I need to take the time to drive down to "my" grate and put together a picture.

Imagine your original photo, with the grate across the direction of traffic - perpendicular to the ramp. What folks in my city here are missing is that there are TWO traffic directions - car travel direction and crossing direction - bikes or wheelchairs traveling onto or off of the sidewalk can get et by the grate. Again, since bikes are allowed on Oregon sidewalks, as are wheelchairs, the grate needs straps on it regardless.