Gates, Barriers and Berms at US Forest Service Sites
Information reproduced from the USDA Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails.
Non-Accessible Road Closure
When gates, barriers, or berms are installed on a US Forest Service trail or road to close it to motorized traffic or for other purposes, but foot travel is encouraged beyond the closure, people who use wheelchairs that meet the legal definition must be able to get behind the closure, as required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In accordance with the laws of program accessibility, a wheelchair is permitted anywhere foot travel is permitted. The photo on the right shows a road closure gate that does not provide enough clearance to allow a disabled pedestrian passage.
When foot travel is encouraged beyond a closure, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has determined that a minimum of 36 inches (915 millimeters) of clear passage must normally be provided around or through the gate, berm, or other restrictive device not allowed beyond the gate or barrier. The photo below is representative of an accessible path around a road closure.
Accessible Path Around a Road Closure
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 closure
A trail management objective or road management objective stating that pedestrian use is encouraged
A paved man-made path around a road closure
If gates or barriers are constructed to control access to outdoor recreation access routes, beach access routes, or trails, openings wide enough to allow pedestrian passage that complies with ODAAG, section 1017.3, Clear Travel Width, are recommended. That section requires 36 inches (915 millimeters) of clear width. However there may be areas where Exception 3 applies, for instance, where providing a 36-inch-wide opening would allow the entrance of motorized vehicles that are not permitted behind the barrier. In such circumstances, 32 inches (815 millimeters) clearance, the same as is required for an interior door, will provide pedestrian access.
Gate hardware controls and operating mechanisms must comply with ABAAS as follows:
operable with one hand without tight grasping, pinching, or wrist twisting
using a force no greater than 5 pounds (2.2 newtons) to operate
within reach ranges
latches must be located between 34 inches (865 millimeters) and 48 inches (1,220 millimeters) above the trail surface
the operating hardware for sliding gates must be exposed and usable from both sides
Metal Kissing Gate
A common gate design that allows people, but not livestock or motorized vehicles, to pass through is called a kissing gate. The photo on the right is representative of a metal kissing gate. This gate design name (kissing) originated from the gate just touching the inside of the enclosure. The structure forms a reliable barrier rather than securely latching to a post. The diagram below is representative of a timber kissing gate. This timber kissing gate is one of the designs available in the US Forest Service publication Accessible Gates for Trails and Roads.
US Forest Service Timber Kissing Gate Schematic
SUMMARY: Gates, barriers, and berms used to close off road or trails to motorized traffic should leave adequate width in a route around the gate, barrier, or berm, for pedestrian foot traffic. Kissing gates are a common gate design to comply with the requirement for pedestrian passage.
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