A continuous accessible path of travel is the practical thread that connects an accessible building together. It is not enough for a project to include an accessible ramp, lift, toilet, reception counter or car parking space if the route between those elements is interrupted by poor surface falls, tight turns, furniture, door conflicts, drainage grates, thresholds or confusing wayfinding.
For architects, building designers, developers, building surveyors, facility managers, owners and councils, the key question is simple: can people move from the site arrival point to the building’s required spaces in a predictable, dignified and usable way? This article provides a practical design and audit checklist for Australian projects. It is general information only and is not legal advice, certification advice or project-specific compliance advice.
Why paths of travel are a high-risk coordination item
Accessible paths of travel cut across almost every discipline. Architecture sets the route, structure sets levels, civil design sets external falls, interiors place furniture, landscape design affects paving and planting, services add grates and pits, and operations teams later add signage, bins, display stands or queue barriers. Each item may look minor in isolation, but the combined result can make an accessible route difficult or impossible to use.
The Australian National Construction Code Volume One Part D4 deals with access for people with disability and covers which buildings and parts of buildings must be accessible, along with matters such as accessible carparking, signage, tactile ground surface indicators and access to certain facilities. The Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards and the Disability Discrimination Act also sit behind the broader access framework. AS 1428.1 is the key Australian Standard commonly referenced for general access and mobility requirements in new building work.
1. Start with the whole journey, not the nearest detail
A useful review starts before the doorway. Map the route from the boundary, accessible car parking, passenger drop-off point, public footpath, building entrance, reception, lifts, toilets, common rooms, work areas and any public-facing destinations. For schools, health facilities, aged-care buildings, hotels, retail premises and council facilities, the route often includes multiple decision points before the user reaches the main destination.
Mark the route on plan and ask whether it is obvious, direct and usable. If the accessible route is hidden behind a service door, substantially longer than the main route, dependent on staff intervention, or unclear to a first-time visitor, the design may create a poor user experience even where individual details appear compliant.
2. Check width, passing and turning where people actually move
Clear width is not just a number on a corridor schedule. Real-world access can be affected by skirting, handrails, door hardware, wall protection, furniture, fire extinguishers, display stands, reception queues, bins, pot plants and temporary signs. A corridor or external walkway that is adequate on an empty plan may narrow quickly once the building is occupied.
Project teams should review pinch points at entries, lift lobbies, toilet approaches, reception counters, retail aisles, school corridors and health waiting areas. Consider whether a person using a wheelchair, mobility scooter, walking frame, cane, assistance dog or pram can move, pass, pause and turn without being forced into an unsafe manoeuvre.
3. Review surface, crossfall and level changes together
Surface condition is one of the most common reasons a path of travel fails in practice. Uneven pavers, settlement, excessive crossfall, abrupt lips, soft landscaping edges, glossy floors, loose mats and poorly aligned thresholds can all create barriers. These issues are especially important for existing buildings, outdoor paths and staged refurbishments.
Do not review surface finish separately from drainage and levels. A path may be smooth but too steep across the direction of travel. A drain may be in the right place hydraulically but awkward for wheels, canes or walking aids. A threshold may be convenient for waterproofing but disruptive for access. A targeted building accessibility audit should measure the installed condition, not rely only on drawings.
4. Coordinate doors, thresholds and circulation spaces
Many path-of-travel problems are door problems in disguise. A route may be wide enough until a person reaches a heavy door, awkward latch-side clearance, high threshold, door mat, security reader or intercom placed outside easy reach. Double doors, automatic doors, fire doors and heritage doors all need coordinated access review.
When checking a doorway, consider the approach direction, door swing, circulation space, hardware, threshold, floor finish and any nearby furniture or signage. ASN’s guide to accessible door hardware requirements is a useful companion check because door usability can make or break the whole path.
5. Make the route legible through lighting, contrast and wayfinding
Accessibility is not only about physical clearance. People also need to identify where to go. Lighting, glare, visual contrast, signage, floor patterning and the placement of reception or information points can either support or undermine a continuous accessible path of travel.
Highly patterned floors, glossy finishes and low-contrast junctions can make a route harder to read. Where finishes are subtle, luminance contrast testing may help project teams test whether important features are visually distinguishable. Wayfinding should be coordinated with accessible signage, not added after the path is already constrained.
6. Use TGSI carefully and only where they support the route
Tactile ground surface indicators can help warn or orient people, but they must be placed in the right context. Poorly placed TGSI can create confusion, add clutter, interfere with turning spaces, or conflict with doors, stairs, ramps and furniture. The goal is a coherent route, not simply more tactile tiles.
Review TGSI from all likely approach directions. Check whether the tactile information aligns with the actual path people will take and whether it remains clear after furniture, mat wells, queue barriers or temporary signage are installed. ASN’s article on common TGSI installation errors highlights how often good intent is weakened by poor coordination.
7. Plan for furniture, operations and future change
Some access barriers appear after handover. A route that was clear on opening day can become blocked by café furniture, display stands, bins, queue ropes, classroom storage, temporary works or seasonal decorations. Facility managers need a practical understanding of what must remain clear and why.
For existing buildings, the audit should identify both fixed building issues and operational risks. For new projects, the design team should provide enough information for the operator to maintain the route. That may include furniture layouts, signage locations, maintenance notes and clear responsibilities for keeping the path of travel usable.
8. Inspect the installed route before practical completion
A final access inspection is valuable because small site changes can alter the route. Paving may settle differently from the drawings. Door thresholds may change during waterproofing. A drainage grate may shift during civil works. A joinery unit may encroach into a circulation space. A handrail, sign or bollard may be installed exactly where a person needs to move.
Before practical completion, walk and measure the route from arrival to destination. Photograph defects, note locations clearly and prioritise issues that affect safety, independence and access to essential facilities. Where the route is complex, ASN’s access peer review or accessibility assessment services can help project teams identify issues before they are expensive to fix.
Quick checklist for project teams
- Map the route from site arrival points to key building destinations.
- Check clear width, passing and turning at real pinch points.
- Review surface condition, crossfall, thresholds, drainage and level changes together.
- Coordinate doors, hardware, mats, controls and circulation spaces.
- Check lighting, glare, visual contrast, signage and wayfinding along the route.
- Review TGSI placement against the actual approach path and adjacent hazards.
- Plan for furniture, operations, maintenance and future changes.
- Inspect the installed route before handover and document defects clearly.
When to involve an access consultant
Involve an access consultant early when the route crosses multiple disciplines, includes existing levels, connects car parking to entries, serves public or shared facilities, or depends on tight door, ramp, lift or corridor coordination. Early review can prevent expensive late changes and help the team create a route that works in practice as well as on paper.
ASN can assist with access consulting across Australia, design reviews, site inspections and access audits. If a path-of-travel issue affects your project, a focused review can help clarify the risk and the next practical step.