Planning and Developing Trails and Routes - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 209

Figure 6.10 An accessible beach trail in Denmark
Besides the important ecological role of hardening as discussed earlier,
surface material and design also play a salient role in allowing access for
older recreationists or people with disabilities (Mudway, 2004). For example,
although they may be aesthetically pleasing, wood chips are difficult
and sometimes dangerous for people who use wheelchairs or prosthetics
(Laufenberg, 2004). They can also present hazards for the elderly or visually
impaired. Engineered wood fiber, concrete, asphalt or wooden planks have
found considerable success on many trails, as these are firm and stable and
facilitate more inclusive access.
Edge protection can increase safety and help mitigate negative ecological
consequences of trail use (Watson, 1982). Trail edges should be at least
75 mm high to be obvious and detectable for people with impaired vision
who might use a cane (Malibu Parks, 2006).
Another means of advancing the accessibility of trails is having employ-
ees devoted specifically to adaptive experiences. While most of the world's
routes and footpaths are not able to offer this option, it is fairly common-
place on publicly managed trails where inclusive accommodations are usually
required by law. Most national parks and other public lands agencies in
the US and the UK have accessibility coordinators on staff, whose job is to
facilitate disability access and oversee legal compliance (Haynes & Cope,
1998). Other organizations and associations have trained volunteers who
accompany people with disabilities along a trail. Despite the difficulties asso-
ciated with unpaved and steep trails, one person with limited mobility noted
'I want the challenge of hills and sand' (quoted in Bork, 1989: 23). These
sorts of adapted recreational programs that allow people with disabilities to
go beyond the 'easy' sections of a trail illustrate the importance of providing