ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION – UNIVERSAL OR INCLUSIVE DESIGN?

The accessibility of public utility buildings, including transportation infrastructure, especially railways, is a prerequisite for the independent functioning of individuals with diverse needs. Despite the enactment of the law in 2019 and its enforcement since September 2021, both architectural and digital accessibility, as well as information and communication accessibility, often fail to meet its requirements. Ensuring accessibility is undoubtedly a long-term process. It is easiest to achieve by designing new facilities in accordance with universal design principles, and somewhat more challenging when modernizing existing ones. Transportation, and therefore railway infrastructure, such as stations, terminals, and platforms, plays a crucial role in social life. This article presents various design strategies, with a particular emphasis on universal and inclusive design. It highlights the differences and similarities and demonstrates the validity of their application to ensure transport accessibility. General requirements for railway infrastructure accessibility are formulated, while detailed requirements specific to these types of facilities are incorporated into the developed accessibility assessment method, which has been implemented in a selected example of existing infrastructure. The article also presents the results of surveys on the accessibility of railway transportation for people with disabilities, confirming the need for auditing railway infrastructure. The results obtained allowed for the identification of the most common barriers that hinder individuals with diverse needs from using railway transportation freely.