Urbanization and the growing demand for accessible infrastructure underscore the need for inclusive urban planning, particularly for individuals with mobility limitations such as wheelchair users. Despite the increasing focus on equitable access, traditional accessibility assessments often overlook contextual elements, such as physical barriers, that can significantly impact mobility. This thesis addresses this gap by analyzing pedestrian spatial accessibility within the x-minute city framework, specifically for wheelchair users in Zurich’s District 1. The study applies three different Floating Catchment Area (FCA) methods — 2SFCA, E2SFCA, and KD2SFCA — to evaluate how methodological choices influence accessibility outcomes for different population groups. The methodology included enhancing the pedestrian network by integrating slope information and key accessibility features, such as stairs, surface conditions, and curb ramps, collected as part of a citizen science project. To further refine the analysis, a survey of 29 wheelchair users was conducted to assess their perception of accessibility features. The responses were used to weight the accessibility features in the enriched network, allowing for a more user-centric analysis. The enriched network was analyzed using the three FCA methods to assess the impact of data enrichment on accessibility evaluations. The results reveal significant spatial accessibility disparities between the general population and wheelchair users. Applying the x-minute city concept with a 10-minute threshold revealed that, while accessible to the general population, wheelchair users experienced substantial limitations caused by physical barriers, demonstrating the importance of incorporating detailed accessibility data. Among the FCA methods, E2SFCA emerged as the most effective in capturing accessibility disparities, particularly for populations with mobility restrictions, as it accounts for distance decay within subzones, unlike the binary approach of 2SFCA or the continuous decay of KD2SFCA. This study advances urban accessibility research by demonstrating the impact of integrating localized data and selecting appropriate methodological approaches. Refining accessibility models based on user needs leads to more precise and equitable evaluations for inclusive urban environments.
Chiara Ballinar (Thu,) studied this question.