Curb-Cut Effect

The Curb-Cut Effect is the phenomenon whereby facilities designed for people with disabilities are used and appreciated by a wider group of people than those for whom they were originally intended. The phenomenon is named after ‘curb cuts’ – small ramps that form part of the pavement – which were originally installed at specific points to provide access for wheelchair users, but which have also become popular with people using pushchairs, shopping trolleys or carrying luggage. Curb cuts are now ubiquitous and are no longer generally perceived as facilities for people with disabilities. The curb-cut effect is a sub-area of universal design, which focuses on the deliberate design of an environment that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.