All of us are affected by where we live. Unfortunately, despite the ADA's over three-decade existence, many American cities still lag in accessible design, making daily routines more complicated for those with disabilities.
City-planning, or urban planning, is a technical process that focuses on the development and infrastructure of urban areas. In addition, city planners consider the economic, social, and cultural aspects to determine specific city needs.
However, city planning often fails to consider the needs of its residents with disabilities. This is especially true for urban roadsides, crosswalks, sidewalks, and curb-cuts.
By focusing on speed and efficiency over accessibility, popular urban planning models often ignore people with disabilities, but progress is slowly being made.
Common city planning oversights
According to the CDC, 61 million people in the U.S. (about 25 percent) have a disability that limits vital life activities. Mobility is the most common disability type, affecting 1 in 7 adults.
New research shows that 65 percent of curb ramps and 48 percent of sidewalks are not accessible to individuals with mobility impairments. Many sidewalks are inaccessible to people who use a walker or wheelchair and a lack of ramps at doorways may block those with wheelchairs from entering entirely.
It’s important to note, people with mobility disabilities aren’t the only ones impacted by these oversights. Parents with young children, older adults, and pregnant women are just a few other groups affected by faulty urban planning.
Researchers at the Great Lakes ADA Center found that only 13% of all government facilities meet current ADA standards. Inaccessible cities contribute to lower rates of daily travel for people with disabilities. However, it can also mean a more dangerous trip.
Swiftness and convenience in design appear to be valuable explanations for these urban planning mistakes. In 2020, Bloomberg reported on "15-minute cities" that attempt to offer residents what they need in a rapid amount of time. Unfortunately, the entire concept of a “15-minute city” can only exist through an inaccessible lens. Cities made for this sort of convenience assume everyone can walk or bike to their most essential services within 15 minutes of their home, ignoring that many do not have this option.
Although most people will eventually need places like grocery stores and government buildings regardless of their mobility, how individuals interact with those spaces varies greatly.
Even a trip to the grocery store can look very different for someone with a physical disability. Lack of accessible sidewalks on the route there, no curb cuts for those with vision impairments and wheelchairs, and no automated doors to the entrance can mean severe barriers or even cancelation of what should be a convenient trip.
While saving time is important, urban planning must reflect and accommodate diverse populations and abilities.
What accessible city planning can look like
A March 2017 survey revealed that over 20 percent of people with mobility disabilities experienced at least one building, service, or transportation barrier while participating in their daily routine. Thankfully, much progress has been achieved in recent years.
As of 2015, the federal government began concentrating on ADA transition plans, focusing on bringing cities into modern accessibility standards. Studies show that states that succeed the most with these updates use financial incentives.
States like Indiana have greatly improved since implementing mandated ADA transition plans that motivate city planners to bring accessibility into early infrastructure conversations.
Not only are governments improving accessibility, but so are major corporations. Google maps, for example, has steadily added accessibility features like wheelchair-accessible transit routes and other tools.
Apps and smaller projects like Project Sidewalk work with larger companies to help excel current progress. Project Sidewalk is an online crowdsourcing game that lets anyone with an internet connection use Google Street View to explore neighborhoods and label curb ramps virtually.
As we continue to work together for more accessible city planning, it’s essential to include those with disabilities in the conversation. In addition, urban planning must consider the economic, cultural, and social aspects of a city and the varying abilities and mobility found in any given city.
Rather than being considered a hassle or something to overcome, mobility differences can motivate better design. People with disabilities are not a monolith, which is true for every individual. A more diverse and inclusive approach to city planning may be the most accessible way to think of infrastructure.
Comments