Why Wavy? The Secret of Stair Handrails – Learning About Barrier-Free Facilities

Hello, elementary school students from around the world! I teach barrier-free (accessible) design to elementary and middle school students in Japan. I’m writing this article to share information about barrier-free (accessible) facilities in Japan with all of you. Let’s use this information about Japan’s barrier-free (accessible) facilities as a starting point to think about barrier-free (accessible) design in your own country!

What is Barrier-Free (Accessible) Design?

Barrier-free (accessible) design refers to the removal of obstacles (barriers) that make it difficult for people with disabilities or the elderly to participate in society. For example, by building ramps instead of stairs or installing tactile paving, we create an environment that’s easy for many people to use.

The Secret of Stair Handrails Quiz

Now, it’s quiz time!

Quiz Explanation

There’s a very important reason for the wavy handrails:

1. When going up the stairs: You can use the vertical part of the handrail as a “handle” to pull yourself up.
2. When going down the stairs: You can use the horizontal part like a “cane” to support your body.

Thanks to this wavy shape, one handrail can serve two purposes. Isn’t that amazing?

The wavy handrail has another advantage. Straight handrails can sometimes be slippery or hard to grip firmly. The wavy shape allows for a more secure grip and makes it easier to apply the necessary force.

Different Perspectives

There are various opinions about the shape of handrails. For example, in countries like the United States and in Europe, straight handrails are more common. This is because they allow users to maintain a continuous grip without letting go.

The important thing is to choose the best design for each country or region’s specific needs. All around the world, efforts are being made to create environments that are easy for everyone to use.

The Greatness of Barrier-Free (Accessible) Design

As you can see, there are many different ideas and approaches to barrier-free (accessible) facilities, each with its own merits. The important thing is that these designs consider the safety and ease of use not just for the elderly or people with disabilities, but for everyone. This is what makes barrier-free (accessible) facilities so great!

What You Can Do

There are many things that elementary school students like you can do to help create a barrier-free (accessible) society:

1. Be considerate: Pay attention to the people around you, and if someone seems to need help, try offering assistance.
2. Use barrier-free (accessible) facilities with care: Take good care of elevators, handrails, and other facilities.
3. Learn about barrier-free (accessible) design: The more you know, the more new discoveries you might make!

Barrier-Free (Accessible) Design Explorers

Now, there should be many barrier-free (accessible) facilities in your town too. Let’s try to find the wavy handrails we learned about today and other barrier-free (accessible) facilities:

• What shape are the handrails in your school or park?
• Where are the elevators located in stations or libraries?
• Where can you find tactile paving?

If you observe your surroundings like this, you might discover many barrier-free (accessible) facilities you hadn’t noticed before. Explore the barrier-free (accessible) features in your town and think about how to create an environment that’s easy for everyone to use!