Table 4 Rank order of the environmental barriers contributing most to the accessibility problem score in the close exterior surroundings and at entrances, according to functional profile and housing type (N = 1021)

Exterior surroundings

 Paths narrower than 1.5 m

24

25

26

30

12

15

18

18

 Irregular/uneven surface

7

10

8

5

5

7

5

5

 Unstable surface

18

20

19

20

8

12

8

8

 Steep gradient

19

21

24

22

20

21

23

23

 Routes with steps

27

27

31

32

14

16

21

21

 No/insufficient tactile cues of abrupt level change

^e

^e

^e

28

^e

^e

29

29

 High kerbs

2

5

7

10

9

13

17

17

 Kerb ramps with steep gradients

15

17

18

24

19

20

28

28

 No handrails on steep gradients

16

18

30

31

16

17

30

30

 No resting surface or too long distances between them on slopes

21

22

29

33

26

27

32

32

 Poor lightning along circulation paths

28

28

22

23

18

19

12

12

 Passenger loading zone far from entrance

22

23

28

21

22

23

19

19

 No/too few seating places

3

6

15

16

28

28

33

33

 Refuse room/bin can only be reached via steps or other difference in level

9

12

10

7

17

18

16

16

 Letterbox can only be reached via steps or other difference in level

25

26

27

25

23

24

22

22

 Refuse bin difficult to reach

14

3

4

11

13

3

10

10

 Letterbox difficult to reach

13

2

2

8

11

2

7

7

 Narrow door openings

^e

^e

25

29

^e

^e

26

26

Entrances

 High thresholds and/or steps at the entrance

6

9

6

4

2

4

2

2

 Insufficient manoeuvring space at doors, outside and inside

^e

^e

14

15

^e

^e

9

9

 No resting area in front of entrance door

^e

^e

23

26

^e

^e

27

27

 Heavy doors without automatic door opener

11

4

11

12

15

8

20

20

 Doors do not stay in open position/close quickly

10

13

12

9

21

22

24

24

 Complicated/illogical opening procedure

20

16

20

18

27

26

31

31

 Stairs the only route (no lift/ramp)

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

 High, low and/or irregular heights of risers

23

24

32

27

10

14

15

15

 No handrails/handrail only on one side

12

14

17

17

7

11

13

14

 Handrails too short

17

19

21

3

24

25

25

4

 Narrow doors to sitting-out place/balcony

^e

^e

16

14

^e

^e

14

13

 High threshold/level difference/step to sitting-out place/balcony

5

8

5

19

4

6

4

25

 Storage areas can only be reached via steps or other difference in level

4

7

3

2

3

5

3

3

 Laundry room can only be reached via steps or other difference in level

8

11

9

6

6

10

6

6

 Inappropriate design of door to laundry room

26

15

13

13

25

9

11

11