Audible street signals, underground passages accessible to mobility-impaired persons and sidewalks free of parked cars - this is the vision of an accessible city to all, according to Victoria Boțan, a public relations specialist at the “Motivation” Association.
During "Urban mobility: priority interventions in transport policies in Chișinău" public debates, organized by the Institute for European Policies and Reforms, Victoria Boțan pointed out that not all city mobility and accessibility solutions require massive investments. Audible street signals, push button controlled traffic lights and pedestrian crossings at ground level, in contrast to underground passages, are just a few solutions that do not require heavy spending.
Victoria Boțan said that there are few underground passages that are accessible to mobility-impaired persons. Urban mobility would increase, if cars parked on the sidewalk, which represent an obstacle, would be removed. Sidewalks must be wide enough to be traversed by a wheelchair user. Pedestrian crossings must be illuminated. Crowded and narrow sidewalks should be secured with a fence.
According to a study conducted among mobility-impaired persons, quoted by Victoria Boțan, 72% of respondents feel that they are in danger while crossing the street, 38% consider street crossing is acceptable, while no one felt safe.
In other news, civic activist Andrei Tudos is optimistic about increasing urban mobility levels in Chișinău over the course of the following decade. He believes that it is possible to establish dedicated public transport lanes on the main arteries of each city district. To this effect, old trolleybuses should be replaced with low-floor trolleybuses with ramps. Additionally, the city needs a renewed transport route scheme, paid parking, electronic tolling and more bike lanes.
