Milan reaps benefits of millions spent on disabled access

The European Union has rewarded the Italian city of Milan with the Access City Award for 2016, which recognises the efforts the city has gone towards making it more accessible for people with disabilities.

The Award is the culmination of five years of hard work that Milan has undertaken since adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2011 and implementing a comprehensive strategy to improve accessibility.

Marianne Thyssen, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility,  presented the award together with Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), at the European Day of Persons with Disabilities in Brussels.

Thyssen commented: “I personally encourage that cities learn from the good practices of Milan and the other winners across the European Union to improve the active inclusion of disabled and older people.”

In 2014 the city approved guidelines for the elimination of architectural barriers to promote the accessibility of buildings and public places and transport, social inclusion and quality of life. This has involved planning and integration of all the following areas: transport and infrastructure, urban planning, schools, buildings and public spaces and services, regional marketing, tourism, culture, sports facilities and parks.

Milan has spent €25 million on accessibility projects with another €25 million earmarked for new projects. The city has also budgeted €43 million of annual spending for services and benefits to people with disabilities. The judges welcomed Milan’s commitment to promoting the employment of disabled people and its support for independent living.

Transport projects include making all 115 bus lines accessible and in 2016 the city will spend €650,000 to add another 20 taxis to the fleet of accessible taxis, which numbers 26 at present. The central station in Milan has been restructured and a bike-sharing system has been implemented with electric pedal bikes for disabled people.

The city is also proud of its expofacile.it website, which provides a comprehensive source of information for all visitors with disabilities.

Milan finished ahead of 49 other cities that entered with runners-up spots going to Kaposvár in Hungary, France’s Toulouse, Vaana in Finland and Wiesbaden in Germany.

Wiesbaden, the capital of the German Federal State of Hessen, was awarded second place. Its efforts to open up spaces, parks and playgrounds to all were particularly well received, as was the accessibility of over 200 public buildings.

The Access City Award is one of the actions adopted from the EU disability strategy that aims at making Europe barrier-free. The Award aims to encourage cities with at least 50,000 inhabitants to share their experience and to improve accessibility for the benefit of all. Since 2010, more than 250 EU cities have participated.