Urban Accessibility Plans (UAP)

The Urban Accessibility Plan (UAP) is a strategic planning tool designed to enhance accessibility throughout urban spaces. The aim is to ensure that all individuals—regardless of age, gender, or ability—to move safely and comfortably while using public infrastructure. The UAP indicates areas that need improvement, recommends specific solutions and upgrades, and creates accessible routes linking these locations into a cohesive network within each city. This network follows the “accessible chain” principle, connecting essential public and community sites. Key features of the plan include safer and more accessible sidewalks, crossings, traffic islands, parking areas, parks, and green zones, thereby encouraging equal participation of all in urban life.

Consortis provides end-to-end services, encompassing assessment of current conditions and support for the implementation of recommended proposals, facilitating a smooth transition towards greater urban accessibility.

Approach

Many municipalities in Greece face considerable difficulties with public space and infrastructure accessibility, which impede the daily mobility and activities of a significant segment of the population. A substantial number of urban areas remain inaccessible to individuals with disabilities, the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those experiencing temporary or permanent mobility difficulties. Inadequate urban planning negatively affects nearly half of the population. Although recent initiatives have been implemented in accordance with European directives, most cities in Greece still lack adequate accommodations for people with mobility difficulties.

Preparation of a UAP involves legal and institutional requirements, seeking to guarantee equal access to infrastructure and services, and meeting contemporary societal expectations for sustainable and inclusive urban environments.

The UAP’s development process includes:

  • Collection, processing, and analysis of data concerning the current state of public spaces, access to public buildings, and infrastructure quality.
  • Comprehensive review of city strategic plans, relevant existing studies, urban demographics, and traffic characteristics within the designated intervention area in relation to pedestrian traffic.
  • Mapping of present conditions, using specialized equipment; evaluating pedestrian infrastructure geometry; documenting available facilities and services for disabled persons; and identifying sites for intervention to enhance accessibility, including public spaces, routes, refuge points, accessible parking spaces, cycle lanes, public transport stops, healthcare facilities, and public buildings. Vector-format maps (shapefiles) are generated and analyzed attributes are highlighted.
  • Submission of specific intervention proposals to advance accessibility, presented via thematic maps and accompanied by tables detailing urban equipment, special constructions, and an implementation timeline. Maps of the area are produced in the form of vector shapefiles, where the points and linear interventions, the proposed routes, outdoor public spaces, etc. that need to be made accessible are marked. A schedule is devised for executing improvements and new constructions as outlined by the UAP through relevant studies and projects.

Benefits

The implementation of the UAP offers considerable benefits to municipalities and their residents, including:

  • Guaranteeing equal access to public services, public spaces, and amenities for all individuals, regardless of their physical attributes or other characteristics.
  • Enhancing social cohesion, independence, and active engagement among all citizens.
  • Reducing mobility obstacles and enhancing urban safety.
  • Facilitating compliance with legislative mandates and European directives, thereby supporting sustainable development of urban areas defined by inclusivity and functionality.
  • The image of the city and the quality of life are upgraded.

Since 2022, Consortis has prepared UAP for several Greek municipalities, including:

  • UAP for the Municipality of Central Corfu
  • UAP for the Municipality of Pavlos Melas, Thessaloniki
  • UAP for the Municipality of Kalamaria, Thessaloniki
  • UAP for the Municipality of Iraklia
  • UAP for the Municipality of Kordelio – Evosmos, Thessaloniki