has not been incorporated in the Department of Justice accessibility standards and therefore is not enforceable.
Newly designed or newly constructed and altered recreation facilities shall comply with the applicable requirements of section 4 and the special application sections, except as modified or otherwise provided in this section. Appendix Note
15.1* Amusement Rides Appendix Note
15.1.1 General. Newly designed or newly constructed and altered amusement rides shall comply with 15.1.
EXCEPTION 1*: Mobile or portable amusement rides shall not be required to comply with 15.1. Appendix Note
EXCEPTION 2*: Amusement rides which are controlled or operated by the rider shall be required to comply only with 15.1.4 and 15.1.5. Appendix Note
EXCEPTION 3*: Amusement rides designed primarily for children, where children are assisted on and off the ride by an adult, shall be required to comply only with 15.1.4 and 15.1.5. Appendix Note
EXCEPTION 4: Amusement rides without amusement ride seats shall be required to comply only with 15.1.4 and 15.1.5.
15.1.2* Alterations to Amusement Rides. A modification to an existing amusement ride is an alteration subject to 15.1 if one or more of the following conditions apply:
1. The amusement ride’s structural or operational characteristics are changed to the extent that the ride’s performance differs from that specified by the manufacturer or the original design criteria; or
2. The load and unload area of the amusement ride is newly designed and constructed. Appendix Note
15.1.3 Number Required. Each amusement ride shall provide at least one wheelchair space complying with 15.1.7, or at least one amusement ride seat designed for transfer complying with 15.1.8, or at least one transfer device complying with 15.1.9.
15.1.4* Accessible Route. When in the load and unload position, amusement rides required to comply with 15.1 shall be served by an accessible route complying with 4.3. Any part of an accessible route serving amusement rides with a slope greater than 1:20 shall be considered a ramp and shall comply with 4.8. Appendix Note
EXCEPTION 1: The maximum slope specified in 4.8.2 shall not apply in the load and unload areas or on the amusement ride where compliance is structurally or operationally infeasible, provided that the slope of the ramp shall not exceed 1:8.
EXCEPTION 2: Handrails shall not be required in the load and unload areas or on the amusement ride where compliance is structurally or operationally infeasible.
EXCEPTION 3: Limited-use/limited-application elevators and platform lifts complying with 4.11 shall be permitted to be part of an accessible route serving the load and unload area.
15.1.5 Load and Unload Areas. Load and unload areas serving amusement rides required to comply with 15.1 shall provide a maneuvering space complying with 4.2.3. The maneuvering space shall have a slope not steeper than 1:48.
15.1.6 Signage. Signage shall be provided at the entrance of the queue or waiting line for each amusement ride to identify the type of access provided. Where an accessible unload area also serves as the accessible load area, signage shall be provided at the entrance to the queue or waiting line indicating the location of the accessible load and unload area.
15.1.7 Amusement Rides with Wheelchair Spaces. Amusement rides with wheelchair spaces shall comply with 15.1.7.
15.1.7.1 Floor or Ground Surface. The floor or ground surface of wheelchair spaces shall comply with 15.1.7.1.
15.1.7.1.1 Slope. The floor or ground surface of wheelchair spaces shall have a slope not steeper than 1:48 when in the load and unload position and shall be stable and firm.
15.1.7.1.2* Gaps. Floors of amusement rides with wheelchair spaces and floors of load and unload areas shall be coordinated so that, when the amusement rides are at rest in the load and unload position, the vertical difference between the floors shall be within plus or minus 5/8 inches (16 mm) and the horizontal gap shall be no greater than 3 inches (75 mm) under normal passenger load conditions. Appendix Note
EXCEPTION: Where compliance is not operationally or structurally feasible, ramps, bridge plates, or similar devices complying with the applicable requirements of 36 C.F.R. 1192.83(c) shall be provided.
