Accessibility in Aarhus

Respect, tolerance and social surplus are measured in terms of efforts made to improve conditions for those who are not a part of the most typical ninety percent of the population - no matter of the measurement.

In recent years, the City of Aarhus has systematically attempted to improve accessibility to all its public spaces for the disabled, the elderly, the blind, and others for whom the mere access to the public spaces can be a challenge.

In 2001, the action programme "Accessibility in Aarhus 2001-2004" was initiated by the City Administration in cooperation with relevant partners from the local organisations. The action programme consists of number of issues related to accessibility; and they devise a number of specific initiatives to be taken to improve accessibility.

A thorough effort has been made to scan the inner city, identifying any obstructions to the accessibility of the public spaces. As all users of white sticks and wheel chairs know, the city is full of such obstructions. However, it has become clear that most of them can be eliminated at modest costs. The better awareness of accessibility that is a prerequisite to future sustainability is more a gain than a cost.

Given numerous initiatives, the central pedestrian street of Aarhus has been rebuilt in 2002. In shop entrances, steps are replaced with ramps for the benefit of wheel chair users, leading lines are laid in the street for the blind, and crossing roads are marked by a slight 2,5 centimetres change of levels. The street surface is forged to prevent slipping, and shop exhibitions are located in zones designed so as not to impede the passage of the blind with the white cane, the disabled in their wheel chairs, or a parent with a baby buggy. This year, a broad effort is made to improve accessibility in all of the inner city. All zebra crossings are equipped with sound signals. All road crossing steps are eliminated, and passages for wheel chairs, slowly walking people, blind and others are developed.

In August 2002, the City of Aarhus was awarded with the Nordic Council Prize on Disability Policy for the accessibility project. Aarhus City appreciates the recognition thereby awarded, but is even more appreciative of the opportunity it may give to inspire other cities to improve accessibility.