Passenger Drop Off on Exterior Route at FL Restaurant

Exterior Accessible Ramp to Restaurant Entrance in FL

Look at the photo on the right. This is an exterior pedestrian ramp route to a restaurant in Florida. Note the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA) on the landing at the base of the ramp to the accessible entrance. The ISA is not required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the Florida Accessibility Code for Building Construction (FACBC), but it is here none the less. Also, there is a sign at the landing indicating this is the route for disabled individuals to reach the accessible entrance. Again not required by the ADA or FACBC. This is an example of an entity going beyond the ADA and doing more than is required by the ADA. Remember, the ADA is the minimum accessibility requirement. Going beyond the ADA is encouraged.

The photo below shows a close up of the sign that says “Drop Off Area” below the ISA on the sign. Again, not required by the ADA or FACBC but an example of an entity going beyond the minimum requirements. Now, it is important that the entity not go too far with this because a drop off area could be confused with a passenger loading zone. Passenger loading zones are covered in the 1991 ADA Standards, the 2010 ADA Standards, and the FACBC.

Passenger Drop Off Area at a Restaurant in Florida

2010 ADA Standard 503.2, [Passenger Loading Zone] Vehicle Pull-Up Space, states, “Passenger loading zones shall provide a vehicular pull-up space 96 inches (2440 mm) wide minimum and 20 feet (6100 mm) long minimum. “

2010 ADA Standard 503.3, [Passenger Loading Zone] Access Aisle, states, “Passenger loading zones shall provide access aisles complying with 503 adjacent to the vehicle pull-up space. Access aisles shall adjoin an accessible route and shall not overlap the vehicular way.”

2010 ADA Standard 503.3.1, [Passenger Loading Zone, Access Aisle] Width, states, “Access aisles serving vehicle pull-up spaces shall be 60 inches (1525 mm) wide minimum.”

2010 ADA Standard 503.3.2, [Passenger Loading Zone, Access Aisle] Length, states, “Access aisles shall extend the full length of the vehicle pull-up spaces they serve.”

2010 ADA Standard 503.3.3, [Passenger Loading Zone, Access Aisle] Marking, states, “Access aisles shall be marked so as to discourage parking in them.” The graphic below is representative of an accessible passenger loading zone.

Schematic of Passenger Loading Zone

One thing missing at this installation is a detectable warning where this route joins the vehicular way in front of the restaurant. This detectable warning should be located about where the ISA symbol is located. 1991 ADA Standard 4.29.5, Detectable Warnings at Hazardous Vehicular Areas, states, “If a walk crosses or adjoins a vehicular way, and the walking surfaces are not separated by curbs, railings, or other elements between the pedestrian areas and vehicular areas, the boundary between the areas shall be defined by a continuous detectable warning which is 36 in (915 mm) wide, complying with 4.29.2.”

SUMMARY: This article is about an accessible route to an accessible entrance at a restaurant in FL where the entity went beyond the ADA in some respects, but also missed an opportunity for ADA compliance. Going beyond the ADA is encouraged as long as an entity does not violate the ADA in the process. A passenger loading zone is covered in the 1991 ADA Standards and 2010 ADA Standards. Installations that are similar to a passenger loading zone should comply with the ADA Standards.

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If you observe a facility or element that is not ADA compliant and you would like to know how to proceed, please see the link at What To Do When A Building Is Not ADA Compliant or Accessible.

ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, offers ADA/ABA/FHA accessibility compliance inspections for buildings and facilities, as applicable to the different laws, and expert witness services with respect to ADA/ABA/FHA laws for building owners, tenants and managers. Also, ADAIN offers consulting for home modifications as a CAPS consultant for people wishing to age in place in their homes. For a complete list of services please see ADAIN Services.

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