As barreiras de acessibilidade espacial no entorno do Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria-RS

Abstract

Spatial accessibility is an essential feature to ensure universal mobility in pedestrian spaces, considering that, at some point, everyone becomes a pedestrian. However, obstacles are often observed in the infrastructure of sidewalks, crosswalks, and other elements of the urban environment, which can represent significant limitations and impediments to people's mobility, especially for users with mobility restrictions, such as people with physical disabilities. The University Hospital of Santa Maria (Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria - HUSM) is a health reference for more than 44 municipalities in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul. In this context, understanding the conditions of the infrastructure for access to HUSM, both for users who travel on foot and for those who arrive by public transportation and individual motorized transport, is essential to promote actions to ensure that people with disabilities and the general community can use this infrastructure safely, comfortably, and on equal terms. Thus, this study aims to evaluate accessibility in the context of the three previously mentioned modes of transportation, with a specific focus on individuals with physical disabilities or reduced mobility. The study sought to elucidate the target audience's perception through the application of a public opinion questionnaire, aiming to understand the infrastructure characteristics that may represent obstacles to users' movement in general. Additionally, a detailed on-site analysis was conducted, based on theoretical foundations and the accessibility standard NBR 9050-2020. For this, an evaluation checklist was used to verify infrastructure characteristics concerning accessibility for users, considering the three mentioned modes of transport, on previously defined routes. According to the results obtained from the perception questionnaire, there was a negative perception among people with disabilities who use the infrastructure, highlighting problems and obstacles to accessibility at this location. The evaluation checklist allowed the identification of critical points that compromise accessibility, such as irregularities at bus stops, inadequacies in parking spaces for individual motorized transport, and defects at specific points on sidewalks and access to the building. The combined analysis of the results of the two methodologies made it possible to observe the infrastructure characteristics that create common obstacles to movement. Finally, improvements of the location were proposed, as well as discussion and reflection on this topic were encouraged.