Multicriteria evaluation of people with reduced mobility accessibility: a study in downtown Itajubá (MG)

AbstractEvaluating the accessibility of specific groups in a determined urban space is challenging, not only when it comes to verifying technical standards and current legislations, but also when considering individual opinions. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the accessibility of people with limited mobility in urban public spaces, using an accessibility multi-criteria analysis model. The goal of this study was pedestrian flow in sidewalks, obstacles, crossings and parking spots in downtown Itajubá-MG. It was verified that user’s judgment regarding accessibility depends on the different kinds of mobility difficulties, the availability of devices and means of transport. This study provides insights that support better urban mobility proposals for a sustainable development, especially to those projects that aim a social sustainability on a broader concept that embraces human experience in the cities and enables individuals to participate on projects targeted to the general population.