirement applie s every- niques used to construct and maintain trail s. Written for trail where else . All technical requirements not affected by the crew workers , it is intended to be taken alon g on work projects. condition for an exception also apply. Thi s requirement i s Numerous illustrations help explain the main points. The note-explained in "General Exceptions in FSTAG ." book is at <http://www.fh wa.dot.gov/environment/fspub s/0723 The conditions for an exception cover all the impor- 2806/index .htm>. tant elements of a long-distance trail and the aspects that are The publication "Wetland Trail Design and Construction " considered when locating trail segments , but they shouldn 't describes materials and techniques used to con struct trails in be used as an excuse or loophole for failing to make trail s wetland s. Written primarily for workers who are inexperi-accessib le. Rather, they are to be used when all other de sign enced in wetland trail con struction , it may al so be helpful for options have been thoroughly explored and a deterrnina- experienced workers. Techniques suitable for wilderness set-tion ha s been made that full compliance with the technic al tings and for more developed setting s are included as well as requirements would unacceptab ly alter the nature of the expe- numerou s drawings to illu strate important points . The publi- cation is available at <http ://www.fs .fed .us/eng/pub s /htrnl/07232804.html> or <http ://www.fhwa .dot.gov /environment/fspub s/07 232804/index .htm>. Standard Forest Service trail specifications are availab le at <http ://www.fs.fed .us/database/acad/dev/trail s/trail s.htm>. Conditions for an Exception in FSTAG FSTAG is based on the realities of the outdoor environment and recognizes that complying with acces sibility provisions is not always practicable becau se the natural terrain , existing vegetation , or other constraints impose limitations in some loca- tions. To ensure that the unique characteristi cs of the outdoor environment and trail recreation opportunities aren 't compro- mised or fundamentally altered , exceptions and deviations from some technical requirements are permitted when certain cir- cumstances , called conditions for an exception , apply. The followi ng paragraphs explain the four conditions for an exception identified in section 7 .1 of the FSTAG. Circum- stances under which deviation s from the technical require- ments are allowed based on the condition s for an exception differ depending on the setting. The four condi tion s for an rience the visitor is seeking or un acceptably impact feature s that are protected by law . The wording of each exception is brief. General exam- ples for eac h exception are provided to help explain the intent of the condi tion s so that designers understand how to apply them according to the site-specific con straints and opportuni- ties of their projects . Condition for an Exception 1. Where compliance with the technical requirement is not practicable due to terrain (figure 120). exception are the basis for permitting devi ation s from specific Fi g ure 120-Compliance with th e technic al requ ireme nt s on th e tra il to Han g in g Lake at the White Ri ver National Forest is no t practi ca bl e du e to th e technical requirements when allowed by General Exception 1 extre me slope of the terrain . or General Exception 2 , as explained in "General Exceptions inFSTAG." 84 The phrase "is not practicable" in this condition for an exception refers to something that isn't reasonable, rather than to something that is technically impractical. The inten t of this condition is that the effort and resources required to comply shouldn't be disproportionately high relative to the level of access established. Condition for an Exception 2. Where compliance with the technical requirements would fundamentally alter the function or purpo se of the facility or the setting . Public lands provide a wide variety of recreational expe- riences , from highly developed areas that offer plenty of con- veniences and opportunities to rel ax with family and friends , Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines to wilderness areas that appear unchanged from primeval times and provide opportunitie s for individuals to experience primitive and challenging conditions. FSTAG recognizes the va lu e of the full range of recreational opportunities by allow- ing deviations from the technical requirements where compli- ance would unac ceptably change the nature of the recreation opportunities or conflict with the land and the resource man- agement plan for the area. People using primitive trails, for example, experience the outdoor environment in a nearly natural state, with limited or no development. In these settings, people generally desire challenge an d risk so they can use their outdoor skills. Use of manufactured building material s or engineered construc- tion techniques to comply with accessibility provisions could What's practicable? Using heavy construction equipment, it may be pos sible to provide a trail with a maximum 1:20 (5 percent) grade up a 1,500-foot (460-meter) mountain (figure 121). However, the trail would be about three times as long as under a traditional back-country layout (figure 122). The len gth of the trail could cause inappropriate environmental and visual impacts and more than triple the amount of ground disturbed. It wouldn't be practicable to construct a trail in compli- ance with technical accessibility requirements . Figure 121-A trail with a 5-percent grade on a steep hill. Figure J 22-A traditional trail layout for a steep hill. 85 Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines destroy the natural or undeveloped nature of the setting and allowed if the equipment is essential to complete the construc- change the visitor's experience. FSTAG does not require that tion in that location . obstacles be blasted or trails paved to be more accessible if suc h activity would unacceptably change the character of the setting and the recreation opportunity. Consider a trail intended to provide a rugged experience, such as a cross-country training trail with a steep grade or a fit- ness challenge course with abrupt and severe changes in eleva- tion. If these trails were flattened out or otherwise constructed to comp ly with the techn ical accessibility requirements , they wouldn't provide the desired challenge for users . Trails that traverse boulders and rock outcroppings are another example. The purpose of these trai ls is to provide users with the opportu- nity to climb the rocks. To remove the obstacles along the way Condition for an Exception 4. Where compliance is precluded because the cu ltural , hi storic, or significant natural feature s are protected or are eligible for protec- tion under Federal , State, or local law by: • Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq .) • National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C . 4321 et seq .) • National Hi storic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.) • Wilderne ss Act (16 U.S.C . 1131 et seq.) • Other Federal, State, or local law (the purpose of or reroute the trail around the rocks would destroy the purpose which is to preserve threatened or endangered spe- of the trail. The nature of the setting also may be compromised cies; the environment; or archaeological, cultural, his- by actions s uch as widening a trail for an imported surface or torical, or other significant natural features) removing vegetation from fragile or erosive soils. Cultural feature s include archeological sites, burial Condition for an Exception 3. Where compliance with grounds and cemeteries , traditional cultural properties, tribal the technical requirements cannot be accomplished with protected sites, and other properties considered sac red by an the prevailing construction practices. organized religion . Hi storical features are properties listed or eligible for listing on the National Regi ster of Historic Places This condition for an exception may apply when the con-or other places of recognized historic value. Significant natural struction methods needed to comply with a technical require-features are objects that are regarded as distinctive or impor- ment would require the use of equipment or methods other tant locally, regionally, or nationally and, therefore, have been than those typically used in that setting . For instance, in an placed under legal protection, such as a large boulder or rocky area where small equipment is normally used to minimize impact on a sensitive adj acent stream, blasting might be nec- essary for rock removal to meet the technical width require- ment for a trail. Becau se blasting typicall y would not be used in this situation, this condition for an exception would apply. If the work could be done using small equipment, thi s condi- tion for an exception wouldn't apply. This condition for an exception is not intended to exempt the trail from the technical requirements of FSTAG simply because a trail builder 's favorite construction practice (such as the use of a large mechanical roller rather than a smaller vibrat- ing plate or "whacker" type compactor) is inappropriate or impractical. A contractor's or designer's preference for differ- ent equipment is not a prevailing construction practices iss ue. A deviation from a specific technical re quirement only can be 86 outcrop, body of water, or unique tree or vegetation such as a giant sequoia grove (figure 123). Areas that are le gally pro- tected include wilderness areas designated by Congress and areas protected under Federal or State laws, suc h as habitat for threatened or endangered species or designated wetlands. Situations wl!en this condition for an exception may apply include these examples: • Where use of mechanized equipment is prohibited by law , such as in wilderness areas designated by Con- gress, and work necessary to comply with a technical accessibility provision can't be accomplished using hand tool s • Where imported material s, s uch as so il sta bilizers, are prohibited to maintain the integrity of a natural eco- system or hi storic resources • Where construction methods and materials are strictly limited to protect designated wetlands or coastal areas • Where the phy sically undisturbed condition of the land is an important part of a sacred observance, such as at tribal sacred sites • Where water cro ss ings are restricted to safeguard aquatic feature s or species protected under Federal or State laws The Federal law s specified in Condition 4 prescribe cer- tain activities or require certain analyses or procedures to be followed when planning projects that may impact features protected under tho se laws. This condition for an excep- tion applie s when it is determined that the actions, required analyses , or other imp acts necessary to meet the technical requirements would directly or indirectly substantially harm the protected feature . Fig ure 123-The Long Meadow grove of giant seq uo ias is an exam ple of a signifi cant natural fe ature . Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines Determine the extent of impact. Only consider the additional impact of increasing the width, reducing the trail grade or cross slope, or other change required for accessibility. For example, consider a trail project that crosses a hill where a population of wildflowers of an uncommon species is growing. The surrounding river drainage and a nearby town are named for the plants. The trail construc- tion will destroy most of the flowers, as well as the seep-dampened hanging meadow that provides their habitat. Condition 4 wouldn't apply if 323 square feet (30 square meters) would be disturbed to construct a trail that is not accessible and only an additional 75 square feet (7 square meters) would be disturbed to construct a trail that meets the technical accessibility requirements. The majority of the proposed damage to the wildflowers i s not attributable to compliance with accessibility requirements. In this case, an alternate location should be selected for the trail. General Exceptions in FSTAG Some public land s are reasonably well suited for pedes- trian travel. Other public land s are rocky, soggy, exce ss ive ly steep , or otherwi se le ss well suited to casual foot traffi c. Two general exception s are provided in FSTAG, section 7 .2 to ensure that accessibility is provided to the extent appropriate to the setting where it will have the mo st benefit , be prac ti- cable, and provide a meaningful hiking opportunity. Document the basis for the determination that either of the general exceptions applie s to a trail or a portion of a trail and maintain the documentation with the record s of th e con - struction or alteration project. In addition , if General Exce p- tion 2 applies , send notification to the U.S . Acce ss Board . Documentation and notification requirements are expl ained in "Documenting Exceptions and Notifying the U .S . Acce ss Board about Exemption s" of thi s guidebook . 87 Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines General Exception 1 allows deviation s from the techni- cal requirements if a condition for an exception prohibits full compliance. It 's not a complete exemption from the provision, because it requires that the technical require- ment must still be met to the extent practicable. For instance, if Condition for an Exception 3 prohibits importing several ton s of stabilization material to ensure that the surface of a trail in a nonmotorized area will be firm and stable during the primary season(s) of use under normall y occurring weather conditions, you must still make sure the surface is as firm and stable as is practicable. For instance, if relocating a section of trail a few feet laterall y will achieve firmness and stability with native soil s during the dry por- tion of the season or even during part of the wetter season, you must relocate that section. Such measures are practicable and should be utilized . General Exception 1 only applies to the portion of the trail where the condition for an exception exists. On all other sections of the trail, ensure that technical requirements are met. All of the unaffected technical require- ments must be met for the full length of the trail , including the section where the condition for an exception prohibits full compliance with the particular technical requirement. Practi- cable means reasonable rather than technically possible . (See TERMINOLOGY TIP-What's practicable?, page 32.) Another example of the use of General Exception 1 is when construction of a trail appears to fall under Condition for an Exception 4, where compliance is not possible because the cultural , historic , or sig nificant natural features are pro- tected or are eligible for protection under Federal, State, or local law. For instance, consider a situation where a trail is needed between a stream with endangered aquatic spe- cies and a cliff with petroglyphs on it and yo u can't get the required trail width without either filling part of the stream 88 Compliance is required on both sides of a deviation from the technical requirements. Although accessible design is based on wheelchair dimen- sions, clear space, maneuvering room , and reach ranges , only 4 percent of people with disabilities use wheelchairs. The majority of people who have mobility limitations don't use a wheelchair. They either use no assistive devices or rely on crutches, canes, walkers, or braces. They may be able to get around or over an obstacle without too much difficulty. Although steep terrain may be difficult, it may be manageable for limited distances. Likewise, a person using a wheelchair might need assis- tance to make it up a steep grade (figure 124) or to get over an obstacle, but after that challenge, the individual can continue on the trail independently if the rest of the trail complies with the accessibility guidelines . Figure 124-Members of the Northeast Passage hiking team assist their teammate up a steep part of the Galehead Trail. She only needs assistance for a short distance. Photo credit: Northeast Passage, Durham, NH Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines or destroying some petroglyphs. A narrower trail would be length of the trail. This principle applies even if the planning allowed past the petroglyph s. However, the other technical period is several years long. Consider connected sections of requirements still apply to that stretch of trail and the technical trail that will be constructed or altered over several years, requirement for width still applies to all the rest of the trail. together. Do not consider unconnected segments of trail that are covered by the same planning process together, unless there General Exception 2 addresses extreme environmen- tal barriers that are effectively impassable and trails with numerous environmental barriers that can't be eliminated. These barriers can make the rest of the trail unre achable for many people with mobility limitation s. General Exception 2 may be considered only after apply- ing General Exception 1 so that the trail sections where full compliance with the technical requirements can't be achieved are identified. Then evaluate the entire trail comparing the trail sec tion s that can and can't meet the full technical requirements to determine whether it would be impracticable for the entire trail to comply with the accessibility requirements. The followi ng condition criteria have been accepted by the U.S . Access Board for identifying when extreme envi- ronmental barriers may exempt an entire trail from techni cal accessibility requirements : A combination of running slo pe and cross slope exceeds 1:2.5 (40 percent) for more than 20 feet (6 meters) (figure 125). • An obstacle 30 inches (760 millimeters) high or more crosses the full tread width of the trail (figure 126). • The surface of the trail is neither firm nor stable for a distance of 45 feet (14 meters) or more. • The tread width of the trail is 12 inches (305 milli- meters) or less for a distance of 20 feet (6 meters) or more . • 15 percent or more of the trail does not fully comply with the technical requirements. Some long-distance trails, such as the Continental Di vide, Pacific Crest, Appalachian , and Florida National Scenic Trails and the Nee-Me-Poo National Hi storic Trail, span many dis- tricts or forests. For these trails , only the length of trail planned for construction or alteration within the current planning period is considered when figuring the 15 percent, not the entire is a special circumstance where several segmen ts function together to access one attraction or serve one purpose. Figure 125-The combination of running slope and cross slope on the trail to Hanging Lake is so severe for such an extended distance that the entire trail was exempted from the technical requirements. Figure 126-The 33-inch (84 0-millimeter) rock face is an example of an extreme environmental barrier. 89 Applying the Forest Service Tra ils Accessibility Guidelines Short Hikes and Interesting Features Sometimes it makes se nse to provide a short section of trail meeting the technical requirements for accessibility o n a trail that would otherw ise be totall y exempted from the technical requirements under General Exception 2. Even if visitors can 't hike the en t ire trai l, a short hike may be enjoy- Here's an example of how the guidance on General Exception 2 can be used. Consi der the design for a new 1-mi le (1,600-meter) -long trail with a waterfall (an interesting fea- ture) abo ut 300 feet (91 meters) from the trailhead. Fifteen percent of 1 mil e (1,600 meters) is 792 feet (240 meters). Add together all the lengths of trail where technical requirements able (figure 127). If there are no uncorrectable environmental can't be met becau se of condi tion s for an exception. If the total barriers and few or no significant conditions requiring excep-length is more than 792 feet (240 meters), the trail wou ld be tions between the trailhead and the fir st extreme environ-eligib le for a total exemption from the technical requirements mental barrier, and that trail seg ment is at least 500 feet (152 of FSTAG. However, if there are no uncorrectable environ- meters) long, consider constructing that section of trail to mental barriers and few or no significant conditions req uirin g meet the technical requirements even though the rest of the trail is not accessible. Figure 127-A short hike on a trail that meets accessibility stand ards brings the family to a viewi ng platform next to Picture Lake at the Mt. Baker- Snoqualmie National Forest. A short section of trail is especially enjoyable if an inter- esting natural, cultural, or historic feature is located between the trailhead and the first extreme environmental barrier. The feature might be the focal point, main attraction, or destina- tion of the trail or it may simply be an interesti ng second- ary feature, s uch as a boulder outcrop, a waterfall, a group- ing of old or unique tree s, a cu ltura l or historic structure , a wildflower meadow , an area popu lar for wildlife viewing, or a vista. In such cases, hikers would appreciate you constructing the section of the trail leading to the prominent fea ture in com- pli ance with the technical accessib ilit y requirements. 