Turnstiles and Security Gates at Entrances

Businesses with narrow revolving turnstiles located at the entrance exclude people with disabilities unless accessible gates or passages are provided. Standard narrow turnstiles are not usable by wheelchair users and by most people who walk with crutches, walkers, or canes. Whenever a narrow turnstile is used, an accessible turnstile, gate or opening must be provided, if doing so is readily achievable.

This type of turnstile is not accessible to most people with disabilities.

If an inaccessible turnstile is located at the entrance to the business and no accessible gate or entry is provided, it must be replaced or removed or an alternative accessible entrance provided, if doing so is readily achievable. For most businesses, removing or altering the turnstile is not difficult. For some businesses, providing an alternative accessible entrance may be an acceptable solution if the business has two or more doors that could function as entrances. For example, a store that has an inaccessible turnstile at the entrance but also has an exit door (with no turnstile) located near the cash register may be able to use the exit door as an alternative entrance. It may be readily achievable to add an accessible door handle to the outside of the exit door, install a sign that designates this door as the accessible entrance, and permit people with disabilities to enter through the exit door.

Eliminating the barrier caused by a turnstile may be accomplished by simply removing the turnstile and leaving the opening. To assure passage of people using wheelchairs, or crutches, the opening must be at least 32 inches wide. If it is not readily achievable to provide a minimum 32 inch wide opening, then the opening should be as wide as possible. If a security gate is required, then the turnstile may be removed and replaced with an accessible gate, if readily achievable. Where a business wishes to retain its standard turnstile, it may provide an accessible gate adjacent to the turnstile.

Removing the turnstile to provide an accessible passageway

An example of an accessible gate

An accessible gate provided adjacent to a turnstile