CIVINET Spain and Portugal Forum focuses on accessibility
The tenth CiViNET Spain and Portugal Forum was held in Ávila (Spain) on 9-10 May under the theme “People on the move, cities changing: accessibility, mobility and transport in the urban environment.”
The Forum was the follow-up to the technical workshop that took place in Alcobendas (Madrid) in January 2019, on the present and future of public transport and the relevant challenges for citizens and public authorities.
In Ávila, representatives of Spanish and Portuguese municipalities came together to exchange experiences and common challenges regarding their public transport systems and, mainly, their concerns regarding accessibility to historical centres.
The choice of Ávila as the meeting point for the Forum was not by chance; the city has a long tradition of accessibility improvements, mainly for people with impairments.
Indeed, it has been awarded prestigious prizes, such as the European Access City award in 2011 for improving access for people with disabilities.
CiViNET Spain and Portugal, taking care that its foundational and key objectives be accomplished, designed a Forum divided into three thematic panels, each aiming to provide in-depth knowledge on specific issues. These are:
- Accessibility and mobility in transport,
- Mobility in cities and heritage centre; and
- The current status of public transport with a view towards facing the future.
A special session was dedicated to the CIVITAS ECCENTRIC project. This explored issues related to equity, sustainability and accessibility and how these have been addressed in Madrid’s Vallecas neighbourhood.
The attendance of prominent figures from the transport business world further enriched the fruitful exchange of experiences and good practices; this is the most important way to achieve the network’s goals.