Redesigning the city to integrate everyone; that was precisely one of the main objectives of urban reform in Pontevedra and it has been accomplished successfully throughout the municipality. An encompassing view of accessibility would mean that any transformation is intended as a contribution to independence and self-sufficiency, regardless of functional diversity.

Single platform initiatives and barrier-free spaces help wheelchair users, young families and senior citizens to move comfortably around the city; however, it should not be forgotten that such measures benefit all users without distinction.

Checks and balances

During the earliest stages of urban reform, back in the days when local technical departments were still unfamiliar with the specifics of a new mobility model, it was the members of Amizade association who volunteered to be the first to try the results themselves before they were declared appropriate. Ramps, single platforms and other accessible elements in Pontevedra have been making people’s lives easier for more than a decade now.

Schoolchildren

Apart from the physical configuration of the streets and squares, the role of schoolchildren, senior citizens, as well as the blind or partially sighted needed to be taken into consideration. Safety measures protect young children both in pedestrianized areas and those with segregated motorized traffic, allowing them to play outside or go to school without any worries. Also, public lighting is more intense around pedestrian crossings.

Accessible footpaths

The Historic Center is the starting point of all the accessible pedestrian itineraries. Except for the footpath alongside river Gafos, all routes are open to walkers, bikers and wheelchair users alike: Miradoiro and Alameda parks, river Lérez and Xunqueira de Alba footpaths, the waterfront (Bos Aires – Uruguai – Corbaceiras – Av. de Marín), among others.