Citation

Audirac I. J. Plann. Lit. 2008; 23(1): 4-16.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0885412208318558

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Universal design is a design philosophy couched in a public discourse of social inclusion. Spurred by disability civil rights legislation, growth of the older population, the information revolution, and markets, universal design has become a global design paradigm. This article reviews global dimensions of the paradigm and implementation strategies related to public transportation. Given universal design's overall inclusionary values beyond American Disability Act standards, the article asks, What is universal design's potential for redressing socio-spatial exclusion among mobility-disadvantaged populations? Using a multi-tiered social exclusion/accessibility framework, the article addresses this question and draws conclusions about universal design applied to transit in the United States.