For many commuters, catching a bus or navigating a station is part of everyday life. For a wheelchair user, an older resident, a parent pushing a pram, or a passenger with a visual or hearing impairment, however, one inaccessible part of a journey can become a barrier to independence.

This reality is at the heart of the Universal Design Access Plan (UDAP), which has been completed and finalised by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) on behalf of the City of Johannesburg’s Transport Department.

The completed plan will now be tabled before the City of Johannesburg’s Section 79 Committee for consideration, ahead of submission to Council for approval and adoption.

Developed from January 2025 to June 2026, the plan provides a roadmap for embedding universal accessibility across Johannesburg’s public transport network. It considers the full passenger journey: planning a trip, accessing information, reaching a station or bus stop, boarding a vehicle, travelling safely, transferring between modes and arriving at a destination.

JDA Chief Executive Officer Themba Mathibe said the potential impact of universal access extends beyond the transport system itself. “When we remove barriers to movement, we open access to opportunity. An accessible transport system can mean greater independence and easier access to education, employment, healthcare, and the social and economic life of Johannesburg. Universal design is ultimately about creating a city in which every person can participate with dignity.”

Stakeholders representing people with different accessibility needs contributed to the process, helping to ensure that the plan was informed by the lived experiences of those who encounter barriers in Johannesburg’s transport environment.

The work identified areas requiring continued attention, including pedestrian connections to stations, accessible passenger information, consistent accessibility across facilities, vehicle-platform interfaces, maintenance, staff training and stronger integration between public transport modes.

Embedding universal design into future transport planning and investment can help create a city where more residents are able to travel independently, participate in economic opportunities and access essential services. It can also improve the transport experience for all commuters.

Clearer information, safer pedestrian routes, easier boarding and more intuitive station environments benefit a broad range of passengers, showing that designing for inclusion also means designing a better city.