Nova Scotia Main Streets Initiative
Make walking and wheeling work on Main Street.
Main Streets are where members of a community mix, mingle, conduct business, and get to know each other. Anyone who cannot safely walk or wheel on the sidewalk will face difficulty interacting with and living in their community. It is imperative that walking and wheeling work on Main Street so that all residents and visitors can access and be a part of the community.
Accessibility is the foundation of quality Main Streets.
Active transportation offers more travel options for people who can drive - while improving independence and dignity for people who cannot. Accessible, pedestrian-oriented Main Streets let everyone, particularly seniors and persons with disabilities participate in their communities on their own terms.
Accessibility can be broken down into three components:
Sidewalks
Entrances
Crossings
Wider sidewalks in Bozeman, Montana
Accessible crossing in Saugutuck, Michigan
(Photo: Dan Burden via pedbikeimages.org)
The condition of a sidewalk matters.
Uneven, cracked sidewalks are a tripping hazard and do not make a comfortable experience to navigate with mobility aids.
Each sidewalk user has different spatial needs.
Whether you’re going for a walk alone, with friends, with children, with parents, with pets or service animals;
Whether you’re rolling, strolling, skating, scooting, walking, or pausing to rest on your walker;
Whether your’re heading somewhere, stopping for a bite, browsing a sidewalk sale, waiting to meet someone, or even taking a moment to take in your surroundings;
Wider sidewalks provide the space for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy all the activities their community has to offer.
Wider sidewalks also provide room for trees, seating, signage, wayfinding, art, and other street furniture that invite activity.
Narrow, cracked, uneven sidewalks with unmarked crossings do not suit most pedestrians needs.
(St John’s, Newfoundland)
Entrances are not always welcoming.
Many buildings on Nova Scotian Main Streets were built before universal accessibility was widely incorporated into design.
Stairs are a common barrier found at building entrances. They make it difficult for people using wheelchairs, strollers, walkers, and even hand trucks for deliveries to access shops and services.
Some entrances have a single short step that can be addressed with a small ramp. Some entrances have conditions that allow a ramp to be more easily retrofitted. Some main entrances do not have the space or conditions that allow them to be retrofit with a ramp. In these cases, secondary entrances may be retrofit as accessible entrances. Secondary entrances can be circuitous to reach, poorly marked, and hard to find; if used, care should be taken to ensure they are easy to locate and provide the most direct access possible.
Businesses in Halifax’s Hydrostone neighbourhood have a step up to their doors. Many use brightly coloured wooden ramps as a temporary solution for universal access.
Some storefronts have stairs, with little room to add a ramp with encroaching on the sidewalk. (Westville, Nova Scotia)
Crossings can be a barrier, even for able-bodied people.
Accessible crossing in New Minas, Nova Scotia with a curb cut and high-vicibility tactile pavers.
Curb-cuts, or mountable sidewalks allow people using wheelchairs, strollers, and other mobility aids to cross the street, but safety depends on context.
If crossings are poorly marked, vehicles are less likely to recognize and stop at crossings, endangering pedestrians.
If crossings are too far apart, or at inconvenient locations, pedestrians will cross where they see fit.
If vehicle traffic is high-volume or high-speed, crossing the street will not feel safe for many. Consider narrowing the distance of the crossing with curb-extensions from the sidewalks, or median refuge islands (as pictured below).
Median Island in Kirkland, Washington (Photo: Dan Burden via pedbikeimages.org)
Approaches
Accessibility audits
Take an inventory of common accessibility barriers.
Sidewalk Improvements
Sidewalk on both sides of a street to make more destinations safer for pedestrians to access.
Accessibility certification
The Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification program certifies accessibility of the built environment in Canada.
Crosswalk improvements
Identify destinations and “desire lines” where people want to cross. Shorten crossing distances with curb-extensions or median refuge islands.
Storefront Improvements
Improving the accessibility of paths, ramps, and entrances to make
Protection from the weather
Awnings and other canopies can protect from rain and snow, while trees can buffer strong winds.