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Luxembourg City: 2022 Access City Award Winner
As the size and population of European cities continue to expand, it is necessary to rethink how the urban areas are designed and who do they serve. When planning and developing public areas, it is critical to take into account the demands of the entire population. However, not all European cities are demonstrating an equal level of commitment towards becoming truly disabled-accessible.
As a result, an entire group of people can feel excluded from society and have their overall quality of life negatively impacted. Cities are largely responsible to ensure equality among their residents and to make sure that people with disabilities can access employment, healthcare, education and other services. According to the statistics provided by the European Commission, 87 million people in the EU live with a disability.
The Access City Award is one of the activities within the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 which is organized by the European Commission and the European Disability Forum. Its goal is to build Europe without barriers. Aside from facing numerous physical barriers in their everyday lives when using, for instance, public transportation, people with disabilities also have to deal with stigma or fewer options for employment.
The Access City Award was established in 2010 to raise awareness about this issue and support accessible projects in European cities with populations of more than 50,000 people. The initiative attempts to encourage cities to collaborate and exchange positive examples, with the ultimate goal of ensuring a safer and more inclusive future for people with disabilities. The prize is granted to the city that has significantly improved accessibility in core aspects of daily life and also has concrete plans to improve further.
On December 3, 2021, it was announced that the 2022 Access City Award would go to Luxembourg City. According to a press release published by the European Commission, the city was recognized by an expert jury for its wide range of innovative ideas and enhancements to increase accessibility for people with disabilities.
This cosmopolitan city, which is also home to the European Court of Justice, has made accessibility one of its main priorities. Luxembourg City has set up a variety of infrastructure and equipment to help persons with disabilities feel safer and more independent. By doing that, the city confirmed its commitment to inclusion and once again demonstrated it is willing to work hard in order to make sure the needs of all residents are met.
Low-floor buses with ramps, as well as visual and audio announcements on buses and at bus stops, are all available throughout Luxembourg’s capital. Furthermore, Luxembourg City makes major council meetings available in sign language, in addition to spoken language and accessible transcription, so that each and every resident is able to stay up-to-date with the newest political decisions.
Helena Dalli, European Commissioner for Equality, stated: “Imagine that you want to take a bus, but you cannot board it. Or that your child is unable to play with other children because the playground is not accessible. Accessibility makes a real difference in daily life. It is about autonomy and equality.’’
‘’This is why with the Access City Award we recognize the efforts to make cities more accessible and inclusive. I congratulate this year’s winner, Luxembourg City, for its commitment to equal opportunities for persons with disabilities,” she continued.
The European Commission received 40 bids for the 2022 Access City Award. The cities of Helsinki, Finland, and Barcelona, Spain, came in second and third, respectively. Previous winners of the award include Jönköping, Warsaw, Breda, Lyon, and more. (photo credit: Gerd Altmann/Pixabay)
