Description
Editorial information: Suggested citation Engel, Teresa (2023) ISSN: 1613-5040 Green Series No. 77, edited by Wilko Manz, dissertation, Rhineland-Palatinate University of Technology KaiserslauternLandau.
In order to promote local mobility, especially the basic mobility "walking", the possibility of participating in public transport for all people and in particular for people with limited mobility is indispensable.
Only with the help of a barrier-free environment, the participation of all can be achieved. In this context, it is absolutely essential to create a continuous barrier-free pedestrian network by reconstructing the necessary pedestrian facilities, such as walking areas, crossing facilities, stairs, ramps and elevators. However, a comprehensible and practice-oriented procedure for evaluating the accessibility of pedestrian networks does currently not exist.
This is where the present dissertation comes in. By developing a procedure for evaluating the existing accessibility of pedestrian networks on the basis of quality levels, a practical application tool for prioritizing reconstruction is created for responsible persons, e.g. in planning, politics and administration.
The basis for the evaluation procedure is formed by interviews and surveys conducted with experts and needs groups. The focus was on people with motoric and visual impairments. The level of difficulty, differentiated according to need groups, in the use of pedestrian facilities in public spaces was queried if these do not comply with the specifications of the technical regulations. The evaluation procedure translates the accessibility into an understandable and comprehensible value by translating the difficulty into a perceived additional distance. Furthermore, the actual additional distance due to detours is considered along with the perceived additional distance.
Based on the evaluation of pedestrian facilities, routes and connections as well as pedestrian networks can be evaluated in this way. The basic flow of the evaluation process is identical for all needs groups. It consists of four major steps, each resulting in one of six quality levels of accessibility (grades from A to F). The transition from Level D to Level E represents the boundary between independence and the need for external assistance in using pedestrian facilities.
The developed procedure provides a good basis for evaluating pedestrian networks in terms of accessibility. Due to its modularity and flexibility, it is possible to integrate further aspects as well as further groups of needs. A continuous application of the procedure and consideration of accessibility from the beginning in every planning is important to achieve a continuous barrier-free network. A legal integration for a step-by-step barrier-free reconstruction on the basis of technical regulations is also absolutely necessary. This is the only way to enable all people, whether with or without mobility restrictions, to participate in public transportation without external assistance and thus to promote local mobility and increase its attractiveness. With this support, it is possible to convince people to walk or use a wheelchair within walking distance.
Ultimately, a reduction in CO2 emissions is even conceivable if cars are not used or used less frequently for short distances. The most sustainable and environmentally friendly means of transportation is walking and a barrier-free environment finally contributes to climate protection.
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