36 CFR Part 1191 ABA Accessibility Guidelines, Outdoor Developed Areas - Preamble

1017.1 General

This section contains the technical requirements for trails. The technical requirements address the surface of the trails, passing spaces, and resting intervals (1017.2); the clear tread width of trails (1017.3); passing spaces (1017.4); tread obstacles (1017.5); openings (1017.6); slopes, including running slope (1017.7.1) and cross slope (1017.7.2); resting intervals (1017.8); protruding objects (1017.9); and trailhead signs (1017.10).

Two exceptions are provided. When an entity determines that a condition in 1019 does not permit full compliance with a specific provision in 1017 on a portion of a trail, Exception 1 permits the portion of trail to comply with the provision to the extent practicable. When an entity determines that it is impracticable for the entire trail to comply with the technical requirements in 1017, Exception 2 exempts the entire trail from complying with the requirements. This determination is made after the entity applies Exception 1 to portions of the trail. The entity should consider the portions of the trail that can and cannot fully comply with the specific provisions in 1017 and the extent of compliance where full compliance cannot be achieved when determining whether it would be impracticable for the entire trail to comply with the technical requirements in 1017. As discussed under F201.4.1, federal agencies are required to document the basis for their determination when using Exceptions 1 or 2, and are required notify us when using Exception 2.