There is a statistical link between disability and loneliness according to the UK Office for National Statistics. The more pronounced the disability, the greater the likelihood of loneliness. So what do streetscapes have to do with this? Every journey, for any reason begins with leaving the house and directly interacting with the street. A study of lived experience found that people with disability:
> felt invisible and unheard because of inaccessible streetscapes
> found inconsistent electric vehicle noise complicates navigation, and
> engagement is vital in addressing accessibility and enhancing communication.

The study documents how researchers gathered information from participants with disability and lists the questions asked.
“Planners responsible for streetscapes, as well as the public, need stronger education on disabled people’s needs and barriers.”

Inclusive streetscapes – the challenges
The study revealed challenges with societal design, pavements, societal behaviour, street furniture, wayfinding, and roadworks. Each of these themes are explained in more detail. For societal design, poor consideration of needs and design inconsistency topped the list.
In terms of footpaths, the surfaces, insufficient kerb ramps and footpath camber rated highest. Parking on the footpath was the greatest behaviour gripe followed by aggressive behaviour by others.
Rubbish bins and outdoor dining and chairs were the worst street furniture offenders, and accessible routes are often longer than they need to be. Difficulty navigating temporary paths during roadworks is a key element for improvement.
Providing accessible parking spaces without providing a kerb ramp is considered poor and thoughtless design. Street repairs can make the situation worse.
It’s about the footpath
Participants regularly mentioned poor pavement surfaces, lack of maintenance, the angle of the camber. Shared spaces are particularly challenging. They make it difficult for them to recognise priorities on the road. This is a source of anxiety which is at odds with claims that shared spaces are safer.
There is much more to unpack in this paper about all the other elements including street furniture and wayfinding and navigation. Another key element is the extra energy required when already working from a low energy base because of their disability.
The title of the paper is, Inclusive Streetscapes: Embedding disabled people’s lived experience into street accessibility.
From the abstract
Urban streetscape design has to do more to enable the independent movement of disabled people. Few studies have attempted to capture the lived experience of a disabled person using the streetscape.
We interviewed 26 people with lived experience of a disability (from around the UK) to define the streetscape barriers faced. The systemic reasons as to why these issues exist are identified and we propose a new path forward.
We provide recommendations for streetscape design with direct relevance for local authorities, policy makers and designers for more accessible streetscapes. Embedding people with disability into the decision making is essential. Future work must assess the barriers in collaboration with disabled people, to prioritise actions and aim for an equitable streetscape for all.
Staying put and walking more
An Australian study found that older people who live in separate houses walk more than those in retirement villages. The Curtin University study accounted for several factors before coming to this conclusion. It adds to the literature that for most people, staying in your own home is the best way to age. Of course, we need homes and neighbourhoods designed to support this. While the study has some limitations, it is another angle on staying put versus age segregated living arrangements.
The title of the article in Sage Publications is The Potential Importance of Housing Type for Older People’s Physical Activity Levels. You will need institutional access for a free read.

Understanding inlcusion – how can we make it happen?
Architect Mary Ann Jackson has written a thoughtful article about built environment practitioners and their continued lack of understanding of our human diversity. She says that little is known about the extent of inaccessibility. Legislation is all very well, but it doesn’t reflect the real lives of people.

Jackson’s article explores the question of how might an understanding of models of disability and human rights inform the improvement of access at a neighbourhood scale? She argues that built environment practitioners must engage with users, with people with disability to inform their understanding of what makes (unintended) barriers to access and inclusion. There are links to related articles on the page.
The title of the paper is, Models of Disability and Human Rights: Informing the Improvement of Built Environment Accessibility for People with Disability at Neighborhood Scale? It’s an open access article. You can download the full text.