The President of the Lisbon City Council, Carlos Moedas, this Friday awarded the Accessibility Seal to three commercial establishments on Avenida da Liberdade that meet standards and best practices for those who use wheelchairs.
Carlos Moedas began by explaining in statements to journalists that this is about fulfilling the promise made to the various associations to make the city more accessible, “taking into account the details that make life difficult for those who use wheelchairs,” namely the National availability day.
“On an avenue like Avenida da Liberdade it seems impossible, but it’s true, in many of these shops people don’t have access. We wanted to create a movement to give this Seal of Excellence to those who provide accessibility for all. and thereby influence everyone,” said Carlos Moedas.
The mayor said that today three seals were awarded to three stores (Coffee House (Delta), Rituals and VisionLab) that meet two necessary criteria: “having a ramp for people to enter, and then access to shelves and direct service ” in a wheelchair.”
“This is a step to also influence others on Avenida da Liberdade and in the city, a small step that changes the lives of many people. We see that these people, despite everything, have difficulties in their daily lives, even if they can walk down the street. street, they cannot enter the store,” said Carlos Moedas, recalling that the municipality wants to “set an example” by ensuring accessibility in several areas of the city.
When asked if an inaccessible seal would not be more effective, Carlos Moedas explained the need to “influence them in a positive, constructive way, not through fines, but rather by giving them bonuses, because not only are they private companies, but they are making a positive impact” . on society if they do it of their own free will.”
“The positive influences are greater than the negative,” he concluded.
Carlos Moedas also recalled the work that the municipality has done in public spaces and on public roads, with the help of the presidents of several Lisbon parish councils, to identify “hard spots” in the city where people do not have access.
On the private side, Carlos Moedas said the chamber will be able to “facilitate the licensing of those who comply with the rules and give them some support in this change of rules that are often not followed.”
The mayor also stated that he would like to have in Lisbon “an accessible and sports area or area” that could become “an example for people to look at and follow”, emphasizing that installing ramps would not require large expenses, “which “It’s not a big project, but rather a small job that changes people’s lives.”
When asked about the breakdown of ramps on some Carris buses, Carlos Moedas said that today he contacted the president of the carrier, who confirmed the existence of some problems.
“We try to keep the ramps working at all times. We can’t go wrong here. We have a service that goes straight to the homes of people with limited mobility, and there have been some problems,” he admitted.
The Municipal Accessibility Label is designed to ensure that establishments comply with standards and best practices that facilitate accessibility, such as having an entrance accessible to people in wheelchairs, standards regarding the typology and distribution of furniture, or having an adapted sanitary installation.
Available establishments are now identified by a stamp at the entrance and are also advertised on the Lisbon City Council website.
The seal is an initiative of the Lisbon City Council, managed by the Pedestrian Accessibility Plan Department in partnership with the Salvadoran Association, within the existing protocol between the two organizations.