Odessa's Commitment to Barrier-Free Living
Odessa is actively implementing modern accessibility principles, setting an example of an effective approach to inclusion in the urban landscape.
On February 27, during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Odessa City Council, the Action Plan for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment for 2025–2026 was officially approved. This document outlines a comprehensive modernization of the urban environment — from infrastructure and transport to education, recreation, and digital services.
The plan aims to create a accessible city for individuals with disabilities, the elderly, parents with strollers, and anyone facing barriers in their daily lives. It addresses not only adapted facilities but also a holistic system of convenient mobility and interaction with the city. The focus is on equal access to transport, information, education, sports, rehabilitation, and other essential areas.
The implementation of the Plan is overseen by the Barrier-Free Council, which includes representatives from the city government, veterans, NGOs, and people with disabilities.
«Odessa must be convenient for everyone. We are elevating the issue of accessibility to a new level and making it part of Odessa's strategic vision for development,» emphasized Mayor Gennady Trukhanov.
«We view barrier-free living as a comprehensive change: convenient transport, safe crossings, well-planned stops, and accessible infrastructure. These are not isolated solutions, but a unified logic serving everyone — from individuals with disabilities to parents with strollers,» stated Alexey Morozov, Deputy Chair of the Barrier-Free Council and head of the NGO «Barrier-Free».
In partnership with the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, the project «Movement Without Barriers» is being implemented. Its strategic importance was confirmed at the national level: on March 26, a meeting of the National Council for Barrier-Free Living took place, featuring First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska and Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Kuleba. Odessa has become one of the cities actively involved in preparing projects in the fields of education, culture, and social services.
Special attention is given to the «North-South» project — one of the flagship routes under 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 be part of a new system for accessible urban mobility.