15.1.7.2 Clearances. Clearances for wheelchair spaces shall comply with 15.1.7.2.
EXCEPTION 1: Where provided, securement devices shall be permitted to overlap required clearances.
EXCEPTION 2: Wheelchair spaces shall be permitted to be mechanically or manually repositioned.
EXCEPTION 3*: Wheelchair spaces shall not be required to comply with 4.4.2. Appendix Note
15.1.7.2.1 Width and Length. Wheelchair spaces shall provide a clear width of 30 inches (760 mm) minimum and a clear length of 48 inches (1220 mm) minimum measured to 9 inches (230 mm) minimum above the floor surface.
15.1.7.2.2* Wheelchair Spaces - Side Entry. Where the wheelchair space can be entered only from the side, the ride shall be designed to permit sufficient maneuvering space for individuals using a wheelchair or mobility device to enter and exit the ride. Appendix Note
15.1.7.2.3 Protrusions in Wheelchair Spaces. Objects are permitted to protrude a distance of 6 inches (150 mm) maximum along the front of the wheelchair space where located 9 inches (230 mm) minimum and 27 inches (685 mm) maximum above the floor or ground surface of the wheelchair space. Objects are permitted to protrude a distance of 25 inches (635 mm) maximum along the front of the wheelchair space, where located more than 27 inches (685 mm) above the floor or ground surface of the wheelchair space (see Fig. 58).
15.1.7.3 Openings. Where openings are provided to access wheelchair spaces on amusement rides, the entry shall provide a 32 inch (815 mm) minimum clear opening.
15.1.7.4 Approach. One side of the wheelchair space shall adjoin an accessible route.
15.1.7.5 Companion Seats. Where the interior width of the amusement ride is greater than 53 inches (1346 mm), seating is provided for more than one rider, and the wheelchair is not required to be centered within the amusement ride, a companion seat shall be provided for each wheelchair space.
15.1.7.5.1 Shoulder-to-Shoulder Seating. Where an amusement ride provides shoulder-to-shoulder seating, companion seats shall be shoulder-to-shoulder with the adjacent wheelchair space.
EXCEPTION: Where shoulder-to-shoulder companion seating is not operationally or structurally feasible, compliance with this provision shall be required to the maximum extent feasible.
15.1.8* Amusement Ride Seats Designed for Transfer. Amusement ride seats designed for transfer shall comply with 15.1.8 when positioned for loading and unloading. Appendix Note
15.1.8.1 Clear Floor or Ground Space. Clear floor or ground space complying with 4.2.4 shall be provided in the load and unload area adjacent to the amusement ride seats designed for transfer.
15.1.8.2 Transfer Height. The height of the amusement ride seats shall be 14 inches (355 mm) minimum to 24 inches (610mm) maximum measured above the load and unload surface.
15.1.8.3 Transfer Entry. Where openings are provided to transfer to amusement ride seats, the space shall be designed to provide clearance for transfer from a wheelchair or mobility device to the amusement ride seat.
15.1.8.4 Wheelchair Storage Space. Wheelchair storage spaces complying with 4.2.4 shall be provided in or adjacent to unload areas for each required amusement ride seat designed for transfer and shall not overlap any required means of egress or accessible route.
15.1.9* Transfer Devices for Use with Amusement Rides. Transfer devices for use with amusement rides shall comply with 15.1.9 when positioned for loading and unloading. Appendix Note
15.1.9.1 Clear Floor or Ground Space. Clear floor or ground space complying with 4.2.4 shall be provided in the load and unload area adjacent to the transfer devices.
15.1.9.2 Transfer Height. The height of the transfer device seats shall be 14 inches (355 mm) minimum to 24 inches (610 mm) maximum measured above the load and unload surface.
15.1.9.3 Wheelchair Storage Space. Wheelchair storage spaces complying with 4.2.4 shall be provided in or adjacent to unload areas for each required transfer device and shall not overlap any required means of egress or accessible route.