By Design Constructive Conversations – 21 February 2024.
This session focused on designing for diverse accessibility needs. What prevents people with varying disabilities or mobility needs being able to safely and confidently navigate public spaces? How can design features address these needs and make life easier for everyone – without one interfering with another?
Our expert panel spent half an hour discussing these questions and more around how urban design can ensure that designs are accessible to everyone regardless of their circumstances, and provide spaces where anyone can travel actively, where they live, work or socialise.
Following watching the recording you may find it useful to take a few minutes to reflect on the discussion.
- What is still circling around in your head on this topic?
- What do you feel is ‘squared away’ – you feel you have a much clearer understanding of?
- What key takeaways or highlights do you have from the discussion?
Feedback Survey
We would appreciate you taking a moment to complete our short feedback survey after you’ve watched the recording.
Further Information
Below are contact details for some of our panelists if you wish to contact them directly, and some links to further information relating to this topic that you may find useful.
- Ian Buchanan, Equality and Access Manager, Disability Equality Scotland – Ian@DisabilityEquality.scot
- Paul Ruffles, Principal Urban Designer, Sustrans Engineering team – Paul.Ruffles@Sustrans.org.uk
- Pirjo Tujula, Accessibility Representative, City of Helsinki – Contact information and feedback | Helsinki for all | City of Helsinki
- Robert Weetman, Technical Coordinator, Living Streets
Useful Links and Resources
Helsinki Guidelines for Implementing Accessibility (in Suomi/Finnish)
Helsinki Guidelines for Implementing Accessibility (in English) City of Helsinki accessibility guidelines for outdoor areas | Helsinki for all | City of Helsinki
Further links from Helsinki about embedding accessibility in planning and delivery of infrastructure.
- Duties of the City of Helsinki’s accessibility ombudsman | Helsinki for all | City of Helsinki
- City of Helsinki’s Accessibility Policies 2022–2025
Information on the inclusive design reports Robert has been working on, and other reports produced by living streets – the Slips, Trips and Falls report may also be of particular interest. Our Key Reports and Research | Living Streets
Research and recommendations carried out by Sustrans and Transport for All Disabled Citizens’ Inquiry – Sustrans.org.uk
Information on Sustrans’ approach to Urban Design, and some examples of our work Urban design and planning – Sustrans.org.uk
Find and contact your local access panel. Find your local Access Panel – Disability Equality Scotland Access Panel Network
Information on Access Panels, and what they can bring to your projects. Home – Disability Equality Scotland Access Panel Network
Transport Scotland Inclusive Design guidance – this is in draft form and is under consultation until the 29th March. Guidance on Inclusive Design for Town Centres and Busy Streets | Transport Scotland
About Constructive conversations
Grab a cuppa, get comfortable and join us for some informal constructive conversations about some of the challenges in delivering active travel infrastructure.
At each 1 hour session, our expert panel will spend half an hour discussing key questions and more around the chosen topic. Following this, you can take part in an optional small group discussion where you can share your own experiences on the topic, present a related issue in a live project, and receive advice and feedback from peers.
Other sessions
The ‘By Design’ series of constructive conversations explores how urban design in active travel projects can help to address some of the big issues facing society today.
The Climate Emergency and Infrastructure series of constructive conversations explores sustainability in construction of active travel projects.
Look out for more series on different topics in future, and if there is a topic you would like to suggest for a series, or a standalone session, please do get in touch with us placesforeveryone@sustrans.org.uk