Take Action for Make Way Day
Taking place each year on 22 September during European Mobility Week, Make Way Day is a campaign that brings the disability and wider community together to consider the needs of people with disabilities in the public spaces we all share. It is led by the Disability Federation of Ireland and is a unique collaboration across Ireland and the voluntary and local government sectors. But most of all it’s about people with disabilities.
A radical shift needs to be made towards rebalancing the priority and accessibility of street space to people with disabilities or to people who walk with an aid, wheel or push who need better, safer and more secure opportunities for independent mobility.
Speaking about equitable transport and mobility to and within campus, Sustainability Action Research & Innovation Lead, Dr Lorraine D'Arcy said:
Places and routes between places are only successful if they are comfortable for everyone. This Make Way Day take note of where those challenges might be: cars parked on footpaths or no pedestrian crossings and think about what you can do to help.
As part of the Walk21 Ireland Conference, which was held in TU Dublin in September 2022, then ten year old Edith Toomey, addressed the Walk21 delegation and shared her experiences of walking around Dublin as a white cane user. Edith has been very vocal in explaining to people in Dublin what life is like for some one with visual impairment on the streets of inner city Dublin. Hear one of her experiences in the clip below.
Everyone can get involved in Make Way Day - and everyone should get involved because quite often its thoughtlessness that is the big issue. Most people are unaware of the problems and behaviours that stop people with disabilities in their tracks.
According to the campaign the top three obstacles are:
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Cars parked on footpaths (including kerbs)
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Bicycles illegally parked
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Bins left on footpaths
Taking place in September, the Sport & Societies Festival, is a great time for students to learn about sustainable and equitable transport and mobility to, and within, campus. Visit the Sustainability Hub at the Sport & Societies Festival between 19 - 27 September and talk to us about your transport and mobility needs. We have Make Way Day stickers for those who want to support the Make Way Day campaign.
