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.

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

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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

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
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
