This image was taken at a city park.
Note that there is a metal sheet that goes over a drainage channel. The structure features two yellow guard rails that are probably there to keep someone in a wheelchair from falling off the sheet.
The metal sheet connects two sections of sidewalk. The height between the sidewalk and the parking lot is precisely the same as the height between the metal sheet and the parking lot.
I have to wonder why the yellow guard rails were purchased and installed. A person in a wheelchair would fall no further from the metal sheet to the parking lot than they would from the sidewalk to the parking lot.
As for falling into the drainage channel, a 6 inch high rail would serve to prevent that.
Then again, maybe I am missing something.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
Good question. Maybe they are trying to control the flow of pedestrian traffic?
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HAHAHAHA. pedestrian traffic!!!!!!!!! great one.
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A smal railing would be a perfect thing for people to trip on and fall into the ditch face first. I’d say the high railings are more for a person with a visual disability who comes along a sudden little change in the sidewalk and needs the railing to prevent “venturing” along the sides and to know to continue straight on the path. People in wheelchairs are pretty good about looking for the curbcuts to get off or on the sidewalk, but, needless to say, a 6 inch fall from the sidewalk or from the metal sheet is not something to risk for any able-bodied or disabled person. For example, some electric chairs are so heavy… a tipover could be very troublesome.
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EARTHQUAKE? … HIGHWIND? …
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