90 exceptions between the trailhead and the waterfall, that sec- tion of trail should, in most cases, comply with the technical requirements even though the rest of the trail does not. Documenting Exceptions and Notifying the U.S. Access Board About Exemptions When a co nd ition for an exception prohibits full com- pliance with a specific technical requirement on a section of trail as allowed in General Exception 1, document the rea- son that full compliance wasn't achieved and file it with the project records for the trail co nstruction or alteration project. Include wh ich condition for an exception applies to the trail or seg ment of trail , the reason that it applies, the date the deci sio n that the exception app li es was made, and the names of the individuals who made the decision . Infreq uentl y, extreme or numerous conditions for exemp- tion s make it impracticable to provide a route that meets the requirements, so General Exception 2 allows exempting the entire trai l from the technical req uirements. In these cases, doc- ument the explanation of the co nditi ons that make it impracti- cable for the entire trail to comply. Retain the documentation with the records for that construction or alteratio n project. Notify the U.S. Access Board of the determination to exempt the entire trail. Contact information for the U.S. Access Board is availab le at <http://www.access-board.gov/>. The U.S. Access Board has drafted a form that may be used to document and submit an exemption decision. The form will be available at <http://www.access-board .gov/outdoor/> when the U.S. Access Board final guidelines are published. Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines Technical Requirements for Accessible Hiker/ not be suitable for every trail, which is why the deviation due Pedestrian Trails to the presence of a condition for an exception is permitted. Section 7.4 ofFSTAG exp lain s the accessibility req uire-Slip resistance is not required for trail s. Tree and shrub ments for trails, including trail surfacing, clear tread width , grade and cross slop e, resting intervals, passing spaces, tread obstacles, protruding objects, openings, and signs. All of these requirements are minimums. In th e spirit and intent of uni versal design, designers are encouraged to meet the hi ghest standards wherever it is practicable, given the specific natural constraints of the environment, the level of development, and other mana- gerial considerations. Trail puncheon s and trail bridges are included in the Forest Service definition of trail structures, so they mu st be constructed to meet the same requirements as the rest of the trail tread . In the following text, the word "trail" includes trail puncheons and trail bridges . Wheelchair dimensions, clear space, maneuvering room , and reach ranges found in Architectural Barriers Accessibility Standards (ABAAS) are the basis for trail designs that maxi - leaves and needle s, dirt , ice, snow, other s urface debris, and weather condition s are part of the natural environment and would be difficult , if not imposs ible , to avoid . FSTAG defin es a firm surface as one that resists defor- mation s by ind entations. (See DESIGN TIP-Use a rule of thumb to estimate firmne ss and stability., page 37.) Natural soi ls s hould be evaluated for their ability to be compacted into a firm and s table s urface under normally occurring weather co nditi ons during the primary seaso n of use . When evaluating surface material suitability, keep in mind that FSTAG define s a stable s urface as a trail s urface that is not perm anently affected by normal weather conditions and that is able to sustain wear and tear produced by normal use between planned maintenance cycles. Loc al trail managers are a good source of information becau se they know the local mize acce ss ibility and are appropriate to the setting. The dimen-surfaces and ho w they wear throughout the primary seasons sion s, multiple movin g s urface contact points, and wheels of a wheelchair are usuall y the most difficult to accommodate . If a perso n who uses a wheelchair can use a trail , a majority of other people can, too . The rest of thi s part of the guidebook explains the tech- nical acce ss ibility requirements for trails and provides an overview of the FSTAG implementation process and a flow- chart of the FSTAG implementation process . The flowchart is designed to be used while laying out the flag line for a trail. Surfaces of Trails Trail s urfaces mu st be firm and stable. The first gen- eral exception allow s achievi ng firmness and stabi lity to the extent practicable if a condition for an exception prohibits full compliance with surface requirements. Pavin g with concrete or asphalt is ap propriate for highly developed areas. For les s developed settings, crushed gravel, fine crusher rejects, packed soi l, and other natural materials may provide a firm and stable surface (fig ure 128). Natural material s also can be combined with sy nthetic bonding mate- rials that provide stability and firmnes s. These materials may for which the trail is managed . Figure 128-Natural materia ls were use d to bui ld a fir m and stable surface for th e Crotched Mountain Trail in New Hamp shire . 91 Applying the Forest Service Trail s Accessibility Gu ideli nes Clear Tread Width of Trails Clear tread width is the width of traveled surface between obstacles on the ground and above the ground (fig- ure 129). Provide at least 36 inches (915 millimeters) of clear tread width. An exception permits the width to be reduced to 32 inches (815 millimeters) minimum if a condition for an exception prevents the wider tread. If even the reduced width of 32 inches can't be met due a condition for an exception, slope and grade often are used interchangeably. Trail s or trail segments of any length may be constructed with a running slope ratio of up to 1 :20 (a 5-percent grade). To accommodate steep terrain, trails may be designed with shorter segments that have a running slope (grade) and length as shown in table 5 . Provide a resting interval between each of these steeper slope segments. To ensure that the trail is not designed as a series of steep segments , do not exceed a grade of 1:12 (8 .33 the first general exception allows achieving the width require-percent) for more than 30 percent of the total length of the trail. ment to the extent practicable. The running slope (grade) must never exceed 1 :8 (12 percent). Figure 129-The requirements for clear tread width on a trail. Trail Slopes Trail slopes must meet the requirements that follow. Steeper terrain makes it difficult to achieve flat grade s every- where . Many people are able to handle steeper slopes for short distances. Short sections of steeper trail are allowed so that trails can be constructed in varying terrain . The fir st general exception allow s achieving trail slope s to the extent practicable if a condition for an exception prohibits full com- pliance with slope requirements . Running slope is the lengthwise slope of a trail, parallel to the direction of travel. In this guidebook, the terms running Table 5-Trail running slope and segment length . Running Slope of Trail Segments I Construction 11p Slope and grade terminology. Slopes are often described as a ratio of vertical distance to horizontal distance, or rise to run (figure 130). For instance, a slope ratio of 1 :20 means that for every foot of vertical rise, there are 20 feet of horizon- tal distance (or for every meter of vertical rise, there are 20 meters of horizontal distance). RUN=@ @ f @ = © SLOPE PER FOOT (METER) 100 X @ = SLOPE % @+®=@ SLOPE RATIO= 1 :@ Figure 130-Determining the slope ratio . Maximum Length of Segment Steeper than But not Steeper than Between Resting Intervals 1 :20 (5 percent) 1 :12 (8 .33 percent) 200 feet (61 meters) 1 :1 2 (8 .33 percent) 1 :10 (10 percent) 30 feet (9 meters) 1 :10 (10 percent) 1 :8 (12 percent) 10 feet (3.05 meters) 92 Cross slopes-the side-to-side slope of a trail tread (fig- ure 131)-provide drainage to keep water from ponding and damaging the trail , especially on unpaved surfaces. Cross slopes that are too steep can be difficult to traverse, but trails with too little cross slope tend to become streams. Water run- ning down or ponding on trails destroys them. Cross slopes are an important part of trail design and construction. Ensure that cross slopes do not exceed 1:20 (5 percent). If the trail surface is paved or built with boards, however, do not allow the cross slope to be steeper than 1 :48 (2 percent). Figure 131-The running slope is measured along a trail's length ; the cross slope is meas ured across it s width. Resting Intervals on Trails Re sting interval s are relatively level areas that provide an opportunity for people to stop and catch their breath. Provide Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines The cross slope requirement depends on what material is used. Those who use a manually operated wheelchair or a walker know that as cross slope increases, travel becomes more difficult. This is because working against the sideways pull of the cross slope can double the effort needed to make forward progress. However, in an outdoor environment, the cross slope has to be steep enough that water won't accumulate on the travel surface. While slope and drainage can be precisely controlled on surfaces that are paved (asphalt, concrete, paving blocks, and so forth) or built with boards (wood planks, heavy timber, concrete, fiberglass , or other man- ufactured material), it's more difficult to ensure drain- age on natural or gravel surfaces. When water accumu- lates on natural or gravel surfaces, they often become muddy and impassible. That's why the cross slope is allowed to be steeper on natural or gravel surfaces than on surfaces that are paved or built with boards. resting intervals between each trail segment any time the run-Figure 132-The requirem ent s for resting intervals . ning slope exceeds 1:20 (5 percent) as shown in table 5 . En sure that the re sting interval is at least 60 inches (1,525 millimeters) long and at least as wi de as the widest segment of the trail tread leading into it, if the resting interval is within the trail (figure 132). If the resting interval is beside the trail , ensure that it is at least 60 inches (1,525 millimeters) long and at least 36 inches (915 millimeters) wide. If the resting interval is adjacent to the trail tread , provide a turning space complying with ABAAS section 304.3.2. Thi s doesn't mean that another space mu st be provided for turning around or as a pas sing space in addition to the re sting space. The resting space itself may al so serve as the turning and pass in g space if it is at least 60 inches ( 1,525 millimeters) in diameter or is T-shaped with a minimum 60-by 36-inch (1 ,525-by 915-millirneter) arm and a minimum 36-inch (915-millimeter) -wide by 24-inch (610-millimeter) -long base (figure 133). 