Why Staircases Are an Uphill Battle for Inclusion – Choose Ramps Instead
Let’s cut to the chase: staircases are great. If you’re a mountain goat.
For everyone else, especially those with mobility challenges, stairs can be an imposing, inconvenient, and downright exclusionary part of urban and architectural design. That’s where ramps come in. In the age-old battle of staircases vs. ramps, the latter is the obvious winner when it comes to inclusive design. Yet, time and again, buildings and public spaces are still littered with steps, leaving many of us to question: Are we designing for people, or just for convenience?
The Myth of Multitasking Stairs
Staircases have often been celebrated as a versatile design element. They add vertical movement, provide shortcuts, and give architects an opportunity to show off their grandiose visions (hello, marble steps!). But in reality, stairs are quite limited in their audience. If you’ve ever had a broken leg, carried a pram, or tried to push a wheelchair up a flight of stairs, you’ll know that stairs don’t play nicely with everyone. They're exclusive by nature, requiring physical ability, balance, and coordination just to perform the simple task of moving from one level to another. They don’t offer much flexibility for people who are differently-abled, elderly, or parents juggling their children and bags of groceries.
And let's not even start on the humiliation of tripping up them. Because stairs are equal opportunity embarrassers!
Ramps: The Slope of Equality
Now, ramps. Glorious, smooth, non-judgmental ramps. Ramps offer something stairs will never be able to: accessibility for all. They are the real multitaskers, accommodating wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, and people of varying mobility levels. But ramps aren’t just for those with mobility challenges; they help anyone who might find stairs difficult or exhausting. A ramp doesn't discriminate based on age, injury, or the number of shopping bags you’re lugging.
Here’s the kicker – ramps aren’t even that radical. We already know they’re better for inclusivity, yet ramps are often treated like afterthoughts, as if they’re a "nice-to-have" rather than essential. Buildings are still being designed with grand staircases and tiny side ramps tucked away as an apology. If a ramp is an afterthought, what does that say about the people who rely on it?
Design with Empathy, Not Ego
Why do we keep building staircases at all, then? Could it be that we are still trapped in a mindset where 'convenience' trumps empathy? Where aesthetics are prioritized over equity? Stairs represent a kind of able-bodied privilege in design – a relic of the past where mobility was assumed to be uniform. The truth is, inclusive design isn't just about catering to the majority, it’s about ensuring access for everyone.
By choosing ramps over stairs, we signal that our spaces welcome all. We design with empathy, and that’s something a staircase can never achieve. A ramp, however, opens doors—literally and figuratively—to a more inclusive future.
Let’s Ramp It Up
At the end of the day, ramps aren’t just a practical solution; they are a step (pun intended) towards a more compassionate and inclusive world. They challenge outdated design norms and invite us to rethink what accessibility truly means. So, next time you’re standing at the foot of a grand staircase, take a moment to appreciate how it looks... and then imagine how it feels for someone who can’t use it.
Ramps may not be as flashy, but they’re the unsung heroes of inclusive design. And honestly, isn’t it time we gave them centre stage?
Now, let’s ditch the stairs. They’ve had their turn.