The role of the government in the implementation of accessibility on sidewalks

Amabeli Dell Santo

Marília Oliveira Soares

Mateus Bernardo Scussulim Saloto

ABSTRACT: Sidewalks are public properties destined for people’s movement, ensuring their rights. Researchers have demonstrated the precarious situation of sidewalks in Brazilian cities, noting that the existence of rules and laws regarding sidewalks does not guarantee the physical and environmental quality of this area. Municipal laws usually attribute the execution and maintenance of the sidewalks to the owners of adjacent properties to them. We discuss this aspect, therefore, seen as a public space, sidewalks constitute an allocation of public authorities. It is the Municipal duty to grant execution licenses of sidewalks and supervise the execution of works, and, in still run them in areas and public buildings. Many municipalities have provided standard project aimed sidewalks suitability to accessibility standard. Aiming to verify the adherence to affordable pavement pattern, and investigate the perception of public power, as to its role as a transforming element of this space, this survey in Colatina-ES, included a technical survey of the sidewalks of the central area of the city, quantifying the linear length of sidewalks that follow the pattern, pointing stretches over the government. Questionnaires were applied to municipal civil servants in order to apprehend the perception of the role of government in implementing this space. It was found that the assignment of responsibility to the citizens execution resulted of the discontinuation of application of the proposed model. It is expected to expand knowledge in the area, allowing the pointing potential and obstacles resulting from the production process of this public space.

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