Stairway to Heaven

[cec1]

. . . with credit to Led Zeplin!

The stairway to a new vista point at La Tourmente has been opened this week. Very nicely done . . . and a bit of a workout to get to the top.

 

[cassidain]

Cool

 

[le_reve]

Great view!

 

[GMP62]

Love that! Can’t wait to check it out in April!

 

[Roland Steiger]

I'm in awe every time little projects like this are realized

 

[dadto6]

I feel for the stone masons and carpenters that had to carry it all up to the top

 

[elgreaux]

Handicapped access?

 

[cec1]

Handicapped access?

Interesting point, Ellen . . . what are French rules?

 

[Jim Kelly-Evans]

Love the flat stones and solid footing.

 

[JEK]

Handicapped access?

Even in the US of A with ADA, that would be a tough one. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) says it must be set at a Pitch of 1:12. This means that for every 1 inch of rise or step height there must be at least 1 foot length of ramp. If the lookout is 30' higher than the roundabout a ramp would need to be 30 X 12 = 630 feet long. Of course it could be switchbacked to conserve space, but it is still a lot of real estate.

 

[cassidain]

I'm recalling the scene where an open cable-operated lift hoists Parmalee up the sheer cliff to the monastery in The Boy on a Dolphin

 

[elgreaux]

Looks like since 2005 there has been a law in France: Law of 11 February 2005
This law specifies that accessibility for disabled people, regardless of their category of disability (physical, visual, hearing or mental), to establishments receiving the public or places open to the public will become mandatory on 1 January 2015.

Is that stairway a "public place"?

In John's example does that mean in the States or elsewhere the laws can be skirted if the access if too difficult to meet ADA standards?

Here they also built a permanent stage on the dock by the Wall House Museum, with stairs for access on the front and the back, where they could have easily been a ramp on one side or the other. Imagine a child or adult in a wheelchair who wins an award for something but cannot access the stage for the award ceremony due to lack of access. You'd think public projects would take these things into consideration.

Back to the staircase, lovely views from up there. They had to take out the original version put in a few months ago, as they didn't put in any landings, it was a strait up set of stairs - and the law requires the landing every certain number of steps, so that is one very expensive project.

 

[JEK]

In John's example does that mean in the States or elsewhere the laws can be skirted if the access if too difficult to meet ADA standards?

I think there is practicality exclusion in certain cases.

 

[ouanalao]

In my modest opinion, a little path around the bushes would have been enough and a lot less ugly.. And probably easier on our elders knees..

 

[KevinS]

I remember being told, when Le Vietnam closed, that there would probably never be another restaurant at that location because of the accessibility issues.

 

[cassidain]

I remember being told, when Le Vietnam closed, that there would probably never be another restaurant at that location because of the accessibility issues.

idem L'Isola
maybe enter thru back door

 

[cec1]

View attachment 69313
idem L'Isola
maybe enter thru back door

I was thinking the same thing . . . many places with stairs & not handicap accessible — L’Isola so prominent among them.

 

[Max1030]

So good they did it twice! Built, torn out and built again. I would have to say a sidewalk from the airport to the roundabout would have been a better choice for civic project

 

[mattdinzey]

I remember being told, when Le Vietnam closed, that there would probably never be another restaurant at that location because of the accessibility issues.

I ate there when it was "Saigon"!

 

[Hawke]

Well done!