Odessa's Commitment to Accessibility: A New Era
Odessa is actively implementing new accessibility standards, setting an example of a systematic approach to inclusion in urban settings.
On February 27, during a meeting of the Executive Committee, the Action Plan for Creating a Barrier-Free Space for 2025-2026 was officially approved. This document outlines a comprehensive transformation of the urban environment, encompassing infrastructure, transport, education, recreation, and digital services.
The plan aims to create a city accessible for people with disabilities, the elderly, parents with strollers, and anyone facing barriers in their daily lives. It focuses not just on adapted facilities but on a holistic system of convenient movement and interaction within the city. Key areas of focus include equal access to transportation, information, communication, education, sports, rehabilitation, and other essential services.
The implementation of the plan will be overseen by the Barrier-Free Council, which includes representatives from the local government, veterans, and community organizations, including individuals with disabilities.
«Odessa must be comfortable for everyone. We are elevating the issue of accessibility to a completely new level and integrating it into our strategic vision for the city's development,» said Mayor Gennady Trukhanov.
«We view accessibility as a comprehensive transformation: convenient transport, safe crossings, well-designed stops, and accessible infrastructure. This is not a collection of disparate solutions, but rather a unified logic that serves everyone — from people with disabilities to parents with strollers,» emphasized Alexey Morozov, Deputy Head of the Barrier-Free Council.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development and Territories of Ukraine, the project «Movement Without Barriers» is being implemented. Its strategic importance has been confirmed at the national level: on March 26, a meeting of the National Barrier-Free Council took place, attended by Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska and Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Kuleba. Odessa has been one of the cities actively involved in preparing projects in education, culture, and social services.
Special attention is also being given to the «North-South» project — one of the flagship routes within the Ministry's initiative for «Barrier-Free Routes». Recently, a section of this route was presented in Odessa to ministry representatives who traveled from Kyiv. It will run from the Peresyp District to the Administrative Service Center on Kosivska Street and will be part of the new system of accessible urban mobility.
