Hi Bob and Marcus,

There seems to be a point being missed here. As a guide Dog Owner, I get
plenty of exercise as the dog would be no good to me if I travelled by
public transport everywhere - even if I could find the bus stop. The only
thing that is being introduced in this Article is even more potential
obstacles, barriers and complex route learning for blind and partially
sighted people. Wheelchair users have mobility aids such as electric chairs
and mobility scooters to cover the extra distance, but I and other GDOs only
have our legs. If the American population want to reduce their weight and
size, then they could start by closing a few 'fast food' outlets and eating
smaller portions. Perhaps they could introduce some barriers for
non-disabled people such as having to negotiate an assault course before
accessing their Office. Of course, disabled people would be exempt from
this by virtue of Health and Safety!

Regards, John.

John Gregory
Access Officer
Environmental Services Department
Ext. 1630
DDI. 01295 221630


                -----Original Message-----
                From: M.Ormerod [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
                Sent: 05 November 2003 12:37
                To: [log in to unmask]
                Subject: Re: A worrying trend?

                Hi Bob

                Thanks for adding your comments and you have as much right
as anyone on
                this list to make your views known and I encourage others to
take Bob's
                lead and share your opinions.

                I agree with you Bob that I was over reacting and am sure
that the
                activists in the USA are unlikely to allow this to be the
only means of
                vertical circulation. Besides the ADA should mean that
alternative means
                to the stairs are provided. I suppose what I was trying to
use the
                article to show is that architects may easily start to take
an approach
                that increases the length of travel for everyone -which is
good in terms
                of exercise, but then forget that they also need to provide
alternative
                routes that are shorter, or more direct. If we are
introducing stairs as
                a means of exercise then let us also have ramps as well. I
often use the
                stairs rather than take the lift, but that is a choice I
have, which
                other people may not have. What we do not want, however, is
the
                architect deciding to raise the building up, or lower it, in
order to
                introduce extra steps just for the sake of it.

                Our Local Ikea is an example where they want you to go all
the way
                through the store in order to see every product and not to
go directly
                to want you came in for. There are short cuts you can take
but they
                deliberately hide these to make you go around the long way.
That is fine
                is distance is no object, but if all your energy is taken up
fiding out
                that you could have saved the travel then you may not be as
impressed
                with the products.

                What other views do people have on this article/debate?

                Regards
                marcus

                ----------End of Message----------

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Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit

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Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html