A difference in level, incline and closs slope on sidewalks are serious barriers for aged and physically handicapped persons. However, even if they are small, roughness of sidewalk would increase wheelchair traveling load in case of rough sidewalk.
In this study, measurements of longitudinal profile and torque of wheelchair traveling at a constant speed were conducted at 5m length test sections on steep and rough sidewalks. The relationship between the longitudinal profile and the wheelchair traveling load was also analyzed. It was found that the wheelchair traveling load cased by roughness could be estimated from the longitudinal profile.