From Challenges to Solutions: Building Inclusive Transport for All
About
Inclusion, universal access, and empathy are key to building mobility systems that serve all members of society. It is vital to prioritize the needs of underrepresented groups — such as women, the elderly, children, and people with disabilities — through participatory decision-making in planning and delivering mobility infrastructure. Ensuring accessibility and universal design is essential for creating inclusive cities. Persons with disabilities are often overlooked, yet their needs should be central. Accessible public spaces and transportation options make mobility usable for everyone, regardless of their ability.
To identify key challenges, solutions and next steps in creating universally accessible cities, ITDP and Transforming Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI) are working together to improve mobility access for people with disabilities, focusing on regions like Latin America, Africa, and Asia. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the challenges people with disabilities face and provide practical guidance for more inclusive transport systems. Elements to this collaboration include the formation of an advisory board of experts, a research report, this visual policy brief, and various multimedia materials to create awareness of inclusive practices.
Learn more in the Hamburg Charter for Inclusive and Just Mobility, signed by ITDP, TUMI, and other global partners.
This report highlights a comprehensive process of engaging the disability community to address barriers in urban transport. Through deep dives, surveys, and a Disability Advisory Board, insights were gathered to shape recommendations for policymakers, urban planners, and advocates. The focus on cross-sector collaboration and participatory planning helped identify key challenges and opportunities to create universally accessible mobility systems. Solutions presented in the report stemming from discussions and literature review:
- Addressing Cultural and Systemic Bias: Promote awareness and training to ensure accessibility is prioritized in transport design.
- Strengthening Collaboration: Foster intersectoral partnerships between governments, advocates, and private sectors to advance inclusive mobility.
- Comprehensive Planning: Integrate accessibility into all aspects of urban transport, ensuring seamless connections between modes and removing barriers, prioritize full-trip accessibility, from first to last mile.
- Inclusive Policies and Representation: Integrate people with disabilities into decision-making processes to shape effective policies and urban planning.
Learn More
- Continue reading on the ITDP Blog →
- View more of ITDP’s “Access for All” resources →
- View the “Voices on Accessibility Challenges in Cities” video series →
- Download the “Cities for All Through Universal Accessibility” brief →
- Watch the “10 Minute Public Transport for Mobility Needs Near and Far” webinar →
- Download the “15 Minute Neighborhoods” infographic →
- Access the “Mobility and Access: Babies, Toddlers, and Caregivers” Learning Hub Course →
Interested in learning more about this resource or have a press inquiry? Email us at mobility@itdp.org.
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