93 Applying the Forest Service Tra il s Accessibility Gu ideli nes Fi gure 133-Th e requirement s fo r a res ting interval at a T-intersection. The s lopes of a re sting interval must not exceed 1:20 (5 percent) in any direction. However, when the s urface is paved or is built with boards , the slope is not allowed to be steeper than 1 :48 (2 percent) in any direction. No significant difference in vertical alignment between the trail tread , turn- ing space, and resting interval is allowed where they meet. The first general exception allows achieving resting interval requirements to the extent practicab le if a condition for an exception prohibits full compliance with the requirements. Passing Spaces on Trails A 60-inch ( 1,525-millimeter) clear tread width is required for two wheelchairs to pass safely and comfortably on a trail. However, thi s width is not always appropriate in all settings and for all trail classes. Where the clear tread width of a trail is Jess than 60 inches (1,525 millimeters), provide passing spaces at least every 1,000 feet (300 meters). Passing spaces must be at least 60 inches (1,525 millimeters) wide (including the trail width) by 60 inches (1 ,525 millimeters) long (figure 134). A T-intersection of two trail s or other walking surfaces also may be used as a passing space if the arms a nd stem of the T-shaped space extend at least 48 inches (1 ,220 millimeters) beyond the intersection (figure 135). Either config uration would provide enough room for someone to move to the side. If a condition for an exception prevents achieving full compljance with th e passing space requirements , the first general exception allows achieving passing space requirements to the extent practicable. 94 Figure 134--The requirements for passing spaces. Figure 135-The requirements for passing spaces at T-intersec ti o ns. Tread Obstacles on Trails A tread obstacle is anything th at interrupts the evenness of the tread s urface. On trails, tread obstacles often occur as a result of ruts, roots , and rocks in th e tread surface. Ensure tread obstacles are not more than 2 inches (50 millimeters) high. Where the surface is paved or is built with boards , ensure tread obstacles do not exceed one-half inch (13 millimeters) in hei ght. Height of tread obstacles mu st be measured vertically from the trail tread surface to the highest point of the obstacle. If a co ndition for an exception prevents achjeving full compli- ance with the obstacle height requirements , the fir st general exception al lows achieving the requirements to the extent practicable. Protruding Objects and Trails Objects that extend into the travel way of a trail from the side or from overhead can be hazardous to people who are paying more attention to their companions than the travel route (figure 136), as we ll as to people who are blind or have low vision . Protruding objects are defined as constructed features s uch as s igns that extend into the clear width area of a trail, resting interval , or passing space between 27 inches (685 millimeters) and 80 inches (2,030 millimeters) above the travel surface. Do not allow protruding objects to extend into the clear width area more than 4 inches (100 millimeters). T Fi g ure 136-Construc ted objects must not extend over the trail more than 4 in ches (I 00 millimeters) if they are between 27 in c hes (685 millimeters) and 80 in ches (2 ,030 millimeters ) above th e trave l surface. Acces sibility g uid elines do not consider natural elements such as tree branches and rock formations to be protruding objects . However, the Trail Management Objectives that are specific to each trai l addres s protrusions, obstacles, and clear- ing widths and heights shou ld be followed. For instance, trails should generally not be routed too close to rock overhangs. Clearing limits for trail construction and maintenance us ually require that bru sh, limb s, trees, and lo gs be cut back a foot or more from the edge of the trail. However, the trail maintenance cycle may be several years for so me trails, and vegetation may Apply ing t he Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines encroach on the trail during the interim . The protruding object requirement recognizes that it may not always be practicable to control vegetation , but is always practicable to place con- structed features where they won 't interfere with hikers. It also recognizes situati ons where rock ledges are unavoidable or where trails pass through caves (figure 137). - \ Figure 137-Protruding o bj ect requirements do not a ppl y to natu ra l feature s, such as caves in undev e lop ed areas. Openings in Trail Surfaces Openings are gaps in the surface of a trail. Gaps include slots in a drainage grate and spaces between the planks on a puncheon , bridge, or boardwalk. Openings that are bi g enough to allow wheels , cane or crutch tip s, or shoe heels to drop through or get stuck are hazard s that shouldn 't exi st in pedestrian routes. Openings up to a half of an inch (13 milli- meters) across are permitted in trail surfaces. Place elongated openings more th an a quarter of an inch wide with the lon g dimen sion perpendicular or diagonal to the primary direction of travel (figure 138 ). If there is a condition for an exception , openings less than three-fourths of an inch (I 9 millimeters) acro ss are allowed . This devi ation allow s the use of boardwalk decking that needs more than l/2-inch (I 3-millimeter) -wide s pacing between the planks to permit expan s ion and to allow water to drain . If eve n th e three-fourths of an inch deviation is not 95 Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessi bil ity Guidelines Figure 138-The requirements for openings that are perpendicular to the direction of travel on trail surfaces, s uch as boardwalk decking. enough, General Exception 1 allows achieving trail surface opening requirements to the extent practicable if a condition for an exception is present. Trail Facilities To comply with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, trail facilities such as tent pads and platforms, camp shelters, pit toilets , viewing areas, and simi lar structures for trail users that are provided alon g trails-even trails that are not acces- sible-must be designed to comply with the applicable provi- sions in FSORAG. The path of travel between trail facilities , as well as the path connecting them to a trail , must comply with FSTAG. These paths are not outdoor recreation acces s routes and are not required to meet the technical requirements for an out- door recreation acces s route. Trail facilities must be designed appropriately for the setting and in compliance with the applicable provisions in FSORAG to ensure that the facility can be used for its pri- mary purpose by all hikers, including hikers with disabilities. space at the shelter entrance. This height allows someone using a wheelchair or other assistive device to transfer onto the floor of the shelter. Requirements for all recreation facilities, including those that are commonly associated with trails, are contained in FSORAG and explained in "A pplying the Forest Service Out- door Recreation Accessibility Guidelines" of this guidebook. Gates and Barriers on Trails If gates or barriers are constructed to control access to trails, include openings wide enough to allow hiker passage. Refer to the FSTAG for the technical provisions for gates and barriers. These requirements are also explained in "Getting From Here to There-Outdoor Recreation Access Routes" of this guidebook. Trail heads To comply with the ABA and Section 504 of the Reha- bilitation Act of 1973 , ensure that each constructed feature provided at a trailhead complies with the applicable provi- sions of FSORAG and ABAAS. Requirements for trailhead features, such as parking spaces , toilets , water spouts , and campsites, are explained in "Applying the Forest Service Out- door Recreation Accessibility Guidelines" of this guidebook. Because trailheads are usuall y accessed by vehicle rather than only by hiking , at least one outdoor recreation access route must connect the following places at trailheads : • Accessible parking spaces or other arrival point • Starting point of the trail • Accessible outdoor constructed features, elements , spaces, and facilities within the trailhead In alterations to existing trailheads, where there is a condi- For example , if a camp shelter is provided along a trail and its tion for an exception, the technical requirements for the out- floor is above the ground, all hikers must be able to get inside the shelter. As explained in "Camp Shelters" of this guide- book, this can be accompli shed by en suring the camp shelter floor is 17 inches (430 millimeters) minimum to 19 inches (485 millimeters) maximum higher than the camp shelter 96 door recreation access route th at are affected by the condition for an exception must be achieved only to the extent practi- cable. If elements , spaces, or outdoor constructed features are altered at trailheads but the path of travel isn't changed , an out- door recreation access route isn't required. Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessi bility G uidelin es New trail facilities must be accessible even if the trail doesn't comply with Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines. The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA) requires that buildings comply with the applicable accessibil- ity guidelines. This i ssue was clarified for Federal agencies when a complaint was filed with the U.S . Access Board again st the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service for in stalling an inacces s ible toilet at 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) on Mt. Rainer. The petitioner was a paraplegic who wa s climbing the mountain with a sit-ski and ropes. He was not able to use the toilet that the rest of hi s party could use becau se it wasn 't accessible. The U.S. Ac- cess Board found that the National Park Service was not in compliance with ABA that requires all new construction funded by Federal Executive agencies to be accessible. The National Park Service settled the complaint by replacing the toilet with an acces sible model. The Forest Service was cited by the U.S. Acce ss Board after a complaint was filed about a pit toilet serving the trail at North Doublehead in New Hampshire . The toilet was constructed in 1972 after the 1968 passage of the ABA , but the toilet was not accessible. The Forest Service replaced the to ilet with an access ible model. It's really in the best interests of all organizations to ens ure that all facilities-regardle ss of where they are located-are appropriate to the setting and are access ible. When access ibility is integrated into the de sign from the beginning, there 's not much difference in co st. If the design of a facility that's alread y under construction must be changed to provide for accessibility, or if an inaccess ible facility has to be replaced with an acce ssible facility at a later date , costs will be substantial. To quote a hiker with a Northeast Passage hiking team that includes a diverse group of people (figure 139): "Hiking a trail is a challenge by choice; using a toilet is not a choice so it shouldn 't be a challenge ." Fig ure 139-Three members of th e Northeast Passage hik ing team celebrate th eir conques t of Mo unt Lafayette in New Ham pshire. Photo credit: Nonheast Passage, Durham, N H 97 Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines Trailhead Signs People have made it clear that they want information about trails, including length, grade, and so forth, so that they can make their own deci s ion s about which trail is appropriate for the amount of time they have available , the people in their group , and the type of hike they are interested in pursuing . Therefore, when new information signs are provided at trail - heads for newly constructed or altered trail s, include at mini- mum the following information : • Trail name • Length of the trail • Type of surface on the trail • Typical and minimum trail tread width • Typical and maximum trail grade • Typical and maximum trail cross slope • Height of any major obstacles, s uch as boulders, in the trail tread • A statement that po sted information reflects the con- dition of the trail when it was con structed or as ses sed, including the con stru ction or ass ess ment date The requirement for posting the con structi on and trail standards temporaril y inaccessible until maintenance crews can clear the obstruction . If the date is po sted , people will be able to evaluate the likelihood that the trail remains in the posted condition . For in stance, people may know that a major storm ha s occurred s ince the condition s were posted or may estimate the likelihood that vegetation may have overgrown the trail since the condition was evaluated . Where more extensive trail information such as an aerial map of the trail and related facilitie s is provided, identify the lo cation of s pecific trail features and ob stacles that do not comply wit h FSTAG 's technical requirements and include a profile of the trail grade. If materials , such as maps, brochures, fee envelopes, and so on, need to be obtained from or filled out at a sign or kiosk, design the sign or kio sk to display the materials withi n the standard reach ranges of a person in a wheelchair in accor- dance with ABAAS, section 308 , as explained in "Reach Ranges and Operability Requirements" of thi s guidebook. Locate railhead information sign s centered at the back of a 30-by 48-inch (760-by 1,220-millimeter) -minimum clear floor or g round space. Do not allow the clear s pace to overlap the trail width but it may overlap a re sting s pace or passing assessment date is becau se tree blowdown s, flooding , or other space. The slope of the clear space is not a llowed to be more events can make trails des ig ned and con stru cted to FSTAG than l :20 (5 percent) in any direction. 98 l ~ • • 1 ~ • Overview of FSTAG Implementation Process Now that yo u have learned about th e ex tent of applica- tion, ge neral exception s, and th e tec hnical requirement s, you may wonder how th e who le process tie s to gether. Use th e following fo ur easy steps and the handy process flowchart in the appendix to implem e nt FSTAG on yo ur trail de sign proj - ec ts. Following this process will help yo u verify th at th e trail des ign complies with the technical require ments to the extent practicable, help you document how and where the techni cal requirements can , or can not , be applied , and co nfirm that the character, tra il clas s, and ex perience of the setting will not be chan ged . It a lso can be used as a field guid e when locatin g or rerouting a trail. Step 1: Determine the Applicability of FSTAG After a decision has been mad e to de s ig n or alter a trail , three que stions mu st be asked: 1. Does the work meet the definition s for new construc- ti on or alterati o n? Definitions are in "Understandin g Trail Terminology" of thi s guidebook . -¢> If yes, 2 . Is the Designed Use "Hiker/Pedestrian "? -¢> If yes, 3. Does the proposed trail connect to a trailhead or to a trail that sub stantially co mplies with FSTAG ? (Trai l- head is defin ed in "Understanding Trail Terminology.") Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines If the an swer to any of those questions is no, FSTAG does not apply and no further analysis is required . The fi nd- in g and reasons th at FSTAG does not app ly should be briefly doc um ented and put in th e project file . Fig ure 140 shows step 1. Eve n if compliance with FSTAG is not required, you should try to incorporate accessi bility where o pp ortuniti es exist and to the extent yo u ca n without changing the charac ter of th e settin g and , therefore, th e hikin g experience. If the answer to all three que stion s is yes, th e designer mo ves to ste p 2. Evaluate your trail design for Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG) compliance using on-the-ground layout. In order to work through steps 2, 3, and 4 of the implementation proces s, lay out a proposed trail align- ment on the ground and conduct th e eval uation as yo u walk the flag line. Base the review and analysis re- quired in these ste ps on actual field co ndition s, rather than relying only on topographic maps . FSTAG Quick Refere n ce l ___ J. ___ J. __ _ Fig ur e 140-Step 1 of th e Forest Serv ice Trail Access ibility Guidelines implementation process. 9 9 Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines Step 2: Identify th e Presence of Limiting Factors This step addresses the condition criteria accepted by the U.S. Access Board for identifying when extreme envi- ronmental barriers allow the use of General Exception 2. These barriers are defined in the fir st four limiting factors in FSTAG , section 7 .2.2 .1 "Determining Impracticability" and are explained in "General Exception s in FSTAG" of thi s guidebook. The sequence for identifyin g th e limiting factors may vary and does not need to be done in the order illustrated in the process flowchart . Work yo ur way throu gh th e process flowc hart b y asking four question s, each related to one of the limiting factor s. The first ques tio n will be explai ned in detai l to serve as an exam- ple for the oth er three . Does the combined trail running slope (grade) and cross slope exceed 1:2.5 (40 percent)for a continuous distance of 20 feet (6 meters) or more ? Choose a method to measure the running slope. There are a nu mber of ways you can measure running slope. Yo u can perform an informal survey between obvious trail slope breaks with a hand level, survey rod, and measuring c hai n (fi g ure 141). You can u se a dig ita l level (fig ure 142). Yo u can al so perform a more detailed trail assessment s uch as th e universal trail asse ss ment process developed by Beneficial D esigns ( <http ://www.beneficialdesigns.com/> ). @ -@ = @ VERTIC AL DISTANCE @ + @ = @ SLOPE PER FOOT (METER) SLOP E ~o = 100 X @ @ +@ =® SL OP E RA TIO= 1:® HAND LEVEL SURVEY ROD Figure 141-Surveying trail grade with a hand level. 100 GRADE BREAK DIGIT AL LEVEL DISPLAYS SLOPE SURVEY TAPE MEASURES RUNNING DISTANCE Figure 142-Surveying trail grade with a digita l level. If not , FSTAG m ay still apply, so you should consider the next limiting factor. A continuous distance means a su s- tained running slope (grade) without rest areas or more mod- erate slopes. If the alignment can be relocated to get a more moderate slope, this limiting factor doesn 't apply. If the combined slope exceeds 1 :2.5 ( 40 percent) for a continuous di stance of 20 feet (6 meters) or more, document the length of trail that exceeds the technical requirements for slopes, the location of the area, and your data source (field survey, clinometer, and so forth). Keep this information for use in step 4. Next, determine whether a condition for an exception exi sts that permits a deviation from the technical requirements for slope. If there is no condition for an exception, FSTAG may still apply, so you should proceed to the next limiting factor. If a condition for an exception does exist, document the length of trail affected by the condition for an exception, what exception applies, and the location of the area. Next, consider whether the combined trail running slope (grade) and cross slope is so exces sive that it is impracticable for the entire trail to comply with the technical requirements . If so , FSTAG does not apply to this trail at all and no further review or analysis is required. Document the reason for the determination , retain it in the project file, and notify the U.S . Access Board, as explained in "Documenting Exceptions and Notifying the U.S. Access Board About Exemptions" of thi s guidebook. Finally, consider the end section of trail between the lim- iting factor and the trailhead or another trail that substantially complies with FSTAG . Is there a prominent feature between the end of the trail and the limiting factor? If so , consider constructing the section of trail between the end of the trail and the prominent fe ature in compliance with the technical accessibility requirements. Doing so is not required, but it is often good management and good customer service. Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines Use a rule of thumb to estimate firmness and stability. What sort of surface is firm and stable? If the answer to both of the following questions is yes, the surface is probably firm and stable. • Could a person ride a narrow-tired bicycle across the s urface easily without making imprints? (Bicycle tire s are similar to large rear wheels of a wheelchair.) • Could a folding stroller with small, narrow plastic wheels containing a 3-year-old be pushed easily across the surface without making imprints? (The stroller's wheels are similar to the front wheels of a wheelchair.) While thi s method for determining firmnes s and stability isn't scientifically accurate, it has proven to be effective. Work yo ur way through the other three limiting factor s th e same way. The design tip s may help you . Is the surface neither firm nor stable for 45 feet ( 14 meters) or more ? Is the trail tread width 12 inches (227 millimeters ) or less fo r a di stance of at leas t 20 f eet ( 6 meters)? Is there an obstacle at least 30 inches (760 millime- ters) hi gh extending across th e full width of the trail ? 101 Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines Determine when trail width is a limiting factor. Measuring the existi ng trail width is easy-just use a measuring tape to get the side-to-side distance of the nan-owes t stretch of trail. Figuring out whether that width can be changed may be a little more difficult. The trail may be less than 12 inches (227 millimeters) wide , but if you can widen it in its cun-ent location or move the trail alignment to an area where it can be wider, the limiting factor doesn't apply. Step 2. Identify Presence of Limiting Factors If yo u find a limiting factor where a condition for an exception applie s, there 's no re ason to eva luate the trail beyond th at point for s uccessive limitin g factors unl ess the rest of the trail connects to a trailhead or a trail that sub stan- tiall y comp lies with FSTAG . Ju st look at the sectio n of trail between the limitin g factor or promin ent feature and the trail- head or co nnectin g trail. Figure 143 s hows step 2. If there are no limiting factors that would prevent com- pliance wi th FSTAG , proceed to step 3. Does cond ition Document / Is com pliance --+-Yes im pra cticable? Trail G ra de Yes= for exception -+ Yes con diti on l Document ex ist? for exception . File documented applicable condldon for excepclon. Surface Minimum Trail Width Trail Obstacle Surface is NO T firm and stable . No= Surface IS firm and stable . lim iting / "'- Yes -factor(s). "'x No location(s), and data source . No ~ l l FSTAG may still apply. Figur e 143-Ste p 2 of the Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines impl ement ati on process. 102 - Notify U.S. Access Board. When all limiting factors have been evaluated , go to step 3. Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines Step 3: Apply the Accessibility Provisions exception prevent compliance? If the trail alignment com- Thi s step involves looking at FSTAG, section s 7.4. l plies with the required s lope or there is no condition for an through 7.4.8 , which contain the technical requirements for trail exception, compliance with the technical requirement for grade, cross slope, re sting interval, surface, clear tread width, trail grade is required. If the grade requirement can't be met passing space, tread obstacles, protrudin g objects, and openings. becau se of a conditi on for an exception, measure and record Thi s summary and th e process flowchart don 't contai n the len gth of trail that will devi a te from the technical require- everything you need to know about trail des ig n requireme nt s. ment. Then consider how the running slope could be adjusted Refer to FSTAG for detailed instructions, definition s, condi-to get as close as practicable to the requirement. Record w hat tions for an exception , accessibility provi s ion s, a nd allowable the s lope will be on that section of the trail and proceed to th e deviation s. A series of question s with yes or no answers is asked for each of th e technical requirements, similar to step 2. Use th e trail runnin g slope (grade) as an example. First , look at the existing conditions on the ground and determine whether the trail alignment complies with the required runnin g slopes of a maximum of 1 :20 (5 percent) for any di stance, 1:12 (8.33 percent) for up to 200 feet (61 meters), 1:10 (10 percent) for up to 30 feet (9 meters), and so forth. Could a change in trai l alignment facilitate meet- ing the requirement? If not, does one of the conditions for an Step J. ApplyTechnical Provisions Trail Grade Clear Tread Trail Width Cross Slope Tread Obstacles Resting Interval Protruding Objects next technical requirement. Each technical requirement is addressed in a s imilar manner. Make a determination for every technical requi re- ment: ei ther compliance is required or deviations are pe rmit- ted. Be sure to m eas ure and record the len gth of the trail o n which each deviation from a particular tec hnical requirement will occ ur. Figure 144 shows step 3. After you work thro ug h all th e technical requirements, proceed to the last step. If at any point during step 3 you find that the record ed length of the trail that contains deviation s adds up to 15 percent or more of the total trail length , proceed directly to step 4. provisions have been evaluated , go to step 4. Passing Exce ption allowed. / Yes Measure and record N Does condition affec ted length of tra il. O ---+ for exception Space exist? \,. Exce tion not allowed. Openings No Comply with technical provis ion. Surface Figure 144-Step 3 of the Forest Service Trail Accessi bility Guidelines impl ementati on process . 103 Applying t he Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines Step 4: Calculate Cumulative Deviation Percentage Add the measurements of permitted deviations from step This final step addresses the suggested objective criteria 3. If these deviations occur on 15 percent or more of the total for identify ing when extreme or numerous environm ental bar-trail length, FSTAG doesn't apply to the trail. Figure 146 riers allow the use of General Exception 2. These barriers are shows step 4. defined in the five limiting factors in FSTAG , section 7.2.2.1. Apply the process. Figure 145 helps illustrate how to apply the process by calculating cumulative deviations and considering a promi- nent feature. The drawing shows that: • Deviations occur on more than 15 percent of the trail because 15 percent of 950 feet equals 142.5 feet (15 percent of 290 meters equals 43.5 meters), but the deviations total 216 feet (66 meters). • The trail does not have to comply with the guidelines. • The first point of deviation occurs 400 feet (122 meters) from the trailhead and the vista is only 250 feet (76 meters) from the trailhead. It may be appropriate to construct the trail in compliance with the guidelines from the trailhead to the vista. 400 FEET ~==""' 96 LINEAR FEET ~ g~c~x TION = (30 METERS) (122 METERS) FROM TRAILHEAD WIDTH DEVIATION= 120 LINEAR FEET (36 METERS) HERMIT'S PEAK 950 FEET (290 METERS) FROM TRAILHEAD Figure 145-This trail schematic illustrates how to detennine where the trail must comply with Forest Service ';Jl!!!!l!J!!lll!!!ll!l!Jllll!ll!IJll!!l!!l!!Jl!ll!!!ll!l!!ft!IJJ•!!'!!!!!ll!!Jll!!!!• Trail Accessibility Guidelines. ApplyFSTAG -technical provisions to entire trail . ~~""'m"·~· r , ' . ._ Ne<).V' I• Figure 146-Step 4 of the Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines implementation process. 104 The FSTAG Im plem entation Process Flowchart FSTAG must be applied before initiating new construc- tion or altering any National Forest System trail with a "Designed U se" of "Hiker/Pedestrian ." Figure 147 di still s th e implementation process into a quick reference that provide s easy reference as you work through the process . A detailed FSTAG implementation process flowchart is available in the appendix . Before applying FSTAG, you'll need to: • Analyze existing conditions, including potential opportunities and constraints (National Environmental Policy Act analysis ). • Identify and verify the desired Trail Class for the trail or trail segment. • Identify and verify the "Designed Use" of the trail or trail segment. If you have question s about applying any of the above information , please contact your region 's recreation acces si- bility coordinator. Current contact information is available at <http ://www.fs.fed.us/eng/tool box/ace/ documents/ coo rd .htm#leaders>. Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines 105 Applying the Forest Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines 106 FSTAG Quick Reference Step I. Determine Applicability of FSTAG Ste p Does ---+Yes --+ Designed Use = Hiker/Pedstrian? 