(In)Accessible Passages: Inclusive Strategies for Post-Railway Mobility Spaces in Small Towns

In many small towns in northeastern Poland, the closure of railways has contributed to the neglect of public spaces, particularly those related to residents mobility. Former railway stations – once crucial to local identity, examples of local architecture, and integral parts of daily commutes – are now falling into ruin or changing their function. They are being replaced by fragmented bus systems that are often inaccessible, both architecturally and in terms of information provision.

The declining and privatized quality of public transport increases the risk of social exclusion, especially among people with disabilities, the elderly, and others with limited mobility. This study frames the problem as a two-sides process of marginalization: material socio-spatial exclusion and the erasure of local identity. The aim of the research is to analyze the mechanisms of this marginalization and to explore ways of transforming neglected post-railway areas into spaces that foster social and spatial inclusion.

The presentation is based on a comparative analysis of four small towns in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (Reszel, Bisztynek, Lidzbark Warmiński, Orzysz), selected for their varied urban typologies and diverse experiences with railway decline. Using a multi-faceted methodology – including in-depth (semi-structured) interviews, research walks, urban and architectural inventories, and archival analysis -this study captures perspectives on accessibility and local identity.

The analysis addresses the transformations of urban spatial structures, the impact of infrastructure loss on the accessibility of current mobility spaces, and the criteria for inclusive design. These forgotten places and passages are not only relics of the past but spaces full of potential. The long-term goal of the study is to develop design guidelines for ensuring accessibility and regenerating these spaces to counteract marginalization, thereby enhancing the role of local transport systems.

Bibliography

• Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Poland (2024). Standardy Dostępności w Samorządzie [Accessibility standards in local government]. https://firr.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Standardy-Dostepnosci-w-Samorzadzie.pdf
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