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Pustomyty Municipality on the Way to a Barrier-Free Environment

About the municipality

Region Lviv

Full name of the municipality Pustomyty Urban Municipality

Population 15 204

Number of settlements 10

Pustomyty municipality in Lviv region is steadily progressing towards inclusiveness. The hromada is committed to creating an environment where every resident, regardless of age or special needs, can feel like an equal member of society. The municipality is actively building a barrier-free environment, making public spaces, buildings, and municipal facilities accessible to everyone. This systemic change was initiated with the U-LEAD with Europe training course “Barrier-Free Environment in Municipalities.”

“We were looking for municipalities that had asked themselves: “What does a barrier-free environment mean? How can we create it in our municipality?” It was important for us to provide tools and teach people how to use them. We explained how to communicate with people with disabilities, how to offer assistance properly, and how to create an environment where people feel equal and, most importantly, independent,” says Mariia Palchuk-Holovenko, Policy Advisor for Municipal Finance and Management at the Regional Office of U-LEAD with Europe in Kyiv Oblast.

The knowledge acquired enabled local authorities and local activists to set clear priorities and take practical steps: from analysing the existing infrastructure to implementing new accessibility standards.

“If we attempt something without prior experience, knowledge, or skills, then we risk either failure or success through serious trials. But when we involve experts who have already overcome similar challenges, it becomes much easier to implement change,” says Oleh Serniak, Pustomyty Mayor.

At the training, U-LEAD with Europe experts guided municipality representatives on how to go beyond identifying problems, and focus on real solutions. They discussed measures such as ramps, accessible toilets, contrast markings on stairs, and Braille information signs. This work then led to the creation of the Barrier-Free Council and an audit of municipal facilities to assess for people with limited mobility.

“Together with the Barrier-Free Council, we spent a full day inspecting administrative buildings, schools, hospitals, and public spaces. The most common barriers were non-standard ramps, incorrectly installed tactile paving, and road defects like potholes in public areas,” says Svitlana Hnatiuk, Expert of U-LEAD with Europe, Expert of NGO Barrier-Free.

After the audit, Pustomyty municipality decided to develop its first barrier-free route. On the map, they marked the most frequently visited public, municipal, and private facilities that required convenient and safe pedestrian access. The list of improvements included lowered curbs, tactile paving, Braille information signs, accessible public transport stops, and other measures. The total length of the route is more than 3 kilometres.

“We had already worked on inclusiveness before but in unsystematic and unstructured manner. The turning point was when wounded soldiers who had lost limbs came to us for treatment. We realised that we needed to change something, because in the future many veterans will return, and we must improve the environment so that they feel comfortable,” says Oleh Serniak.

After completing the U-LEAD’s training, representatives of the city council began actively promoting the principles of accessibility and improving public spaces in cooperation with local businesses.

“From now on, when issuing urban planning documents, we emphasise the importance of complying with barrier-free access requirements. Sometimes businesses take the initiative themselves. It’s a simple competition: the more accessible your building is, the more visitors you will have,” notes Oleh Blazhkiv, Lead Specialist of Architecture, Urban Planning and Land Relations Department at Pustomyty City Council.

“At the design, construction, and operation stages, our construction company devotes considerable time to liaising with the Barrier-Free Council on inclusion. This includes the number of parking spaces, tactile paving at entrances, Braille information signs, and ramps,” says Mykola Shyika, Chief Engineer of the City of Comfort Construction Company.

An additional incentive for the local authorities is supporting veterans returning from the front who need adapted living environment.

“Today and in the coming years, we will have many people around us who suffered because of the war. This includes not only veterans but also civilians. But if you have lost a limb, that is not the end. You remain a full member of the municipality, and hromada must take care of you, ensuring a decent quality of life,” says Halyna Khrushchak, Head of the Regional Office of U-LEAD with Europe in Lviv Oblast.

Bohdan, a former machine gunner, returned to his hometown a year ago and has been adjusting to civilian life since then. In May 2023, he was wounded near Lyman and now walks using prosthetics.

“I see huge changes. Ramps were installed at the hospital, at the school, and near the city council. Two years ago, none of this existed. I once saw a soldier carrying his comrade on his back because it was impossible to enter the building in a wheelchair. Public facilities have been equipped but now it’s time to focus on private ones such as pharmacies, shops, and so on,” says Bohdan, former soldier of the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade.

But accessibility is not only about veterans. The elderly, mothers with small children, and civilians with disabilities – all need attention and conditions that allow them to feel comfortable in public spaces.

“Accessibility is not about charity or pity. It is about dignity and equal rights for every individual,” says Tetiana Holdun, First Deputy Mayor of Pustomyty, Head of Barrier-Free Council.

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