“Seamless access for all: Universal Design in Transport systems and built infrastructure, a key element in the creation of livable cities.”
TRANSED New Delhi, India
13th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons
September 17-20, 2012.
“Seamless access for all..” is the theme of TRANSED 2012, and delegates from dozens of nations attended the conference to exchange their knowledge and experience in developing transport services and systems that meet the needs of people with mobility impairments.
Aside from being the key forum for advances in mobility and access for elderly and disabled people, the papers presented become standard reference for researchers. We’re excited that the paper authored by Arfi Khambatta, SSA’s Director of Access Consulting, and co-author Franz Loewenherz, City of Bellvue, was accepted for this conference. Arfi attended the conference and presented the paper in New Delhi.
Their paper covers walkability, an important criterion of livable communities which has been tied to health and social benefits. As new planning concepts reduce car dependency and place an emphasis on walking, senior resident’s time on sidewalks will also increase. While cities are required to reduce sidewalk hazards, the time and cost of gathering exact data has been a deterrent. Finding the most critical hazard locations for city maintenance is difficult and not easily tied to other street maintenance plans. Arfi will be speaking on this topic and about innovative GIS-based planning tools. As cities emphasize use of their pedestrian infrastructure by a new generation of aging residents, they can reduce potential accidents and the possibility of increased litigation.