Award-winning design makes Hamilton more accessible

Hamilton City Council has been awarded the ‘Golden Foot Award’ for a kerb design at bus stops which makes public transport easier to access for people using wheelchairs, prams and mobility aids.

The ‘High Kerb’ was designed by Hamilton City Council City Transport Network Engineer Kirsty Horridge, and her colleagues have nick-named the design the ‘Kirsty Kerb.’

The height and design of the kerbs means the wheelchair ramp from the bus is an easy angle for people to use. This makes it easier for people with a variety of accessibility needs to use the city’s bus services, and get around the city more easily. It is a design based on a European model, but has been adapted to suit Hamilton’s bus service and local conditions. The first of the new design was installed in 2013, but different versions of the design have been trialled in the city since 2011.

“Throughout the design process, we have been speaking with representatives from our city’s disability sector to see what works best for them. We’ve also worked with Waikato Regional Council and bus operators, as part of the change in height of the kerb was to prevent damage to bus wheels,” Kirsty says.

There are around 55 of these kerbs in the city so far, and the Council plans to build around 15 more each year.

“We aim to build them in areas where they are the most needed, such as near shopping centres, retirement villages, hospitals and medical centres,” Kirsty says.

The ‘Golden Foot Awards’ were part of the 2 Walk and Cycle 2016 conference in Auckland on 6 to 8 July. The Hamilton project was nominated for an award by a Dunedin bus users support group, with support from CCS Waikato and the Public Transport Users Association.

The Awards celebrate and recognise New Zealand achievements for walkers, by acknowledging innovative new pedestrian facilities, highlighting national best practice, and rewarding ongoing commitment to walking.