Junior Thompson | Navigating accessibility in Kingston

Accessibility in urban planning involves designing infrastructure and public spaces to meet the needs of all individuals, particularly the most vulnerable, the disabled and the elderly, ensuring that pedestrians can navigate safely without being overshadowed by vehicles.

Currently, pedestrians navigating Kingston’s streets poses significant challenges, where sidewalks are often obstructed or encroached upon, forcing both able-bodied and disabled individuals to traverse hazardous environments. From uncovered manholes to uneven sidewalks, utility poles, and the lack of ramps, walking in Kingston is fraught with dangers. These hazards – combined with the height differences between roadways and sidewalks – make even basic walking dangerous.

The scarcity of pedestrian ramps further complicates transitions from road to sidewalk while uneven surfaces and poorly positioned utility structures leave little walking space, showing no regard for pedestrians. Local authorities, such as the parish councils, which are tasked with enforcing safety regulations, seem passive in addressing these issues. Likewise, the National Works Agency (NWA), tasked with ensuring the safety and accessibility of public infrastructure, has also neglected its duties. Over the last three decades, substandard infrastructure has become widespread across Kingston and other urban centres, with minimal intervention.

STARKLY VISIBLE

This situation is starkly visible on Marcus Garvey Drive and Constant Spring Road – recently upgraded roads that remain hostile to pedestrians. For a roadway stretching 4.6 kilometres, the one pedestrian bridge provided is placed in an obscure location, far removed from bus stops and the natural walking routes. This neglect disproportionately affects vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and especially the physically disabled, who must navigate dangerous roadways, hop over concrete medians and railings just to get from one side of the road to the other, clearly discriminating against pedestrians in favour of vehicles.

Other areas see utility poles and wires blocking sidewalks, pushing pedestrians into the streets and oncoming traffic. In many cases across the island, sidewalks are either too narrow, making them unusable, or completely absent. This absence, paired with poor street lighting, makes navigating Kingston increasingly dangerous. Especially in vulnerable areas of our many cities, pedestrians are becoming an endangered group as seen near Spanish Town’s Transportation Centre.

The decrepit condition of Kingston’s public spaces as well as the other urban centres reflects a broader failure of the managers of these cities. The municipalities, formerly known as parish councils, bear, somewhat, the full responsibility for the degradation of our pedestrian spaces. As managers of the urban environment, they have failed over the years to maintain and improve these essential areas. They have allowed vending in all forms to infest sidewalks and walkways, leaving very little room for pedestrians. Their primary cry is lack of resources brought on by their limited financial ability.

Kingston’s sidewalks frequently fail to meet basic safety standards. A particularly troubling example can be found on Marescaux Road near Mico University College, where a sidewalk narrows from a mere eighteen inches to nothing outside Wolmer’s Girls’ High School, forcing children to walk along one of the city’s busiest roads. Despite being an ongoing problem for over three decades, no solutions have been implemented.

ACCESSIBILITY PROBLEM AND LAWLESSNESS

Many of Kingston’s sidewalks fall far below international standards even though they are critical for daily use by pedestrians. The state of the city’s sidewalks is a result of poor urban planning and unplanned infrastructure. Parish councils, tasked with maintaining pedestrian spaces, have allowed these areas to degrade, with sidewalks infested by vending stalls and other obstacles, leaving little room for pedestrians.

The accessibility issue is worsened by the lawlessness of motorists, including licensed and unlicensed (robot) taxi drivers, who show little regard for pedestrian safety. Reckless driving, combined with inadequate urban planning, creates additional hazards for seniors, the physically disabled, children, and even able-bodied individuals. The situation is emblematic of the chaotic development that plagues Kingston and other major urban centres across the island, where “afterthought” architecture and poor planning have become the norm, undermining the vision of an orderly, modern urban environment.

This lack of proper urban planning, coupled with the reluctance of city officials to tackle these issues, exacerbates the problem. The lawlessness of motorists and the disrepair of pedestrian spaces underscore the urgent need for a more sustainable, long-term solution.

IS THERE A SOLUTION?

To address these issues, Kingston’s municipalities must take immediate action. Local city managers should develop clear strategies to reshape and reform public spaces, with a focus on improving safety and accessibility for all residents. The first priority should be repairing the city’s streets and sidewalks. This includes fixing existing infrastructure and upgrading public amenities to support pedestrian use.

Strategically, budgetary allocations should be made to systematically address the deficiencies in public spaces. A block-by-block, road-by-road approach can begin the process of repairing and transforming Kingston’s streetscapes. Collaboration with experienced urban planners, architects, and professional groups will be essential to reimagine the city in a way that improves the quality of life for all residents.

By prioritising key issues – such as the provision of safe and accessible sidewalks and the elimination of obstacles – Kingston can become a city where pedestrians are valued and no longer are an afterthought in urban planning. With proper planning, dedication, and collaboration, Kingston can evolve into a more inclusive and pedestrian-friendly environment, a city where pedestrians are no longer an afterthought, but rather, an integral part of the urban landscape.

Junior P. Thompson is a registered architect. This article is an extract from his upcoming book If God Were an Architect: Exploring the Challenges and Solutions in Developing Caribbean Nations. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.