The city of Odessa is actively working on new initiatives to enhance accessibility, showcasing a coherent approach to inclusion within the urban environment.
On February 27, during the Executive Committee meeting of the Odessa City Council, a new Action Plan for 2025-2026 was officially approved, which envisions changes in urban life — from transportation to education and digital services.
This plan aims to create a accessible environment for everyone, including people with disabilities, the elderly, and parents with small children who face various barriers in their daily lives. This is not just about specially designed facilities but a comprehensive system for convenient movement and interaction with the city. The focus is on equal access to transportation, information, education, sports, and other essential areas.
The Barrier-Free Council oversees the implementation of the Plan, bringing together representatives from the city government, veterans, and NGOs, including individuals with disabilities.
«Odessa should be comfortable for everyone. We are elevating the issue of accessibility to a new level and making it a part of the strategic development vision for the city,» said Mayor Gennady Trukhanov.
«We view accessibility as a comprehensive transformation: convenient transportation, safe crossings, and accessible infrastructure. This is not isolated solutions, but a unified logic that works for everyone, including parents with strollers,» emphasized Alexey Morozov, Deputy Head of the Barrier-Free Council.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Community Development and Territories of Ukraine, the project «Movement Without Barriers» is being implemented. Its strategic significance is 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. Odessa has become one of the cities actively involved in preparing projects in education, culture, and social services.
Special attention has been given to the project «North-South» — one of the flagship routes within the initiative of the Ministry of Community Development «Barrier-Free Routes». Recently, a part of this route was presented in Odessa to ministry representatives who arrived from Kyiv. It runs from the Peresyp district to the CNAP on Kosivska Street and will be part of a new system for accessible urban movement.
