Glossary

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ADA Transition Plan(also: ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, Accessibility Transition Plan)

A document required under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that outlines how a public entity will make its programs, services, activities, and facilities accessible to people with disabilities. The plan must include an inventory of accessibility barriers, a…

Accessibility Map(also: Accessible Route Map, Wheelchair Accessibility Map)

A map that displays information about the physical accessibility features and barriers of an environment, such as the presence of curb ramps, steps, slopes, surface conditions, and accessible entrances. Accessibility maps are essential tools for people with mobility…

Accessible Routing(also: Accessible Navigation, Barrier-Free Routing, Accessible Wayfinding)

The calculation of travel routes that account for accessibility barriers and the specific mobility needs of disabled pedestrians. Unlike standard navigation that optimises solely for distance or time, accessible routing considers factors such as kerb heights, stairs, surface…

Bus stop accessibility(also: Accessible bus stops, Bus stop landmarks)

The design, infrastructure, and information features that make bus stops findable, identifiable, and usable by people with disabilities. For blind and low-vision riders, bus stop accessibility depends heavily on the presence of detectable physical landmarks such as shelters,…

Citizen Sensing(also: Citizen Sensor, Participatory Sensing)

A data collection approach in which members of the public use mobile devices or other tools to gather and report information about their environment, contributing to collective datasets that can inform decision-making. In accessibility contexts, citizen sensing enables people to…

Crosswalk detection(also: Pedestrian crossing detection, Zebra crossing detection)

The automated identification and localization of marked pedestrian crossings in imagery using computer vision techniques. Crosswalk detection can be performed on satellite images, street-level photographs, or real-time camera feeds to populate navigation databases for blind…

Crowdsourced Accessibility(also: Crowdsourced Accessibility Auditing, Citizen-Sourced Accessibility)

The practice of collecting accessibility information about physical or digital environments through contributions from large numbers of people, rather than relying solely on professional auditors. In the physical accessibility context, crowdsourcing approaches include virtual…

Crowdsourced Accessibility Mapping(also: Collaborative Accessibility Mapping, Citizen-Sourced Accessibility Data)

The practice of using contributions from members of the public to identify, report, and map accessibility barriers and features in physical or digital environments. In urban contexts, crowdsourced accessibility mapping typically involves mobile applications that allow citizens…

Crowdsourced accessibility data(also: Crowdsourced validation, Accessibility crowdsourcing)

The collection, verification, or enrichment of accessibility-related geographic or environmental information through the coordinated efforts of many distributed contributors, often via web-based platforms. Examples include validating automated crosswalk detections, mapping…

Curb Ramp(also: Curb Cut, Dropped Kerb, Kerb Ramp)

A small ramp built into or applied to the curb at pedestrian crossings and other transitions between a sidewalk and a roadway, providing a smooth transition for wheelchair users, people with mobility aids, strollers, and others. Curb ramps are a fundamental element of accessible…

Environmental Legibility(also: Legibility of the Environment, Spatial Legibility)

The ease with which people can perceive, understand, and form mental maps of a physical environment in order to orient themselves and navigate through it. Coined by urban planner Kevin Lynch, legibility refers to the visual clarity of a cityscape or built environment — how…

Geofencing(also: Geo-Fencing, Virtual Boundary)

Geofencing is a technology that creates virtual geographic boundaries using GPS, RFID, or other location-based data to trigger actions when a device enters or exits a defined area. In accessibility contexts, geofencing can be used to designate low-speed zones for micromobility…

Micromobility(also: Shared Micromobility, Micro-Mobility)

Micromobility refers to small-scale, lightweight, networked transportation vehicles used to travel short distances, typically weighing under 500 kg and traveling at low to moderate speeds. Examples include e-scooters, dockless bicycles, electric bikes, and seated scooters…

Paratransit(also: Demand-responsive transit, Dial-a-ride)

A flexible, on-demand public transportation service that provides rides to people with disabilities who are unable to use fixed-route bus or rail systems. In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act requires transit agencies to offer complementary paratransit…

Passive Accessibility Sensing(also: Automatic Barrier Detection, Breadcrumb Sensing)

