3) Double sets of doors that are "handicap accessible"
I went to college at place that touted its diverse, welcoming community as its best feature. However, visitors and sports-injured students soon learn that physical handicaps proved to be quite limiting when navigating the campus. From the steep hills to the sidewalks permanently cracked by New England winter storms, you must be in adequate physical shape to make it to class without getting a hernia. The most limiting aspect, however, are the double set of doors.
There's a nice red button situated in an extremely inconvenient position to the right of the first set of doors.
As a non-wheelchair-bound individual, reaching (or rather, finding) the button requires some effort. But to a handicapped person, I cannot imagine how difficult it is to wheel up to the button, push it, and then quickly wheel away as the doors respond, opening to the exact spot where you were just located so that you could reach the button.
So, let's say you made it through the first round of doors. Of course, your stress levels are high because you had to do some very quick wheel maneuvering to avoid getting hit by the very doors you were trying to get through.
This brings us to the awkward antechamber. As the first set of demon doors close behind you, another obstacle lies ahead.
Answer me this:
If you require the use of the first set of doors opening via hydraulics, why would the second set of doors not just open in succession?
What design idiot thought it was necessary to install a second button in the first place?!
This conundrum is not unique to my college campus. I have encountered this design flaw in numerous other places and actually cannot understand the logic behind it. I am fortunate that I am not wheelchair bound, but I'll be the first to admit it; there are times that I am feeling lazy (or more excusably, carrying one too many items to balance), and I realize how ridiculous it is that the double set of doors do not automatically open in unison.
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