Tag Archive : inclusive cities

Japan was the country that took the “first step” in accessibility for people with visual impairments

Tactile floors are a vital element for accessibility for people with visual impairments. They emerged in 1965, when engineer Seiichi Miyake, driven by the desire to help a friend who had lost his sight, developed a system of embossed floors that could be detected by touch. Different textures and shapes indicated safety conditions or specific risks.

The city of Okayama was a pioneer in adopting the innovation, installing the first tactile tiles on its sidewalks in March 1967. The bright color of the blocks has also benefited individuals with low vision and cognitive disabilities.

Thanks to Miyake’s work, tactile floors have become a global reference in urban accessibility and a symbol of inclusion for people with visual and motor disabilities (wheelchair users). Its innovation has positively impacted the lives of millions of people, opening safe paths for urban mobility.

IEME Brasil has been working for over 20 years in the area of urban accessibility, contributing to a more inclusive society that is aware of the needs of citizens.

Find out more about our work in this area by accessing the link.

Urban accessibility and accessible routes

Urban accessibility is a fundamental issue for the democratization of the right to come and go in cities. This is a set of measures aimed at ensuring that all people, regardless of their physical conditions, have equal opportunities to use public and private spaces autonomously and safely. Although it is a right guaranteed by law, much progress still needs to be made in its effective implementation.

An accessible project encompasses several aspects that are essential to ensure the inclusion and mobility of all. One of the key points is the adaptation of urban infrastructure, including sidewalks, public roads, squares and buildings, to make them accessible to people with reduced mobility, such as the elderly, people with physical disabilities or people with strollers. This includes removing architectural barriers, creating access ramps, installing handrails and adapting elevators.

Rotas Acessíveis

With the aim of creating an even more integrated city, projects such as Rotas Acessíveis were born. The proposal is to create routes based on the need to travel between public transport stations and points of interest for people with disabilities or reduced mobility. Examples of these points would be: hospitals, public services, schools, colleges, malls, theaters, parks, among others.

In São Paulo, the Rotas Acessíveis pilot project included 6 routes: Vila Clementino, Barra Funda, Marechal Deodoro, Ipiranga, Linha Azul and Centro and are currently present in the 2021-2024 Plan of Goals of the City of São Paulo. They also gained space in the Vida Segura Plan, established by Decree 58717/2019, with projects that must be based on accessibility standards.

IEME Brasil actively participated in the creation of Rotas Acessíveis in São Paulo, joining strategic points in the city, integrated by adapted transport, sidewalks and accessible places. The mapping of regions, carried out by IEME, was the basis for defining accessible routes in the municipality, considering important points, interference, transport and inclinations of the routes.

20230810_rotas_galeria_01_700x500
20230810_rotas_galeria_02_700x500
20230810_rotas_acessiveis_v3_700x500_v2
 
 
  • 20230810_rotas_galeria_01_700x500
  • 20230810_rotas_galeria_02_700x500
  • 20230810_rotas_acessiveis_v3_700x500_v2