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Putting people first – Report on the Imtac Pedestrian Workshop held on 5th February 2020

Status of Publication: Published/Completed
Date produced: 2020
Authoring organisation/Author affiliation: Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee
Type of Resource: Research
Impairment area(s): Pan-impairment
Transport mode(s): Walking & Wheeling
Journey stage: Unspecified
Region: Northern Ireland

Document summary

On the 5th February 2020 Imtac hosted a Pedestrian’s Workshop at Girdwood Community Hub in Belfast. The focus of the workshop was to look at common barriers that make pedestrian journeys difficult for older people, disabled people and the public generally. These issues included pavement parking and clutter on footways including advertising boards (A Boards).

The workshop was attended by over 50 people including disabled people, older people, carers, representatives from local and central Government, PSNI and town centre management. Demand for the workshop was so high that registration was closed over a week before the event took place, emphasising the impact of the issues discussed on people’s lives. Imtac would like to thank all who contributed in the event including the speakers and participants in panel discussions.

This report summarises the workshop, detailing its format and the issues raised. It includes a review and commentary on issues raised at the workshop and a number of recommendations based on those discussions. Since the workshop, society has felt the full impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Many of the issues discussed at the workshop have a direct relevance to the difficult choices society must make in responding to and living with COVID-19 for the foreseeable future, particularly safety and social / physical distancing required in the pedestrian environment. It would be

remiss for this report not to reflect the development of the “new normal” in its analysis and recommendations.

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