New Accessibility Initiatives in Odessa
Odessa is progressively implementing modern accessibility principles, showcasing a systematic approach to inclusion in the urban environment.
On February 27, during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Odessa City Council, the Action Plan for Creating a Barrier-Free Space for 2025–2026 was officially approved. This document includes a comprehensive transformation of the urban environment — from infrastructure and transport to education, recreation, and digital services.
The plan aims to create an accessible city for people with disabilities, senior citizens, parents with strollers, and everyone facing barriers in daily life. It encompasses not only adapted facilities but also a holistic system of convenient movement and interaction with the city. The focus is on equal access to transport, information, communication, education, sports, rehabilitation, and other key areas.
The implementation of the Plan is overseen by the Barrier-Free Council, which consists of representatives from the city government, veterans, and non-governmental organizations, including people with disabilities.
«Odessa must be comfortable for everyone. We are elevating the topic of accessibility to a new level and making it part of Odessa's strategic vision for development,» said Mayor Gennady Trukhanov.
«We see accessibility as a comprehensive change: convenient transport, safe crossings, well-planned stops, and accessible infrastructure. These are not isolated solutions but a unified logic that works for everyone — from people with disabilities to parents with strollers,» emphasized Alexey Morozov, Deputy Head of the Barrier-Free Council and head of the NGO «Barrier-Free».
In collaboration with the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, the project «Movement Without Barriers» is being implemented. Its strategic significance has been confirmed at the state level: on March 26, a meeting of the National Barrier-Free Council took place with the participation of Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska and Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Kuleba. Odessa has become one of the cities actively involved in preparing projects in education, culture, and social services.
Particular 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 portion 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 become part of the new system for accessible urban movement.
