Cities around the country installed over 1,700 wheelchair ramps in the last five years, thanks in part to one man’s initiative.

A small organization that began in Reykjavík, Iceland has grown into a veritable movement, installing almost 2,000 wheelchair ramps in public spaces all over the country where accessibility was an issue. As Margaret Andersen explains in Fast Company, “In many older cities around the world, accessibility standards are inconsistent, and the push to retrofit historic areas is often delayed or deprioritized in favor of architectural preservation.”
The project, called Ramp Up Iceland, designs ramps individualized to each location that work with existing materials and aesthetics. “In many cases, passersby wouldn’t even notice modifications to the historic buildings because the ramps are intentional design choices built into the urban environment.” The project was initially started and funded by Haraldur “Halli” Thorleifsson, a tech entrepreneur who uses a wheelchair, but has grown into a partnership with local governments and other groups.
A study conducted in the United States, where federal law technically requires accessibility in all public spaces, found that 60 percent of people with a disability were unable to complete a necessary task because they couldn’t access a building, and sidewalks and transit facilities remain inaccessible in many U.S. cities.
FULL STORY: Iceland built 1,756 wheelchair ramps in the past 4 years. Why can’t other countries do that?

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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