2. Identify Presence of Limiting Factors Tra il G rade Surface Minimum Trail Width Trail Obstacle Step Width is less than 12 in for 20 ft or more~ Obstacle Yes = Surface is NOT finn and stable. No = Surface IS firm and st1.ble. is 30 in or higher •>------' across width of tram J. ApplyTechnical Provisions Tra il Grad e Clear Tread Trail Widt h Cross Slope Re sting Interval Pa ssing Space Openings Surface Ste p Yes --+Yes --+ • . --+ Yes Does condition Is compliance im p ractic a bl e~ Docume nt/ condition l for exception ---+ Yes Document exisd limiting / -facto r(s). location (s), and data so urce. No for exception. No l ~l FSTAG may still app ly. Yes _ Comply with technical provision. No Exceptio n a ll owe d. / Yes Measure and record D o es condition affected length o f t rail. --+ for exce pti on ex ist~ \,, Exce t ion not allowed. No Comply w ith technical p r ovis ion. 4. Calculate Cumulative Percentage of Exceptions Apply FSTAG technical provisions to entire trail. •.............. . Document Ind file cumulative percenage of exceptions. Notify U.S. Access Board. Fi gur e 147-Qui ck reference for th e Fo res t Service Trai l Ac cess ibi lity Gu idelin es impl ement ati on pro cess . • .. ""' File documented applicable condition for exception. U.S. Access Board. W hen all limiting factors have been evaluated, go to step 3. Resources Acronyms ABA-Architectural Barriers Act ABAAS-Archi tectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards Access Board-Architect ural and Transportation Barri- ers Compliance Bo ard ADA-Americans with Di sabilities Act ADASAD-Americans with Di sa bilities Act Standards for Acce ss ible Desi g n ANSI-American National Standards In stitute ATV-All-terrain ve hicle BEIG-Built Environment Image Guide CFR-Code of Federal Regul ations DOD-U.S . Dep artme nt of Defense FHWA-U.S . Department of Tran sportation , Federal Highway Admini stration FSORAG-Forest Service Outdoor Recreatio n Acces- sibility Guideline s FSTAG-Forest Service Trail Acce ss ibility Guidelines GSA-U.S . General Services Administration HUD-U.S . Department of Housing and Urban Develo pment IBC-International Building Code ISA-International Symbol of Acce ssi bility FTDS-Federal Trail Data Standards MUTCD-Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices OHV-Off-highway vehicle ORAR-Outdoor Recreation Access Route RHRIBS-Recreation and Heritage Resources Inte- grated Busine ss Systems ROS-Recreation Opportunity Spectrum RRAC-Regional Recreation Acce ss ibility Coordinator RV-Recreational Vehicle TTY-Teletypewriter USDA-U.S . Department of Agriculture 107 Definitions 108 Accessibility Evaluation Survey-An activity compar- ing each portion of a struct ure to the accessibi lity stan- dards and recording compliance and deficiencies. Accessible-A facility or other constructed feature that is in compliance with the accessibility guidelines that were in effect at the time it was built or a ltered. Accessible Facilities-Facilities that comply with the accessibility guidelines. Alteration of a Trail-A change in the purpose, intent, or function of the trail. Alteration of a recreation site, building, or facility-A change to a portion of a recreation site, bui lding, or facil- ity that is addressed by the accessibility guideli ne s and that affects the usability of the site, building, or facility. Beach Access Point-A site at which pedestrian access (such as dune crossings, stairways, walkways, or ramps leading from boardwalks or outdoor recreation access routes) to the be ach or parking facilities are provided so that people can access the water. Beach Nourishment-Sometimes called beach res- toration or sand replenishment-a process by which sediment (usually sand) lost through longshore drift or erosion is replaced from sources outside of the eroding beach. Camp Shelter-A small structure typically enclosed on three sides with a roof or overhang to provide camp- ers and hikers cover from weather. Camp shelters do not contain plumbing fixtures, kitchen appliances, or other amenities usually found in transient facilities or residen- tial dwelling units . Conditions for an Exception-Specific circumstances found in natural environments that may make it difficult to comply with the accessibility guidelines. Construction-The proce ss of building a new trail, rec- reation site, or facility where there was none before . Cross Slope-The percentage of rise to length when measuring the trail tread from edge to edge perpendicu- lar to the direction of travel. In other words, cross slope is the difference in elevation from the inner edge to the outer edge of a trail, outdoor recreation access route, or beach access route. This may be expressed as the per- centage of change in elevation or as a ratio of vertical distance to horizontal distance. Disability-A medically definable condition that causes a limitation in one or more major life activities, such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, thinking, and so forth. Federal Trail Data Standards-Standards that are published by the Federal Geographic Data Committee. They are a core set of standardi zed data attributes and corresponding definitions for tabular and spatia l data that are applicable to all federally managed trail s, includ- ing national scenic and national historic trails. These standard s also are used by many other agencies and organizations. Grab Bar-A bar attached to a wall to provide a hand- grip for steadying oneself or to assist in transferring across short distances. Grade-The difference in elevation of a section of an outdoor recreation access route, trail, or beach access route measured parallel to the predominant direction of travel. This may be expressed as the percentage of change in elevation (grade) or as a ratio of vertical dis- tance to horizontal distance (running slope). Guardrail-A railing designed to protect people from accidentally falling off an edge where the immediate dropoff is more than 30 inches. Handrail-A narrow railing to be grasped with the hand for supp ort. Impracticable-In this guidebook, impracticable means work that cannot be co mpleted within the limits of the applicable conditions for an exception . Limiting Factor-An extreme , uncorrectable environ- mental barrier that makes the trail beyond the barrier unreachable for people with mobility limitations. Maintenance-Routine or periodic repair of exi sting trails , recreation sites, or facilities. Maintenance doesn't change the original purpose, intent, or function for which the facility was designed. Pit Toilet-A primitive outhou se consisting of a toilet riser over a hole dug into the ground or receptacle to receive and naturally decompo se human waste. Pit toilets are provided primari ly for resource protection and only are constructed at recreation sites with a Recreation Site Development Scale level of 2 of les s. A pit toilet riser may or may not be surrounded by walls and may or may not have a roof. A pit toilet may be permanently installed or may be moved from one location to another as the pit is filled or the area becomes severely impacted from use. Waste may be di spose d of directly into the pit or may be composted . Practicable-In this guidebook , practicable means work that can be completed within the limits of the applicable conditions for exceptions and results in a useful improve- ment for all. (See "Usi ng the Condition s for an Excep- tion in FSORAG" and "Condition s for an Exception in FSTAG" of thi s guidebook for more information .) Program Accessibility-The principle of providing all people who meet the criteria, including people who have disabilities , the opportunity to participate in a program (an activity in which so meone may participate or the rea- so n someone vi sits an area). Provision-A technica l requirement. Reconstruction-This word is not use d in Federal access ibility guidelines or FSTAG and FSTAG, even though it is use d freq uently by people who work in rec- reation and trail s. For the purposes of FSORAG and FSTAG, actions are categorized as construction, altera- tion , or maintenance. Recreation Site-A di sc rete area on a national forest that provides recreation opportunities, receive s use, and requires a management in ves tment to operate and/or maintain to standard. Recreation Site Development Scale-An area that is improved , developed, or otherwise identified for recre- ation and that has a development sca le of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. (See Forest Service Manual Chapter 2330, exhibit 01.) Running Slope-The ascent or de sce nt of a trail seg - ment ex pre ssed as a percentage of it s length . In other words , the slope is the difference in elevation from the beginning to the end of a part of a trail, outdoor recre- ation access route, or beach access route, mea sured in the direction of travel. This may be expressed as the percent- age of change in elevation (grade) or as a ratio of vertical distance to horizontal di stance (running slop e). The per- centage (grade) is shown in parentheses in the se acces- sibi lity guidelines . Scoping-Specifications of where , when, a nd how much of a constructed features detailed in the technical requirements must be met in order to be in compliance with the guidelines . Setting-The term used to describe the natural sur- roundings of a trail or recreation area. Slope Ratio--A ratio of ver tical di sta nce to horizontal distance or rise to run . Surface-The top layer of ground on a recreation site, out- door recreation access route , trail, or beach acce ss route. 