5 Ways to Expand Accessible Transport
By Flor Paniagua, Senior Industry Specialist and Accessibility Lead, Global Transport and Maria Lopez Conde, Associate Operations Officer, Global Transport.
About 1.3 billion people—16 percent of the world’s population—live with a disability, most in low- and middle-income countries. Persons with disabilities face discrimination, health and social inequities, and higher rates of poverty, often because they are excluded from the buildings, systems, networks, services, and interactions that underpin daily life.?Equalizing such access is essential to ending poverty and improving the quality of all people’s lives.???
This year, to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we explain the positive role transport companies can play in their communities, boosting inclusion through accessibility. By embedding the principles of universal design—design that they can be used by the greatest number of people—accessible transport lets people with disabilities participate more fully in the social and economic fabric of their communities. It makes a difference for other underserved populations as well, including the elderly, women, children, youth, and those with temporarily reduced mobility.???
Accessible transport projects improve the quality and safety of services, enhancing satisfaction, and leading to more—and increasingly diverse—ridership, contributing business value. Embedding universal design principles in transport gives more people greater access to jobs, school, and social services—helping to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Accessible transport services and infrastructure are more comfortable, efficient, and inclusive for all.?
But where to start? How can transport operators up the accessibility quotient of their transport projects? Here are five ways.??
The efficient movement of people—all people—and goods is a key ingredient for economic growth, allowing countries to thrive. At IFC, we support accessible transportation projects that lower costs, optimize efficiency, facilitate trade, and create jobs. Improving accessibility in transport projects makes sound economic sense. It’s also the right thing to do. IFC is here to help.?
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