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Stockholm Shall Become the Most Available City in the World

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Travel Articles >> City Travel Travel Articles >> Locations >> Europe >> Sweden >> Stockholm

The authorities of Stockholm, the biggest Scandinavian city, have set a goal to make the Swedish capital the most available city in the world by 2010. This means that guests and citizens of the city with limited physical abilities shall feel as comfortable as other people.

They have been working on availability of Stockholm since 1998. Today, when only three years are left till the planned date, the goal seems to be frightening. There is no ideal model of an available capital. There is nothing to compare to. You may only choose certain parameters and try to meet standards referring to each of them.

In Sweden money is allocated not only for availability for disabled people, since, in fact, physical disabilities appear among many people when they grow older. Besides, the city should also be available for small children.

The Availability Program, approved by the City Council in 2005, stipulates what is to be done in Stockholm in the context of all directions referring to availability, including construction of new buildings, urban infrastructure objects, equipment installation, etc. The main principle is that people are different but equally precious. People with limited physical abilities have the same rights as other people. Therefore they should be treated as other people, as well as their opportunities of moving within the city and enjoying its benefits must be the same as that of other people.

First of all this refers to the external urban environment. All pedestrian crossings are adjusted for both wheelchair invalids and people with poor eyesight. Paving in the place of crossing is painted in light colors, and the border is painted in white. Pavements and borders are lowered at crossings. The first and the last step of all urban stairs are also painted white.

At each station seats shall have different levels. All such seats, as well as benches in parks, shall have hand-rails so that elder people could easily sit down and stand up. Pedestrian areas with uneven paving should have a path of even paving for people with wheelchairs. All gutters, situated across pavements, are also adjusted for wheelchair invalids. They should be semicircular, broad and no deeper than 3 cm.

All railway stations are already equipped with elevators. At central stations a disabled person may through an SMS call an assistant who shall help him to reach the platform and get into the train. A GPS-navigator program, similar to the one installed in cars of some of us, is being designed for the blind. They shall be able to inform by telephone wherefrom and whereto they want to get and receive the information about how to go, with the number of steps indicated.

If there is even a small ascent at the entrance of a building, it shall have a slightly sloping and a hand-rail. If the ascent is longer than 5 meters, it shall have seats for rest. All toilets situated in public places shall be adjusted for wheelchair invalids. And finally, there is a goal to make all city buses available for wheelchair invalids by 2010. So far only 80% of buses are available (the height of the floor makes up 25 cm while the pavement height is 16 cm).

Availability norms are included in construction norms. If a company that concluded a contract on construction of a building in the city fails to meet them, it shall never receive a contract again.

A lot of businessmen understand that availability for disabled people means additional customers. Besides, the Saint Julian prize has been instituted in the city. The image of this saint is connected with mercy and hospitality. The prize is awarded for achievements in the field of availability. Shops, hotels and other types of institutions can be nominated. The awarding takes place on the Saint Julian Day (19 February) and its results are made public.

Two inspectors on issues of disabled people have been working in the city since October. There are District and City Councils of disabled people. Their opinion is always taken into consideration.

Each disabled person decides himself what kind and what amount of assistance he needs. The amount of assistance is determined not only in hours, but in concrete devices. Computers, mobile phones and access to the Internet are also part of assistance, if necessary, along with wheelchair and special equipment in the room.

A part of the city web-site is the Availability Guide to Stockholm. It states what a disabled person shall come across in each museum, public building, stadium, etc. Authorities check all objects for the matter of availability and place the necessary information so that everyone should know what obstacles he shall come across in a theater or a supermarket and where, if any.

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Article Submitted On: December 5, 2007