Access City Award winner 2011 - The finalists
Barcelona, Spain - A pioneer in urban accessibility
Barcelona on the north east coast of Spain is the country's second largest city (population 1.5 million) and has been actively engaged in implementing accessibility for more than 30 years, commencing back in 1978 with its Plan for Autonomous Mobility.
It has progressively implemented a 'design for all' approach to improving accessibility, with a strong focus on the built environment and transport facilities, including accessible ticketing machines designed with the involvement of persons with disabilities.
"The key issue here is that we have brought together the social movements of people with disabilities and local authorities," explained Ricard Goma, the city's Deputy Mayor.
The Olympic Games in 1992 was an important opportunity for the city he explained. "We took advantage to improve very much the physical accessibility of the city. To make Barcelona a barrier-free city. Once achieved, it allows us to work very hard on accessibility communication, inclusive education, an improved labour market, better social services, providing people the right to choose and to personalise systems. Making possible for everybody to follow the independent project of life."
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Cologne, Germany - creating a 'city for all'
Cologne, a city of nearly one million inhabitants, has shown a strong political commitment to improving accessibility since 2004, involving a wide range of city departments with clear responsibilities and extensive coordination.
Special training programmes for designers as well as other professionals employed by the city, e.g. building supervision employees, have been introduced to improve their understanding of accessibility.
The City of Cologne is currently implementing a global strategy for disability known as "Cologne overcomes barriers - a city for all".
Its main goals are: accessibility, equitable participation, encouragement of free decisions, and the human right of self-determination. The strategy encompasses 170 goals and measures for the city's 12 communal areas with clear plans and commitments for the monitoring of their implementation.
The European Award Jury found that the city authorities demonstrated a strong commitment towards the implementation of accessibility on a systematic basis. In particular, the authorities have taken a thorough and strategic approach to accessibility improvements, based on the application of consistent standards.
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Turku, Finland - accessibility even in challenging weather conditions
Turku is an historic city on the south-west coast of Finland. With a current population of 180 000 Turku is a notable commercial and passenger seaport, as well as being a regional capital.
The city is in the process of implementing its Accessibility Programme of Turku 2005-2012 which demands that all the city's schemes and plans consider accessibility.
It constitutes an effective strategy with a strong involvement of persons with disabilities for a smaller historical city confronted with challenging conditions for accessibility, particularly in the built environment. The accessibility initiatives extend across public transport, the built environment, personal mobility and cultural and historic venues such as the Castle.
Turku is proud of its accessibility 'innovation' in adapting the facilities to create the Ekvalla accessible beach. The beach has been praised for its accessibility for people with reduced mobility, visual and hearing impairments. Among others features on the beach, there is a concrete ramp which runs right down to the seashore and three different sound signals in different places for the visually impaired.
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