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Context

Inaccessibility to spaces has ripple effects on some people’s ability to access jobs, education, housing, and various services and other social activities. While for the able-bodied the built environment’s structural obstacles are mere inconveniences, for others they can determine life opportunities. 

As we collectively return to the ‘new normal’, we can choose to retrofit our cities so they embody more and more inclusive and accessible spaces.

Who will benefit from these retrofitted spaces?

The Invisible Consequences of Inaccessibility

Imagine getting accepted into one of the seven prominent universities in Montreal but not being able to actually get there easily, simply because one or all of the access points of a metro station close to these seven universities do not have an escalator from the Platform to the Ground.
 
Only one university has a station closeby that has several elevators (Berri-UQAM). The Montreal metro stations, designed for the able-bodied, fail to take into account the opportunity costs of such an inaccessible system for those with reduced mobility. Many individuals pay the full $85 a month to access the metro, yet are only able to use a fraction of the stations, and with the added fees of pain, struggle, and extra time.
On the other hand, the Singapore and Washington DC metro systems provide examples of how Montreal could design its transit system for universal accessibility. Further, there are technologies which can help promote accessibility. For example, a hearing loop (a special sound system for people with hearing aids) could be implemented in metro stations to aid with auditory impairment or deaf individuals. 
 
Achieving universal accessibility requires reshaping the way we think about mobility and transportation in cities – that means redefining who gets called into the conversation and implementation as we redesign and retrofit our cities.

Accessibility in our built environment goes beyond ramps and elevators, which are important usually to enter and exit a space.

What else can create a barrier-filled experience?

Click on the photos to see how our spaces can present obstacles for people with reduced mobility.

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We help communities review their city's accessibility challenges and offer user-centered solutions to promote equitable access to urban space for all.

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