Public Perceptions of Urban Inclusivity from a Disability-Friendly Perspective: Attention vs. Satisfaction

Abstract As cities worldwide pursue more inclusive and equitable development, understanding how urban inclusivity is perceived by the public has become increasingly important, yet remains insufficiently explored from a disability-inclusive perspective. This study proposes a dual-dimensional perception framework that conceptualizes urban inclusivity through public attention to urban inclusivity (PAUI) and public satisfaction with urban inclusivity (PSUI). Using 59 Chinese cities as case studies, we integrate large-scale digital trace data derived from the Baidu Search Index with survey-based satisfaction data to capture both societal concern and perceived governance outcomes related to disability-inclusive urban development. The results reveal substantial spatial disparities in both dimensions. PSUI is generally higher in eastern cities and megacities, whereas PAUI exhibits a more dispersed spatial pattern. Many cities in northeastern and western China display persistently low levels of both attention and satisfaction. More importantly, significant attention–satisfaction mismatches are observed across cities, suggesting that public concern and perceived governance outcomes do not necessarily evolve in parallel. Moreover, PAUI is strongly associated with internet penetration, educational attainment, and healthcare resources, whereas PSUI exhibits weaker relationships with socioeconomic factors. By linking public attention and satisfaction within a unified analytical framework, this study extends existing approaches to evaluating inclusive cities and provides a citizen-centered perspective for understanding disability-inclusive urban governance. The findings offer practical implications for improving governance responsiveness and promoting more inclusive urban development.