Development of accessible urban infrastructure in Kharkiv in the early 21st century. Part 1: Street accessibility

The article is part of a broader study dedicated to analyzing the formation of accessible urban infrastructure in the city of Kharkiv at the beginning of the 21st century in the context of cities tourism attraction. The focus is on the accessibility of the urban street space. The interaction between the civic sector and city authorities in creating an inclusive environment is specifically examined. Additionally, the article highlights the features of the city authorities' communication on inclusion issues. The research was conducted in Kharkiv between May and August 2024 and is based on a comprehensive approach that includes an analysis of official publications, reports by civic organizations, accessibility monitoring of urban infrastructure, as well as the authors' own observations and experiences. The article analyzes the main shortcomings in the accessibility of Kharkiv's urban infrastructure, including errors in the design of ramps, curbs, tactile markings, specially designed pedestrian crossing slopes, and discrepancies between official reports by city authorities and the actual state of the infrastructure. However, positive trends were also identified, such as the creation of an official interactive accessibility map (unfortunately inaccessible to visually impaired individuals), the implementation of audible traffic lights, and the gradual improvement of city authorities' communication with the public. Starting in 2024, outdated and offensive terminology regarding people with disabilities has been entirely removed from the city authorities' publications. Significantly, these positive developments result from collaboration between the city authorities and civic organizations. It can be confidently stated that the process of forming an accessible urban space in Kharkiv requires a more systematic approach, as sporadic actions do not fundamentally change the situation in the city as a whole. The continuation of the research is planned, particularly focusing on the accessibility of transport infrastructure, the housing sector, and the cultural sphere.