Zoo's newly constructed lion enclosure restricted access for some visitors.
The recently renovated Löwengate bridge in Berlin's Tiergarten remains inaccessible for wheelchair users and elderly people with rollators, due to the absence of necessary accessibility features such as ramps or smooth, step-free pathways.
Despite the bridge's structural and aesthetic improvements, its design still poses challenges for those requiring mobility aids. This issue is a common occurrence when renovations prioritize historical preservation or visual aspects without fully integrating modern accessibility standards.
Elisabeth Körting, a 40-year-old social assistant at a high school and member of the SPD health committee in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, has been advocating for more barrier-free public spaces. As a wheelchair user herself, Körting has been standing in front of the Löwengate bridge for 17 years, expressing her disappointment that the planners did not consider the participation of people with disabilities in the design process.
The absence of a ramp and the presence of deep paved water channels without grating make it impossible for wheelchair users to cross the bridge. Additionally, cycling is prohibited on the bridge between the New Lake and the Great Star, and the bridge remains closed to bicycle traffic.
The monument protection authority regrets that people with limited mobility are affected by the inaccessibility of the Löwengate bridge. The cost of renovating the bridge to make it accessible was not specified. Körting emphasizes that good planning could have prevented additional costs for making the bridge accessible.
The Löwengate bridge, inaugurated at the beginning of July, remains under monument protection. The bridge's inaccessibility has raised concerns about the prioritization of historical preservation over accessibility in public spaces. It is hoped that future renovation projects will prioritize both historical preservation and accessibility to ensure that all members of the community can enjoy and utilize public spaces without barriers.
- The Löwengate bridge, which is under monument protection, falls short in the realm of health-and-wellness, as its design still poses challenges for wheelchair users and elderly people with rollators due to the absence of ramps or step-free pathways, a feature crucial for the advancement of science regarding accessibility standards.
- Science and health-and-wellness intersect as Elisabeth Körting, a disability advocate and member of the SPD health committee, calls for the integration of modern accessibility standards in renovation projects, like the Löwengate bridge, to foster a more inclusive society and promote healthier community engagement.
