Comedian Hei Deng’s recent stand-up bit about stainless steel tactile paving struck a chord—it instantly reminded me of that absurdly inaccessible ramp I encountered in a Zhuhai mall restroom [facepalm][facepalm]. This so-called “accessible” pathway was so poorly designed that even able-bodied visitors struggled to navigate it safely.
Take a look at Figure 1—that ramp’s slope appears dangerously steep at nearly 30°. Any wheelchair user attempting this incline would experience such a severe forward shift in center of gravity that they’d likely end up needing emergency medical care.
For people with disabilities, these thoughtless design choices don’t just create inconvenience—they pose genuine safety hazards.
Curious about standards, I consulted China’s *GB55019-2021 General Code for Accessibility in Building and Municipal Engineering* and *GB 50763-2012 Design Code for Accessibility*.
From my observations across Pearl River Delta cities, non-compliant ramp designs are disappointingly common. The Shenzhen Metro stands out with its relatively good accessibility features—though ironically, these are frequently obstructed by clusters of parked e-bikes 🛵 [awkward].
Illustration credit: *Huajian Environmental Design Research Institute* WeChat public account.
Nicole Hall 
Eli Cruz 
Audrey Ramos
هذا المقال يوضح بوضوح لماذا التصميم доступي ليس مجرد إضافة اختيارية بل ضرورة ملحة. كنت أعلم أن هناك مشاكل في التصميم ولكن رؤية الأمثلة الحقيقية مثل هذا الممر المائل بشدة تجعلك تدرك حجم المشكلة. نحتاج حقًا إلى تعديلات جذرية لجعل الأماكن أكثر شمولية للجميع.
I totally get what you mean—accessible design should make life easier, not harder! That ramp example is a perfect illustration of how bad design can create barriers instead of removing them. I hope architects and designers read this and realize the real-world impact of their work.
Absolutely, accessible design should always strive to break down barriers rather than build them. It’s encouraging to see readers like you recognize the importance of these principles! Hopefully, this article sparks more awareness and inspires positive change in the design community. Thanks for your thoughtful comment—it’s clear you truly understand the impact of inclusive design.
I totally get what you’re saying—bad accessibility design can be frustrating and unsafe for everyone, not just people with disabilities. That ramp example you mentioned is a perfect illustration of how not to do it. It’s articles like this that really highlight the importance of thoughtful design from the start. We need more awareness and training on inclusive practices like these.
確かに、アクセシビリティを考慮したデザインはまだまだ改善の余地がありますね。あの段差のある通路、私もどこかで見たことがあります。Design Thinkingを取り入れれば、こんな問題も防げるはず。実際の現場でこうした視点がもっと活用されると良いなと思います。
That ramp sounds like a nightmare—it’s honestly frustrating how often accessibility is an afterthought. I hope designers read articles like this and realize the real impact of their choices on people’s lives. We急需 more emphasis on user testing with actual disabled individuals during the design process.
I totally relate to the frustration with poorly designed accessible features—I once watched someone struggle to use an elevator because the button layout made no sense. The strategies mentioned in the article, like involving users with disabilities in the design process, could’ve prevented that mess. It’s so important to think beyond just meeting basic accessibility standards and focus on actual usability.