109 110 • Firm. A surface that re sists deformation by indentation s. During the planning process, firm- ness must be evaluated for noticeable distortion or compression during the seasons for whic h the surface is managed , under normally occ urrin g weather conditions. • Stable. A surface that is not permanently affected by expected weather conditions and can sustain normal wear and tear from the expected use(s) of the area between planned maintenance. Technical Requirements-Specific numbers , condi- tion s, and mea surements that are required to be achieved (percent that mu st comply, dimensions, reach ranges, grades, trail width, etc.). Trail Class-The prescribed scale of development for a trail, representing its intended design and management standards. (See the Federal Trail Data Sta ndards.) Trail Designed Use-The managed use of a trail that requires the mo st dema nding design, construction, and maintenance parameters and that, in conjunctio n with the applicable trail class , determines which design param- eters will app ly to a trail. There is only one designed use of a trail. (See the Federal Trail Data Standards.) Trail Managed Use-Any mode of travel that is actively managed and appropriate for a specific trail or area , based on it s design and management. There may be mul- tiple managed uses of a trail. (See the Federal Trail Data Standards.) Trailhead-A site designed and developed by the Forest Service or other gove rnment agency, a trail association, trail maintaining club, or other cooperators to provide a stagi ng area for trail use . Tread-The portion of a trail , outdoor recreation access route, or beach access route where traffic mo ves (for pedestrian routes, this is the walking surface). Transition Plan-A plan that identifies the changes needed to make a facility accessible and the timeline for completing the changes. Universal Design-The principle that programs and facilities mu st be designed to be usable by all people , to the greatest extent possible, without separate or segre- gate d access for people with di sabi litie s. Note ! ~we b '' addr esses are avai la bl e onl y to Forest Service and U .S . De partment of th e Interi or, Burea u of La nd Ma n- agement employees on the Fo res t Service intern al ne two rk . Title 7 of the Cod e of Federal Regulation s, Part 15 is the 1994 U .S . Department of Agriculture impl eme ntati on g uid e- line for Sectio n 504 that prescri be s th e requ irem ent s for ensurin g acce ss to pro gram s. • Subpart 15b (covers programs operating with Federal age ncy fund in g und er special use permits or oth er agreement s) <http ://www.access.gpo.gov/n ara/cfr/wai s id x_03/7cfr l 5 b_03 .htm l> • Subpart 15e (covers programs cond ucted by th e Fores t Servi ce) <http ://w ww.acces s. gpo . gov /n ara/cfr/waisid x_ 03/7 cfr l 5e _ 03 .htm l> • Section 150d (tran siti o n pl an develop me nt and contents) <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisid x_03/7cfr l 5d_0 3 .html> Acce ss Board <http://www.access -board.gov/> Accessibility Guidebook for Outfitters/Guides Operating on Public Lands <htt p://www.fs .fed .us/rec reati o n/prog rams/acce ss ibil ity/> Access ibility Guidebook for Ski Areas Operating on Public Lands <http://www.fs .fed .us/rec reati o n/prog ram s/access ibili ty/> Access ible E xterior Surfaces Technical Article <http://w ww.access-board .gov/re search/Exterior%20S urface s/exteriorsarticle .htm> Acce ss ible Gates for Trails and Roads <http://www.fs .fed .us/rec reatio n/programs/acces sibil ity/> Access ible Handpump <htt p://www.fs .fed .us/rec reati on /program s/access ib ility> ADA AG Accessibility Checklist for Buildings and Facilities <http://www.access -board .g ov/ad aag/checkli st/a l 6 .html > American Trails <http://www.a merica ntra il s .org> Americans with Disabilities Act <http://www.access -board .gov/a bout/law s/A DA .ht m> Americans with Disabilities Act/ Architectural Barrier s Act Access ibility G uidelines <http://www.access -board .gov/a da-aba> 111 112 l »arrie r s A.ct Architectura s board gov /about/laws /ABA .htm> <http://www.acces -· Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standard <http://www.access-boa rd .gov/ada-aba/> Backcountry Sanitation Manual <http://www .appalachiantra il.org/protect/steward/sanman .html> Beneficial Designs <h ttp://www.beneficialdes igns.co m/> Built Environment Image Guide <http://www.fs .fe d .us/recreation/program s/beig/> Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access • Part 1, Review of Existing Guidelines and Practices <http ://www.fuwa.dot.gov/environme nt/si dewalks/index.htm> • Part 2, Best Practices Design Guide <http://ww w.fuwa.dot.go v/enviro nment/sidewalk2/index .htm> Facilities Toolbox <http://w ww.fs.fed .us/eng/toolbox/> Federal Highway Administration and Forest Service recreational trail publications and videos <http://www.fhw a.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/index.htm> • Paper copies <http://www.fuwa .d ot.gov/enviro nment/rectrails/trailpub.htm> Federal Trail Data Standards <http://www.np s.gov/gi s/trail s/> Forest Service Exhibit Accessibility Checklist <http ://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/accessibility/> Forest Service Recreation Opportunities <http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/> Forest Service National Trail Specifications <http ://www.fs .fed.us/data base/acad/dev/trai ls/trail s.htm> Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines <http://www.fs.fed .us/recreation/programs/accessi bility/> ! Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines <http://www.fs.fed .us/recreation/programs/accessibility/> Forest Service Trail Design Parameters <http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/measures/Inventory/trails%20files/National_Design_Parameters_l_31_2005 .doc> International Building Code <http://www.iccsafe.org/> Natural Resource Manager (formerly Infra, available only to Forest Service employees) <http://basenet.fs.fed.us/> Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines <http://www.access-board.gov/prowac/> Recreation and Heritage Resources Integrated Business Systems (formerly Meaningful Measures) <http://fsweb.wo.fs .fed.us/rhwr/ibsc/index.shtml> Recreation Opportunity Spectrum <http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/eng/facilities/recopp.htm> Regional Recreation Accessibility Coordinators <http://fsweb.mtdc.wo.fs.fed.us/toolbox/acc/documents/coord.htm> Region/Station Facilities Program Leaders <http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/eng/documents/fac_leaders.htm> Rehabilitation Act Section 504 <http://www.access-board .gov/enforcement/Rehab-Act-text/title5.htm> Soil Stabilizers on Universally Accessible Trails <http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/pubs/pdf/00231202.pdf> and <http://www.fhwa .dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/publications/fs_p ubli cations/00231202 /> Shared Use Path Accessibility Guidelines <http://www.access-board.gov/sup.htm> Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook <http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/publications/fs_publication s/0723 2806/> Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards Accessibility Checklist <http://www.access-board.gov/ufas/UFASchecklist.txt> 113 114 Universal Design Forest Service Policy, Forest Service Manual Section 2330.5 <http://www.fs.fed.u s/cgi-bin/Directi ves/get_ dirs/fsm ?2300 ! .. > Universal Trail Assessment Process <http://www.beneficialdesigns.com/trails/utap.html#overview %20background> Wetland Trail Design and Construction <http://www.fs.fe d .us/eng/php/l ibrary _card.ph p?p_num=0723 %20 .. 0002804P> and <http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/07232804/> Wilderness Access Decision Tool <http://carhart.wilderness.net/docs/wild_access_decision_tool .pdf> ... ... UI No \ }II FSTAG Implementation Process Flowchart Refer to FSTAG for detailed instructions, definitions, and technical provisions No No \ .\. }II }II }II }II Step 1-FSTAG Implementation Process Flowchart Step 2-FSTAG Implementation Process Flowchart Ste p 2. Identify Presence of Limiting Factors General Exception 2 (7.2.2) Note Sequence does not need to occur m the order shown No \ • • • J->-- I No (Surface IS firm and stable.) ' • • • • • No *A prominent feature between the trail head and the trail's first limiting factor will attract people who may not use the whole trail. Consider constructing that section of trail in compliance with the technical accessibility requirements. Fiie documented ~Yes condition \ FSTAG may still apply. Go to surface >-• • • • limiting factor. .~ -----~--.._....._-............... ....._..~-~- ~Yes Fiie documented condition for exception. Notify U.S. Access Board. No \ FSTAG may still apply. Go to minimum >-• • • • trail width limiting factor. Fie clocumMtl9d ~Yes -.lldon tbraOepdon. U.S. Acaa Board. No No \ \ FSTAG may still apply. Go to trail >-... ... ... ... ... obstacle )II ... ... limiting factor. > -0 '-)o- -0 (1> :s ti.. 8" "Tl {$) ~Yes ~ (;) 3 -0 ~ No 3 No (1> :s \ ~ \ Sil ~ FSTAG 5 · may still apply . >-:s ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... \l .., c C'\ (1> Ul Ul "Tl s ~ C'\ :::.- Sil ... ~ ... ~ Step 2-FSTAG Implementation Process Flowchart --- Step 3. ApplyTechnical Provisions (7.4.1to7.4.4 and 7.4.6 to 7.4.8) Step 3-FSTAG Implementation Process Flowchart If during step 3 the presence of one or more conditions for an exception allows deviations from technical provisions on more than I 5% of the trail length, go directly to step 4. Note Sequence does not need to occur in the order shown No ' No ' Comply with trail grade technical provision 7 .4.3.1. Exception allowed. Measure and record ---11)1~ yes lensth of exception. Comply with trail cross slope technical provision 7.4.3.2 . Exception allowed. Measure and record ---)I.,_ yes lensth of exception. Exce tion not allowed. Comply with trail cross slope technical provision 7.4.3.2. Comply with resting interval technical provision 7.4.4. Exception allowed. Measure and record yes lensth of exception. Exce tion not allowed. Comply with resting interv technical provision 7 .4.4. I No ' • I r~ Surface can comply with 7.4 .1? No ' No '----1•- Comply with passing space technical provision 7 .4.5. Exception dowed • .._,..and rec:ord Yes lenath of excepdon. Exce tlon not allowed. 1( Comply with passing space technical provision 7.4.5. Comply with surface technical provision 7 .4 .1. Exception allowed. Measure and record yes length of exception. Exce tion not allowed. Comply with surface technical provision 7 .4.1. Comply with clear tread width technical provision 7.4.2. Exception allowed. Measure and record yes length of exception. Exce tion not allowed. Comply w ith clear tread width technical provision 7.4.2 . Step 3-FSTAG Implementation Process Flowchart L,__ I I ~>- ->- Openings can comply with 7.4.7? No '-..... -~ No '--· No '-~ Step 3-FSTAG Implementation Process Flowchart Comply with tread obstacles technical provision 7 .4.6. Comply with tread obstacles technical provision 7 .4.6. Comply with protruding objects technical provision 7 .4.8. Comply with protruding objects technical provision 7 .4.8. Comply with openings technical provision 7 .4. 7. Step 4. Calculate Cumulative Percentage of Exceptions General Exception 2 (7.2.2) Io Yes No (De viations o c cur on more t han 15%.) Apply FSTAG technical provisions to entire trail ... DocumeK and flle cumulative percentage of~ Notify U.S. Access Board. **Refer to FSTAG for detailed instructions, definitions , and technical provisions 7.0 through 7.3. Step 4-FSTAG Implementation Process Flowchart Appendix : FSTAG Implementation Process Flowchart 122