A data collection approach that uses smartphone sensors (GPS, accelerometers, gyroscopes) to automatically detect potential accessibility barriers in the physical environment without requiring active user input. By analysing patterns in pedestrian movement data — such as…

Pedestrian Crossing(also: Crosswalk, Zebra crossing, Pedestrian crosswalk)

A designated location on a road where pedestrians have legal priority, guidance, or protection to cross, typically marked by paint (zebra or ladder stripes), signs, or signal-controlled infrastructure. Pedestrian crossings range from unmarked mid-block crossings through…

Pedestrian Safety(also: Walking safety, Vulnerable road user safety)

The field and practice of protecting people who walk — including those with disabilities, older adults, and children — from injury and death in road traffic environments. Pedestrian safety encompasses road design (crossings, curb ramps, accessible pedestrian signals, raised…

Personal Delivery Device(also: PDD, Delivery Robot, Autonomous Delivery Robot)

Personal delivery devices (PDDs) are small autonomous or semi-autonomous robots that travel on sidewalks and pedestrian pathways to deliver food, packages, and other goods. These devices have been granted pedestrian status under traffic code in several US states, giving them the…

Project Sidewalk

An open-source web-based crowdsourcing tool developed at the University of Washington that enables volunteers to virtually audit sidewalk accessibility using Google Street View panoramas. Contributors label four types of accessibility features and problems: curb ramps, missing…

Right-of-Way(also: Pedestrian Right-of-Way, ROW)

Right-of-way refers to the legal right of a pedestrian, vehicle, or other entity to proceed with precedence over others in a specific area of public space. In accessibility, pedestrian right-of-way is critical because sidewalks, curb ramps, and crosswalks are essential pathways…

Sidewalk Accessibility(also: Pedestrian Accessibility, Walkway Accessibility)

Sidewalk accessibility refers to the degree to which pedestrian pathways and related infrastructure — including sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks, and pedestrian signals — can be safely and independently used by people with disabilities, particularly those with mobility…

Sustainable Mobility(also: Sustainable Transportation, Green Mobility)

Transportation systems and practices that meet current mobility needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs, emphasizing reduced environmental impact, energy efficiency, and equitable access. In accessibility contexts, sustainable mobility…

Transit Accessibility(also: Public Transit Accessibility, Transportation Accessibility)

The degree to which public transportation systems — including rail, bus, and subway networks — can be used by people with disabilities and others with mobility needs. Transit accessibility encompasses physical infrastructure (elevators, ramps, raised platforms, tactile…

Urban Accessibility(also: City Accessibility, Built Environment Accessibility)

The degree to which urban environments, including streets, buildings, public spaces, and transportation systems, can be navigated and used by people with disabilities. Urban accessibility encompasses physical infrastructure such as curb cuts, tactile paving, and accessible…

Virtual Auditing(also: Remote Auditing, Virtual Accessibility Audit)

Virtual auditing is a method of assessing the accessibility of physical environments by remotely examining street-level imagery, such as Google Street View, rather than conducting in-person inspections. Research has shown that tool-mediated virtual audits of urban infrastructure…

Virtual audit(also: Remote audit, Virtual streetscape audit, GSV audit)

A method of assessing the physical environment for accessibility features and barriers using street-level imagery such as Google Street View, rather than conducting in-person site visits. Virtual audits allow researchers and practitioners to evaluate conditions like sidewalk…

Volunteered Geographic Information(also: VGI, Citizen-Generated Geospatial Data)

Geographic information voluntarily created and shared by citizens, often using GPS-enabled smartphones, mapping tools, and online platforms. VGI enables large-scale collection of spatial data at low cost through citizen participation. In accessibility contexts, VGI includes…

Walkability(also: Walkability Index, Pedestrian Accessibility)

A measure of how conducive an area is to walking, considering factors such as the presence, quality, and connectivity of sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, street lighting, and proximity to destinations. Traditional walkability indices like Walk Score focus on distance to…

Walkability Index(also: Walk Score, Walkability Score, Pedestrian Accessibility Index)

A numerical metric that quantifies how walkable a neighborhood or location is based on the proximity and density of destinations reachable on foot, such as grocery stores, schools, parks, restaurants, and transit stops. Services like walkscore.com have made walkability indices…

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