This AccessibleEU workshop co-organised with the Riga City Council Traffic and Transport Affairs Committee and the Association of Disabled Persons and their Friends ‘Apeirons’ aims to gather the opinions of various Riga residents and specialists on mobility in Riga - mobility opportunities for people with various types of disabilities in public transport, with a wheelchair or on foot, as well as challenges when using public transport or in the surrounding environment, including public transport infrastructure or car parking spaces.
The event will focus on user opinions, with a presentation of survey results and a discussion on accessibility in the urban environment for different groups of people, aiming to find answers to the question: What is currently not working? What should be a “good example”? How can universal design help all groups of residents at the same time? What are the main conclusions? What should be the priorities and next steps to make Riga accessible to everyone?
Details on the event:
- Target audience: Transport service providers, NGO representatives, policy makers, people with disabilities, accessibility experts and interested persons.
- When: Thursday 2 July 2026. 9:30 – 16:30 EEST
- Format: Hybrid. The livestream link will be shared the day before the event.
- Where: Kokaru Hall (Kokaru zāle). Lucia Garutas Avenue 8. Riga (Latvia)
- Type of event: Workshops and mutual learning sessions
- Language: Latvian
- Accessibility information: Accessible venue. Live captioning and sign language interpretation in Latvian.
- How to participate: Free registration
- inclusion | accessibility | transport policy | transport infrastructure
- Thursday 2 July 2026, 09:30 - 16:30 (EEST)
- Country
- Latvia
Programme
- 2 Jul 2026, 09:30 - 16:30 (EEST)Preliminary agenda
9:30 - 10:00 Registration / Welcoming coffee
10:00 - 10:20 Opening
Mr V. Kleinbergs, Riga City Council, Chairman
Mrs M. Kotello, Riga City Council Traffic and Transport Affairs Committee Chair,
Mr I. Balodis, Association of Disabled People and their Friends' APEIRONS, Chairman
Mrs D. Podzina, AccessibleEU national expert
10:20 – 10:40 AccessibleEU Resource Centre – International Experience, Training, and Other Useful Information for the Transport Sector
Mrs. D. Podzina, National Expert, AccessibleEU
10:40 – 11:00 NGO and User Experience: the Reality of Mobility in Riga, presentation of survey results
Member of the Association of Disabled People and their Friends' APEIRONS'
11:00 – 12:00 Accessibility Challenges for People with Different Types of Disabilities
Mr K. Biezais, Latvian Society for the Blind, Chairperson
Mr I. Kalnins, Latvian Union of the Deaf, Vice President
Mr. M. Gravis, NGO ‘Rūpju bērns’, Chairperson
A-Team, Association of Disabled People and their Friends' APEIRONS'
12:00 – 12:20 European Disability Card: What it is and How it Helps with Mobility
Mrs L. Sevcuna, Ministry of Welfare, Department of Social Services and Disability Policy, Senior Expert
12:20 – 12:40 Riga Transport for Riga Residents
Mrs B. Bartasevica-Feldmane, Ltd ‘Rīgas Satiksme’, Head of Public Relations
12:40 – 13:40 Coffee/tea break
13:40 – 14:00 Universal Design in Urban Environment
Mrs A. Verze, Riga City Architect's Service, Chief Landscape Architect
14:00 – 14:20 Work to Improve Environmental Accessibility on the Streets of Riga
Member from Riga City Council Traffic and Transport Affairs Department
15:20 – 14:30 Break
14:30 -15:00 Accessibility Challenges in the Urban Environment of Riga. Parking reform
Mrs B. Bartasevica-Feldmane, Ltd ‘Rīgas Satiksme’, Head of Public Relations
Free microphone
15:00 – 16:10 Panel Discussion about accessibility in the urban environment for people with disabilities and other groups
Moderator: Mr I. Balodis, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Disabled People and their Friends' APEIRONS'
Participants: Mr J. Briedis, Accessibility expert from the Association of Disabled People and their Friends' APEIRONS'
Mr R. Funts, Designer, G42 expert, Information and environmental accessibility expert, lecturer at the Art Academy of Latvia
Mrs R. Mezavilka, Member of the Riga City Municipality
Mrs M. Kotello, Riga City Council Traffic and Transport Affairs Committee, Chairperson
Mr K. Kaulins, Riga City Council Traffic and Transport Affairs Department, director
16:10 – 16:30 Informal conversations / Networking / Closing
Practical information
- When
- Thursday 2 July 2026, 09:30 - 16:30 (EEST)
- Languages
- Latvian