AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.09.2003, Blaðsíða 15

Ingibjörg R. Guðlaugsdóttir, Planner
Reykjavík: Access for
All
improving ramps at road junc-
tions in old districts of the city
and to put up more benches
along footpaths. The improve-
ments of accessibility are
mapped by the office of the
Inspector of Roads and can be
obtained there.
Everybody has the same right to
travel, work and enjoyment of the
services, culture and benefits
offered by the city. To ensure
this, it is necessary to provide
access for those who are dis-
abled in some way, be it of dis-
abilities, age or other causes. The
City of Reykjavík has tackled this
role well and has acted as a
model for other cities in this
respect. This has been done by
improving the access of disabled
people and others on the paths
and road junctions in the city in
cooperation with the organisa-
tions of disabled people from the
middle of the last decade and the
establishment of the Reykjavík
Access Committee at the same
time. Following the establishment
of this commíttee, a survey was
done of access to the
institutions and com-
panies owned by the
city, resulting in an
action to improve their
accessibility.
Improvement of paths,
road junctions and
buildings owned by
the city has been suc-
cessful and noticed
internationally, award-
ing prizes to the city.
Detailed planning and
the construction of buildings is
carried out according to the plan-
ning- and building regulations.
The planning regulations stipulate
that the needs of children, the
handicapped and aged should be
met in decisions about land use,
roads, parking and recreation
areas. The building regulations
contain requirements as to the
charge of the construction and
maintenance of the road system
and the needs of disabled people
are kept in mind in all improve-
ments. These improvements have
taken place according to plan
since 1995, following a special
survey of accessibility from the
path network with yearly financ-
ing.This has mainly consisted of
Whilst these advancements
intend to improve access of the
physically challenged, they also
help those suffering from other
movement disabilities and are
therefore helpful in advancing the
general accessibility of every
citizen. ■
number of parking places for the
handicapped, access to buildings
and that in tall blocks of flats
there should at least be one flat
specially designed for the handi-
capped.
The office of the Inspector of
Roads in the Department of
Environment and Technology is in
The Department of Properties, in
the Department of Environment
and Technology, works on
improving the access to proper-
ties, owned by the City of
Reykjavík, both indoors and out-
doors. Examples of outdoor
improvements include specially-
marked parking areas, snow-
melting pipes laid into pave-
ments, ramps con-
structed, thresholds
lowered and electric
door-openers
installed. Interior
improvements
include the labelling
of window panes
along footpaths, nos-
ings of stairs and
improved toilet facili-
ties. Alongside this,
people-.wheelchair-,
and swimming-pool
lífts have been installed. This
year, emphasis is put on improv-
ing access to primary schools,
playschools, sports facilities, city
offices and cultural establish-
ments.
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