BUILT-ENVIRONMENT & TRANSPORT ACCESSIBILITY IN SMART CITIES Rama Chari DEOC

Features of Smart City Creating walkable localities Housing - expand housing opportunities for all Preserving and developing open spaces - parks, playgrounds, and recreational spaces Promoting a variety of transport options Applying Smart Solutions to infrastructure and services Smart city may be seen more technological but technology cannot exist without brick and mortar, meaning physical presence and infrastructure, etc. I will be focusing on thise aspects. I was looking at the Smart City Features. It had the following : … All these will have to be accessible.

Smart City Strategies Retrofitting in an existing built-up area to make the existing area more efficient and liveable Redevelopment (replacement of the existing built-up environment) and enable co-creation of a new layout with enhanced infrastructure. Greenfield development will introduce most of the Smart Solutions in a previously vacant area So much of work happening in the built up area.. Even the places for citizen services have to be accessible.

Status Check? Do you think a person with disability using a wheelchair buy a shirt in a shop in the local market independently? Can a person with vision impairment reach college independently without any help (crossing road, taking the bus, etc.) How many of you or your family member or friend have some difficulty, like seeing, hearing, walking, climbing, memory, language etc. What kind of a Smart City that you would like to see? Smart city is the future. Lets start with where we are currently? Let me ask a few questions that we could ponder about? In Guwahati,

Some facts One in 7 persons have a disability With the increased longevity, number of older persons is increasing. Accessibility helps ALL.

Accessibility Helps all Same language captions ( those who find it difficult to follow the accent) Talking ATMs/Microwave (helps illiterate) Voice announcements in lifts (incase you are checking your phone) Ramp at the entrance (for prams, trolleys, etc.) Better Signage (helps new visitors to the place) Audio descriptions (for elderly people with blurring vision) Accessibility not just helps people with disabilities but helps all. Now lets look at each disability to see what barriers exists and how it could be removed. www.deoc.in

Accessibility and Universal Design Accessibility is focused on persons with disability Universal design is a broader concept –Universal design refers to broad-spectrum ideas meant to produce buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to older people, people without disabilities and people with disabilities. This concept in design caters to all/large spectrum of people, and hence is more inclusive. For example - While an entrance may comply with standards , if it is located at the far end of the building or is difficult to find, anyone who has to use the entrance may feel as if they are being treated differently. A universal design alternative would be wide, automatic sliding doors that accommodate all users and allow groups — including people using wheelchairs, with strollers, or walkers — to enter together

Principles of Universal design

Cross Disability Cross disability: Accessibility is sometimes understood as building ramps and lifts or focused on people with mobility impairment only. There are barriers faced by people with different disabilities, people with difficulty seeing, hearing, learning, autism, etc. Even mobility impairment, there is a range… from difficulty walking to limping, to using crutches, wheelchair to stretchers.. Even wheelchair is of different kinds and sizes.. Therefore using standards is crucial.. While developing the standards various variations has been taken into account. We need not worry if we have catered to a particular disability. Also standards should further evolve with time. Involve Users in planning and take feedback

Accessibility standards Which Accessibility Standard/Guideline? Handbook on Barrier Free and Accessibility” CPWD 2014 http://cpwd.gov.in/Publication/HandbookonBarrier.pdf “Harmonised Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for Persons with Disability and Elderly Persons” MoUD 2015 http://moud.gov.in/sites/upload_files/moud/files/Harmonised_Guidelines_Draft.pdf “National Building Code of India: 2016 Part 3 Development Control Rules and General Building Requirements” BIS 2016 http://www.bis.org.in/sf/ced/CED46(8064)_24112015.pdf “ISO 21542:2011 Building construction -- Accessibility and usability of the built environment” International Organization for Standardization 2011 (Copyright)

Standards fo Transporation Urban Bus Specifications II (2013) – First one was in 2008 under JNNRUM http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/Urban-Bus-Specifications-II.pdf Manual of Standards and Specifications for Railway Stations https://www.fois.indianrail.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/land_amen/downloads/Manual%20for%20WCS%20(Vol%201-%20Main%20Report).pdf

Legislation – The RPD Act 2016 Right to equality, life with dignity Right to non discrimination Right to live in the community not obliged to live in any particular living arrangement Access to a range of in-house, residential and other community support service Right to education Access to voting Access to justice Access to media/IT Timelines for accessibility

Barriers examples We spoke of the barriers that exist in the society that precents people from being independent. Here are few examples. Our buses are difficult for people to travel and there are steps every where.

Barriers examples Another example of Indian Railway’s coach for disabled. It is occupied by everyone else but people with disabilities.

Examples of overcoming barriers Ramps instead of staircases, lifts, buses and cars where wheelchairs can go in.

