Understanding urban accessibility: A community-engaged pilot study of entrance features

Candace I J Nykiforuk; Nicole M Glenn; Ian Hosler; Heather Craig; Darcy Reynard; Brittany Molner; Jared Candlish; Sammy Lowe

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113775

Understanding urban accessibility: A community-engaged pilot study of entrance features

Soc Sci Med. 2021 Mar:273:113775. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113775. Epub 2021 Feb 12.

Authors

Candace I J Nykiforuk¹, Nicole M Glenn², Ian Hosler³, Heather Craig⁴, Darcy Reynard⁵, Brittany Molner⁶, Jared Candlish⁷, Sammy Lowe⁸

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Healthy Communities, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-035 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 - 87 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada; Policy, Location and Access in Community Environments Research Lab, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-300 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 - 87 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada. Electronic address: candace.nykiforuk@ualberta.ca.
² Centre for Healthy Communities, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-035 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 - 87 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada. Electronic address: nglenn@ualberta.ca.
³ City of Edmonton, Urban Form and Corporate Strategic Development, City Planning, 6th Floor, Edmonton Tower, 10111-104 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5J 0J4, Canada. Electronic address: ian.hosler@edmonton.ca.
⁴ City of Edmonton, Citizen Services, 18th Floor, Edmonton Tower, 10111-104 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5J 0J4, Canada. Electronic address: heather.crowe@edmonton.ca.
⁵ Centre for Healthy Communities, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-035 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 - 87 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada; Human Geography and Planning, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E3, Canada. Electronic address: reynard@ualberta.ca.
⁶ Centre for Healthy Communities, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-035 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 - 87 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada. Electronic address: molner@ualberta.ca.
⁷ Centre for Healthy Communities, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-035 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 - 87 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada. Electronic address: jcandlis@ualberta.ca.
⁸ Centre for Healthy Communities, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-035 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 - 87 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada. Electronic address: salowe@ualberta.ca.

PMID: 33621754
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113775

Abstract

The accessibility of the built environment is an equity issue. Accessibility standards for buildings exist, but often apply to new buildings or major renovations. This renders historic neighborhoods inaccessible. Accessibility standards and related assessments rarely consider the experiences and priorities of people who experience disability. Partnered with local government and an accessibility advisory committee, we conducted a pilot study of urban accessibility in Edmonton Edmon, Alberta, Canada. We measured four indicators of entranceway accessibility along a popular, central commercial corridor and mapped the data with building age using QGIS. We found significant accessibility barriers.

Keywords: Accessibility; Built environment; Disability; Engaged scholarship; Inequity; Mobility.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Alberta
Architectural Accessibility*
Disabled Persons*
Humans
Pilot Projects
Residence Characteristics