Anyone see anything wrong with this picture? No? Maybe look a little closer.
Do you see a handicap accessible button or device?
How about even a door handle?
Yeah, I don't see either of those options. Now if you get really close to the door, you can grasp the fancy metal decor and pull the door open, but that only works if you can get really close to the door, which is somewhat difficult if you are using a walker, wheelchair, scooter or any other assistive device.
Should you manage to navigate the first door, it is usually followed by a second door to open before you actually enter the establishment. Having struggled with one unwieldly access point, a second one may seem unsurmountable. Or you might just be worn out from all the effort exerted from the first obstacle. Unless another patron comes along and offers assistance, you may have to live the rest of your short life stuck between the doors.
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| No automated door |
It's like this at most fast food eating establishments, or any restaurant for that matter. There are generally two doors to help maintain a comfortable atmosphere inside the facility. Understandable as no one wants to eat in a draft. These entrances are typically accessible by ramp and are wide enough to accommodate mobility equipment, although you may have to get past the door and turn around before being able to open it as it may swing the wrong way for proper access.
The main difference between a fast food establishment and a sit down restaurant is that at MOST of the table service eateries, there is a chance that one of the employees will offer to help with the doors. (I say most, as I have encountered eateries where employees stood and watched from behind the hostess stand as I fought my way through the double doors.)
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| Oops, door swings into the ramp. |
Go to a fast food restaurant and the chances of employee assistance at the door drops to nearly zero. Ninety percent of the employees in these eateries are located behind a counter and are often handling other patrons either at the aforementioned counter or over an elaborate headset worn to manage drive thru customers. The rest are preparing food and serving up an assortment of beverages. Occasionally, there is someone swiping at a table or emptying the trash, leaving their mobility challenged customers struggling at the entrance. That is about one quarter of the adult population left out in the rain.
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| Yes, there is a sticker showing ADA accessible, but no, there is no automated door opener. |
It's not like there isn't an alternative solution...
But they are expensive, right?
Well, sorta. The average commercial grade door opening system costs between $1500 - $4000. Installation usually takes around five hours and installation cost can range between $1000 to $1500 depending on location. Maintenance generally costs approximately $200 - $500 year. On the bright side, these automated doors usually only need replacement every 10 - 15 years.
Sounds expensive, until you factor in the annual revenue for the most recognized establishments in this country.
Individual McDonalds restaurants average 3.8 million dollars a year in sales. Taco Bell establishments average 1.6 million dollars a year. Wendy's locations average 1.97 million annually. Burger King eateries average about1.5 million annually. The average KFC pulls in 1.6 million. Portillo's (first doors pictured) does not break down their revenue per individual restaurant, but they did pull in 181 million dollars in the second quarter of 2024. (Average revenues listed above based on 2023 reported figures.)
So what's the excuse? Even my church has installed an automated door and they are a non-for-profit organization with far less revenue.
I recently read an article in The New York Post by the Jewish News Syndicate about New York City's iconic Katz's Deli (the one made famous by the movie when Harry met Sally). They were fined $20K for failing to comply with the ADA. Among the things citied against the famous New York Deli were...
The main entrance is not accessible...
(Wow, that sounds familiar.)
Now, the consent decree provides for staff to assist individuals with disabilities in using the main public entrance. (Full article can be read here: https://nypost.com/2025/01/02/us-news/iconic-katzs-deli-fined-20k-over-ada-violations/)
A victory over ONE location. Meanwhile... I'm still standing in the rain outside my local fast food joint waiting for one of my friends to meet me for coffee. I can't get the door open and remain upright utilizing my mobility equipment and there aren't any available employees.
Maybe I'll get lucky and another patron will come along and let me in.
