A look into urban spaces and who they are designed for.
Despite the fact that one in six people in the EU live with a disability, urban spaces have historically been designed with a narrow idea of who their users are. The inevitable result is cities bristling with obstacles – from steps without ramps to buses without proper signage to narrow sidewalks and buildings without lifts.
This raises the question of how we can challenge the ‘default’ approach and reshape our cities to meet the needs of all groups and communities. The answer lies in collective, community-led action.
In the 1970s, in Berkeley, California, a group of disability rights activists known as the Rolling Quads began dismantling curbs and building improvised ramps, demanding access for wheelchair users. What they didn’t anticipate was the broader impact. Soon, parents with strollers, travellers with luggage, older adults, and people with temporary impairments started using these ramps too.
This illustrates a key point – a city where people of all abilities can move around freely and safely is a city that improves everyone’s lives economically, socially and physically.
Why it matters
Urbanization, the process by which populations increasingly concentrate in cities, is transforming the global landscape at an unprecedented pace. Today, according to the WHO, over 55% of the world’s population live in cities, a figure expected to rise to 68% by 2050 (WHO, 2024). Yet, accessibility is often an afterthought within urban planning.
Disability is often framed as something that happens to “others,” but this is a flawed assumption. Some people are born with disabilities, others acquire them later in life, and many may experience temporary impairments, such as a broken leg, at some point in their life. Disability is not the exception, it is part of the human experience and every form of disability, visible or invisible, interacts with built environments.
To illustrate, consider a wheelchair user who works in the centre of Limassol, where pavements are often too narrow or obstructed by parked cars, trees, or construction. Over time, these challenges could quietly shape their choices, limit their career prospects and push them toward compromises such as remote work or, in some cases, out of employment altogether. These are not minor inconveniences; they are structural barriers with real social and economic consequences.
It is only by learning how to recognise these barriers that we can actively dismantle them
The big, inaccessible picture
When we talk about barriers, we often think about the physical obstacles that can restrict someone’s movement within cities. But barriers are not always visible, and they are not always physical.
Physical barriers are often the most obvious, including obstacles in the built environment. Beyond these, sensory and communication barriers arise when information is not provided in inclusive formats. The absence of Braille, captions, or tactile maps, for example, can exclude people who are blind, deaf, or neurodivergent.
Digital barriers also play a growing role, limiting participation when websites or applications are not compatible with assistive technologies.
In addition, social and attitudinal barriers such as stereotypes, low expectations, or limited awareness, can lead to the exclusion of people with disabilities.
Finally, systemic or structural barriers are embedded in policies, planning, and institutional practices, such as the inconsistent enforcement of accessibility standards or inadequately designed public transport.
Together, these barriers shape how people experience and navigate their cities, often in ways that go unnoticed by those who are not directly affected. These challenges are closely linked to how we understand disability as a society.
Disability is often viewed through the medical model, which frames it as a problem within the individual – something that needs to be fixed or cured. In contrast, the social model shifts the focus outward, recognising that people are disabled not by their impairments, but by the barriers created by society.
For instance, a young person with limited vision is not disabled simply because of their eyesight but rather due to a city’s lack of tactile paving, clear signage, or audible crossing signals. The barrier lies in the built environment, which restricts their movement and autonomy, not in their physical impairment.
What do we mean by “accessible cities”?
What exactly do we envision when we talk about accessible cities? Is it ramps for wheelchair users? Wider pavements? Better signage? No cars parked on sidewalks?
Perhaps, it is all the above – plus a few more. Accessible cities, however, are not made by their infrastructure alone but by the mindset of their citizens.
An accessible city is a considerate city. One that is not just functional but also intentional – designed with care, keeping in mind the diverse needs of its residents.
While policymakers and government officials are responsible for upholding the necessary standards, people can also be active contributors to the design of a city.
That is where placemaking comes in – a collaborative process that places citizens at the centre, allowing them to shape public spaces based on their needs, lived experiences and everyday use.
This process not only allows us to feel more connected to our surroundings but also to each other. Collective effort to improve our streets, neighbourhoods and cities can revive the precious feeling of community – one that is fading in today’s fast-paced, individualistic society that we inhabit.
Placing youth at the heart of change
When we talk about making cities more accessible, it’s essential not only to consider young people, but to actively include them in the conversation. After all, they are the future policymakers, planners, architects and, most importantly, citizens of these environments. As such, they are key stakeholders in the future of their cities.
However, it is often the case that youth is excluded or underrepresented in these processes. Changing this requires more than good intentions. It calls for stronger collaboration between local authorities, schools, and civil society, alongside practical tools and frameworks that make participation both meaningful and accessible.
This is the context in which URB.ABLE was created – an Erasmus+ initiative focusing on empowering young people to identify and challenge accessibility barriers in their cities.
Over its two-year course, the project has been developing a range of materials and activities designed for youth and youth workers. These include a practical guide to exploring urban accessibility through creative methods, walk-shops where young people map real-life barriers in their communities, a digital hub hosting resources created by young people across Europe and local events that will connect young changemakers with policymakers.
These activities form a practival toolkit that empowers the next generation to reimagine urban life and reshape it with everyone in mind by addressing urban challenges head-on.
URB.ABLE is reshaping how we think about spaces with hands-on, real-world participation. And most importantly, it positions young people as agents of change.
Join the movement
Over the next few months, URB.ABLE will continue developing resources and hosting activities across seven countries in Europe. Through these initiatives, the project will keep building momentum, ensuring that accessibility becomes not only a shared responsibility but a shared achievement.
If you would like to take part in upcoming URB.ABLE activities in Cyprus, get in touch with RESET and join us!
Visit the URB.ABLE website to learn more: urbable.eu
Follow URB.ABLE to stay connected with the project and its upcoming activities: Instagram & LinkedIn
