Accessibility
Accessibility in transport (more specifically, physical accessibility) refers to the ease with which individuals, regardless of their physical abilities or socioeconomic status, can use (or ‘access’) transport services to reach desired destinations. This multifaceted concept has far-reaching positive impacts on society by fostering inclusivity and enhancing economic opportunities. Conversely, inadequate accessibility can lead to social exclusion and economic disparities.
Despite the undeniable benefits, challenges persist in achieving universal accessibility. Physical barriers, limited financial resources, and policy gaps often hinder progress. Additionally, physical accessibility is often tightly intertwined with other invisible barriers, such as the lack of digital inclusivity and literacy.
As per the Just Transition Agenda, POLIS appeals for physical accessibility of streets, interchanges, vehicles, and buildings to be placed front and centre of sustainable mobility planning – a call reiterated at POLIS’ Glasgow Leadership Summit, as well as during our Just Transition Webinar series, in particular the Active Travel Just Transition Webinar on fostering active travel for disabled people (report available here), the Regions Just Transition Webinar on urban-rural transport divisions (report available here), and the Clean Vehicles and Air Quality Just Transition Webinar on making EV charging a reality for people with disabilities (report available here).
Project and resources
POLIS actively supports actions aimed at improving accessibility, advocating for inclusive policies and infrastructure development. Our involvement in projects such as SMALL, ELABORATOR, UPPER, INDIMO, and INCLUSION and our collaborations with members such as Sustrans, Mpact, Leuven, and Amsterdam exemplify our commitment to fostering accessible urban environments.
Moreover, POLIS addresses accessibility through comprehensive project reports, such as INCLUSION’s How to make inclusive mobility a reality: 8 principles and tools for a fair(er) transport system and SMALL’s How can people with reduced mobility become an important driver of shared mobility?, social media campaigns like Disability Pride Month 2022, 2023, and 2024 and Cities in motion contributions like Equal Access to EV-Charging Stations, Unlocking Inclusivity, Accessible Futures, and Rural to urban.
Transport for London introduces self-reporting lift technology
Wilma Slinger (CROW) has received Visio’s Inclusion Award
POLIS SMCs and Regions discuss Transport Poverty at the European Mobility Days of Strasbourg
Breaking free: Key takeaways from the Just Transition Webinar
SMALL publishes a practical guide to inclusive shared mobility
Meet the speakers of the Closing Plenary at the POLIS Conference 2025
Arthur D. Little and POLIS explore the critical role of Mobility Demand Management in new report
Urban October 2025: Building sustainable and fair cities
The EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK 2025 wraps up!
EU Guidelines on accessible and inclusive EV recharging have just been published!
International Youth Day 2025: Putting youth mobility first
POLIS x Disability Pride Month: Beyond infrastructure
Telling better mobility stories: Key takeaways from the Just Transition Webinar
Member in the Spotlight: Bilbao
Showcase your local action linking health and mobility with the HLEU project
POLIS co-signs Call for Impact to Centre Equity & Inclusion in the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport
POLIS x Disability Pride Month: Cities paving the way of accessible travel
CROW shares new guidelines on safety of charging cables and stations on sidewalks
The European Accessibility Act improves accessibility in the European market
New ILC report makes case for healthier, fairer transport systems in an ageing Europe
POLIS x PRIDE 2025: Making public transport safer for all!
Ambassadors for #DiversityInTransport gather to drive equity forward
POLIS x PRIDE 2025: Queering active mobility!
World Bicycle Day 2025: Pedaling towards a healthier, greener future
Member in the Spotlight: Zagreb
Subscribe to our project newsletters!
Uber and Lyft target US senior riders with simpler, more accessible apps
EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK publishes its new guidelines!
Lille Métropole is boosting employability through MobiliMEL
UPPER launches new platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building in public transport
The MOBILITYAWARDS winners have been announced!
SMALL is looking for participants to join their third roundtable
Member in the Spotlight: Vienna
New POLIS policy paper sees Social Climate Fund as a key tool to fighting transport poverty
Sustrans reports focus on active travel challenges for children, neurodivergent people of all ages, and the LGBTQIA+ community
POLIS launches its Women’s History Month 2025 campaign!
Join ELABORATOR as an Observer City for sustainable urban transformation
The MOBILITYAWARDS finalists have been revealed!
Vote for SMALL in the 2024 Interreg Slam!
POLIS celebrates the increasing relevance of International Day of Clean Energy
Launching MONA webinar series: Sustainable mobility planning in tourism destinations
Active travel for all ages: POLIS’ Active Travel & Health Working Group dives in
European Disability and Parking Card Directives become EU laws
POLIS SMCs shined bright at the EWRC!
Celebrating youth climate changemakers on World Cities Day 2024
EP and Council reach a deal on EU Disability and Parking cards
EU will boost free movement for persons with disabilities
Celebrating Disability Pride Month: making sustainable mobility work for everyone
Active Travel Just Transition Webinar: Best foot & wheel forward
Access Just Transition Webinar: “That’s not feasible without a car”
Disability Pride Month: How cities can become proud champions of accessibility
2 years of INDIMO: A total success!
A walk through walkability
Inclusion: Accessibility at its best
New ITF Report – Benchmarking Accessibility in Cities: Measuring the Impact of Proximity and Transport Performance
- Related Events
- Related Documents
- Related Projects
Just Transition x Access Webinar: Public transport first—Strengthening the backbone of mobility justice
Just Transition x SMC Platform and Active Travel & Health Webinar: Breaking Free—Reducing car reliance in Small and Medium-sized Cities
Just Transition x Active Travel & Health Webinar: Designing for real choice—Infrastructure as enabler
Just Transition Webinar: Communicating climate action for a Just Transition
MOBILITYAWARDS Ceremony and Workshops 2025
2nd MAIA Workshop: Discover the MAIA tools for multimodal passenger experience
CARIN-PT Final Conference: Towards Inclusive Public Transport in Urban Regions
Arthur D. Little x POLIS report: ‘Mobility Demand Management: A critical tool to influence mobility behaviour’
Fighting Transport Poverty with the Social Climate Fund
Active travel for all ages
Air Quality & Clean Vehicles Just Transition Webinar report
Small and Medium-sized Cities Just Transition Webinar report
Regions Just Transition Webinar report
Active Travel & Health Just Transition Webinar report
Access Just Transition Webinar report
Just Transition Agenda for Urban Mobility
ELABORATOR