The development of larger cities grew exponentially in the past fifty years, leaving us with rapidly built cities that have given too little thought to the disabled members of their population. Now is the time to reassess how to be more inclusive in the built environment so that people of all abilities and diversity experience a living environment that meets their needs.

An accessible world is crucial for people of all abilities to work, live, and play. However, even in the most progressive cities, people with disabilities struggle to live their lives, which only gets worse in the suburbs and rural areas.

City planners and researchers claim that more and more people are moving into cities, which is contributing to something called urban density. This term refers to the number of people within an urban area. It’s a crucial factor for city planning — understanding how the city is functioning based on economics, health, geography, and sustainability.

An accessible city benefits all individuals who live, work, and play in that city. This means that the public spaces must be accessible to all, no matter their level of ability. When urban planners design the infrastructure for a city center, several problems and corresponding solutions must be considered to benefit the city as a whole.

Creating a bike lane city infrastructure requires the coordination of the appropriate government agencies, resources, and construction logistics. It’s a time-intensive ordeal; however, the benefits are many for cities that are suffering from intense air pollution, overcrowding, and congestion. Bike lanes alter the city infrastructure and also improve the health of inhabitants.

Portland State University noted that when five major US cities incorporated protected bike lanes into their city infrastructure, bike ridership increased 170 percent.

For the urban landscape, sidewalks have become a type of no man’s land for city commuters — not only for pedestrians but also for cyclists. Since vehicles rule the road, pedestrians and cyclists are at-risk anytime they walk or ride in the road. To remain safe, city cyclists and pedestrians often turn to the sidewalk. 

While many cities want their residents and commuters to move away from using cars and encourage bicycling, pedestrians in some cases see this shift as dangerous.

The changing climate is raising alarms throughout the world as scientists and researchers shed light on rapid changes within ecosystems around the earth. Glaciers are shrinking. Winter is shortening. Certain habitats have shifted or disappeared altogether. Sea levels are rising. Heatwaves have intensified.

Since 1990, pedestrian fatalities have increased, and for pedestrians with disabilities, the risk is even higher. From 2007 to 2017, pedestrian deaths increased by 35%. When researchers studied the cities with the highest fatalities, they came across sidewalks in disrepair, lacking curb ramps, and poorly designed crosswalks.

While we have more work to be done to set up a protective infrastructure for pedestrians, there are a few simple driving techniques that will keep others safe.

Approximately ten percent of the world’s population lives within 32 feet of sea level, and while a large percentage lives at higher elevations, most still live close to coastlines. As temperatures rise, scientists have noted an increase in coastal flooding, which presents a safety hazard to the population of coastal cities, businesses, and profit.

Studies have revealed that the rate of sea-level rise has increased substantially in the last 2,800 years. In fact, sea levels have risen almost 3 inches in the last twenty years.

To create an accessible world and to comply with ADA standards, accessible pedestrian signal (APS) models work with detectable warning tiles to keep pedestrians of all abilities safe around vehicle intersections and street crosswalks. These APS models mark heavily trafficked areas in cities with a button for audio directions for individuals with low visibility. A number of APS tools offer direction and aid to individuals with differing abilities, including a rapid tick sound, speech indication, tactile signals, and vibrating indications.