Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.21861/HGG.2019.81.02.02
Accessibility in Zagreb for power wheelchair users
Laura Šakaja
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Marulićev trg 19/II, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ksenija Bašić
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Marulićev trg 19/II, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ružica Vuk
orcid.org/0000-0002-8856-2184
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Marulićev trg 19/II, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Zoran Stiperski
orcid.org/0000-0001-6329-5115
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography, Marulićev trg 19/II, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Andrijana Horvat
; Slavenskoga ulica 11, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The urban environment's inaccessibility to persons with disabilities is one of the crucial aspects of social discrimination. The paper explores the physical barriers that power wheelchair users encounter while moving around Zagreb, specifically in parts of the following neighbourhoods: Gornji grad (Upper Town) – Medveščak; Donji grad (Lower Town); and Trnje. The aforementioned neighbourhoods encompass a total surface area of 4.31 km2. A participatory approach was applied in the research, whereby wheelchair users were included in the part of the research where navigability of the streets was assessed and the barriers which made moving difficult or impossible were also assessed and mapped. Based on the conducted research, accessibility maps were created and a corresponding interactive GIS map was uploaded online. The results showed that, in the researched areas, power wheelchair users were not able to navigate 22% of total pavement length and 16% of pedestrian crossings by themselves; and they required the assistance of more than one person in order to navigate 19% of pavement length and 9% of pedestrian crossings. The most common barriers include inadequate pavements, kerbs and stairs.
Keywords
accessibility; power wheelchair users; Zagreb; barriers to mobility
Hrčak ID:
230598
URI
Publication date:
20.12.2019.
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