Examples of overcoming barriers Accessible toilets, toilets with grab bars for people to hold, reserved parking space… You may have seen some parking spaces are so far. There should be parking spaces very near to the buildings for people with difficulty walking (with 50 m)

Barriers examples Crossing road At airport Apathy Here are some examples of barriers faced by people with vision disability. At airport Apathy

Examples of overcoming barriers Have you see /used Namma Metro? Have you see the Yellow tiles on the platform? These are called Guide blocks. These help people with visual disability to navigate. There are two types of tiles. One with the lines are the directional tiles. Which say, Go. You can keep going. There are no obstacles. The other one with circles indicate stop. This would indicate if there is a direction change or any door or staircase or an obstacle.. These are only in the Metro.. These should be there on footpaths are everywhere.

Examples of overcoming barriers Look at this in the traffic signal. There is a switch. He person can press the button and the light will turn red and vehicles will stop and one can easily cross. These would make life easy for people with disability to cross the road. Or have beepers that beep when one can then cross.

Braille There are also Braille Signs. People with visual disability use Braille to read, These are raised dots. They touch and read Look at this picture of a rail compartment where seat numbers are in Braille. They will know which seat number without needing to ask. Similarly, Braille should be in lifts and other places.

Examples of Overcoming Barriers Like Sudeep said, some things that make life easier for persons with hearing impairment are - sign language interpreters at railway stations and major bus terminuses at hospitals etc. Simple things like writing and explaining and having patience helps. Use of written communication Use of sign language

Examples of Overcoming Barriers A proper signage at public places can help people with hearing disability get the requisite information for their travel. Here they don’t have to depend on others and struggle to communicate. A visual alarm aids them to escape when there is an emergency Emergency alarm Signage at public places for directions

Ramps

What Standards speak? Gradient A ramp with a gradient higher than 1:12 is difficult to use and can create a risk of an accident; it is therefore not suitable for independent use . 1:15 is ideal. There is a table for the gradient for different raises Width of ramps The surface width of a ramp shall be not less than 1 200 mm. The unobstructed width of a ramp shall be not less than 1 000 mm between the handrails or any obstructions. Landings Ramps should have a level landing at the top and bottom of each run and also where the run changes direction Be provided at regular intervals of not more than 9000 mm of every horizontal run Have a level platform of not less than 1500 mm Handrails A ramp run with a vertical rise greater than 150 mm should have handrails that: are on both the sides; Be placed at a height of between 760 mm and 900 mm above the floor level; Must be continuous on both sides & even at landings. Extend horizontally for a distance of not less than 300 mm beyond the top and bottom of the ramp to provide support for persons who may need help to negotiate the ramp Handrails can have circular or non-circular cross-sections, but must have rounded edges. The gripping surface and adjacent surfaces must be free of abrasive or sharp elements Surface Surface materials shall be rigid with a plain and slip-resistant surface, in both wet and dry conditions Tactile indicators Single row of tactile warning blocks should be placed at beginning and end of each ramp at also at the beginning and end of each run. Illumination The minimum illumination at the top and bottom of the ramp should be 200 lux and 150 lux in between the bottom and top. . Note: In addition to a ramp, a flight of steps should be provided if the change in level is more than 300 mm. Thresholds ƒ There should be no thresholds. ƒ If thresholds are unavoidable, they should not exceed 12 mm and those exceeding 5 mm should be beveled.

What standards speak?

Ramp Landing

Ramp Landing

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Toilet

What to look for? Signage – room and directional Door – handle, swing, door closure speed, coat hook inside, lock Inside the restroom – transfer space from wheelchair, overall dimensions, grab bars, mirror, wash-basin height and leg room, flush, accessories and their mounting heights, colour contrast, emergency bell and blinking lights

What standards speak? horizontal pull-bar, at least 600 mm long, on the inside of the door, located so that it is 130 mm from the hinged side of the door and at a height of 1000 mm?

Clearance around WC Clearance around a water closet shall be 60 inches (1525 mm) minimum measured perpendicular from the side wall and 56 inches (1420 mm) minimum measured perpendicular from the rear wall.

What standards speak?

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What is the problem here? knee space of at least 750 mm height x 750 mm width x 200 mm depth under the wash basin, with additional toe-space of 300 mm height x 750 mm width x 230 mm depth?

The access audit should form the foundation for the continuous improvement of an organizations' accessibility and be the basis for an access plan.


What could organizations do to create barrier-free workplaces ? Set up an Access Council Get access audit done Have an accessibility Plan Set aside resources Have a policy to ensure any new place built or leased should be accessible. The cost is negligible when done at the design stage. Modify procurement policy Train Facilities people to maintain Take feedback for continuous improvement

Contact US: Email: ruchira@deoc.in /rama_c@deoc.in Mobile: +918800366244/+919880583277 Website: www.deoc.in