By John Challen

CIHT’s ‘Creating a public realm for all’ project is designed to make transport infrastructure more accessible and help transport professionals overcome challenges faced by some members of society.

A draft document has been reviewed by key figures close to the report and feedback is being assessed, but the team behind it already have plenty of reasons to feel positive.

“The main outcome from this report is the point that it’s really important to talk to people who have direct experience of issues, as well as anyone who could potentially be using a specific space,” explains Horbury. “That’s not just disabled people, it could be young people, old people, children, families – anyone who's going to be using that space should be involved in the process from the start to the end.

“In this case, the start should mean right at the beginning of the project as a whole, running through to when the project is actually being used, monitored and evaluated.”

Another element that came out of the report is the importance of construction. “When you know the design, and which materials you should use, it’s important to ensure something is actually constructed as it has been designed. But that doesn’t always happen,” states Horbury. “Then, the next really important element is maintenance. You start with a perfectly accessible scheme, but then if a road worker has to dig it up, problems can be as it’s changed from the original design.”

Looking further ahead, Horbury has high hopes for smoother projects as a result of the report, ultimately leading to an improved user experience. “For me, the purpose of doing the report is to better inform the people who actually make decisions, such as highway engineers, landscape architects and the people buying materials for use in the public realm,” she enthuses. “There are a lot of reports written about what you should do and how you should it, but it’s almost too much information.

“Our report aims to summarise the most important parts of everything that has been written and present it as an ‘if you read one thing, make sure it’s this’ guide, because it covers everything you need to think about.

“In the short term, I would like increased awareness of the issues that people struggle with, because I actually think, in some places, there isn’t enough consideration,” Horbury continues. “When I see some brand new schemes, I ask myself how they happened. My ideal would be for me to not have to ask myself that question! I’ve seen someone use granite slabs and think that passes as seating. But it doesn’t for people who need support or who are sensitive to cold or heat. Also, I recently saw a grey bench with grey armrests. My initial thought was that someone with a visual impairment wouldn’t see the armrests and sit on them.”

In the long term, Horbury is dreaming of a more equal society. “At the moment, there are a lot of people who aren’t able to participate as fully in society as they should be able to because of the way the public realm is,” she concludes. “We would like to ensure that all spaces are accessible, and everyone can use them, feel safe in them and enjoy them.”

Main image: Antoneta Horbury; Director of Policy and Technical Affairs; credit: CIHT