What is universal access?
Universal access means designing a city that is easy for all citizens to use and move around in.
One city, for all
The City of Cape Town wants all citizens – both with and without disabilities – to access Cape Town’s public spaces and transport systems, and use and enjoy the city to its fullest. For this reason, we consider people with disabilities when we plan and add new features to our city, including buildings, modes of transport, signage, roads or bridges.
Fast fact
Universal Access is not only about the environment; it’s a matter of attitude. Good access begins with society. We should all make people with disabilities feel included in everyday life.
Facilities and building features, such as public toilets, entrances, doorways, walkways and ramps, must be built to certain standards and measurements to be accessible to people with disabilities.
Remember
An equal society is one where we see all people as active members of communities.
Here are some examples of universal access measures taken by the City of Cape Town:
- In the centre of Cape Town, a number of traffic lights have sound signals that help people with visual impairments cross streets. Further audible signals will be installed in time.
- Textured paving (also known as tactile paving) helps guide people with visual impairments.
- When we do maintenance on roads that were built before universal access was legally implemented, or works on roads where universal access features were fitted badly, we install new dropped kerbs, textured paving and audible signals where necessary.
Why universal access benefits all:
- Good access benefits everyone – not just the person with a disability. A ramp at a shopping centre, for example, can be used by anyone who cannot or does not want to use the stairs.
- Everybody needs good, clear signage and direction indicators, decent lighting in buildings and on roads, colour contrasting on steps, and bigger lifts.
- A dropped kerb (where the pavement drops to be level with the road at pedestrian crossings) makes it easier for someone in a wheelchair, but also works for those with prams or older people who may have difficulty walking.
Core resources
For detailed descriptions and diagrams of how to build for universal accessibility, read
Part S of the National Building Regulations, which specifically deals with developing facilities for people with disabilities.
Tourism and special access needs
Most of Cape Town’s major tourist attractions, such as the V&A Waterfront, some beaches, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Table Mountain, offer access for people with disabilities as well as tourists who may have visual or hearing impairments and/or limited mobility. If you are a person with a disability exploring our city, or are with someone with special access needs, have a look at the list of all the City of Cape Town’s wheelchair-friendly facilities. For more information, feel free to get in touch with
Cape Town Tourism.
Top tip
The Cape Town Tourism Contact Centre is open daily from Monday - Sunday (incl. public holidays) from 06:00 – 20:00 (South African time). There are also nine visitor information centres across town. Contact the centre on
086 132 2223.
Cape Town Tourism can provide further information on wheelchair-friendly activities in Cape Town.
Further information
For information on universal access in tourism in the rest of the country, contact the
National Department of Tourism.
Please note
You can reach the National Department of Tourism's contact centre on
086 111 2468.
Other sources of information are:
The South African Disability Alliance (SADA)
Telephone:
012 452 3811
Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (Presidency)
Telephone:
012 300 5488 /
012 300 5483
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