Report on Size-Inclusive Public Transportation and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

An initiative in Brussels, Belgium, highlights the critical need for size-inclusive public transportation systems, a key component of sustainable urban development. A collaboration between digital content creators RMTransit, Urban Mobility Explained, and local advocates has produced the “Fat Friendly” map, a tool designed to help larger-bodied individuals navigate the city’s mobility network. This report analyzes the initiative’s direct contributions to achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on sustainable cities, reduced inequalities, and universal well-being.

Initiative Overview: The “Fat Friendly” Map

In response to accessibility challenges faced by larger-bodied individuals on public transport, a partnership was formed to address how infrastructure and vehicle design in buses, trains, and taxis can create barriers to mobility. The primary output of this collaboration is the “Fat Friendly” map, a practical resource that identifies accessible routes and destinations within Brussels. This tool empowers users and raises awareness among transport agencies about the need for more inclusive design, which ultimately benefits all passengers.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Brussels initiative provides a tangible example of local action supporting global sustainability targets. Its alignment with the SDGs is significant:

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • This initiative directly addresses Target 11.2, which calls for “access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all… with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations.”
   • By focusing on the often-overlooked needs of larger individuals, the project champions a more comprehensive definition of “accessibility,” ensuring that public transit infrastructure serves the entire population and promotes sustainable urban mobility for all.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The project strongly supports Target 10.2, which aims to “empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… other status.”
   • Inaccessible transport can lead to social and economic isolation. By advocating for design changes and providing navigational tools, the initiative works to dismantle physical barriers, thereby reducing inequality and fostering greater social inclusion for people of all body sizes.

3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Accessible public transportation is a key determinant of public health, enabling access to healthcare facilities, recreational spaces, and social networks.
   • By improving mobility for a segment of the population, the initiative indirectly supports universal health goals, ensuring more individuals can independently access services essential for their physical and mental well-being.

Global Implications and Recommendations

The “Fat Friendly” map and associated advocacy serve as a replicable model for other municipalities worldwide seeking to meet their SDG commitments. To advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is recommended that:

• Urban planning and transport authorities incorporate size inclusivity into their accessibility audits and standards.
• Community-led projects that identify and address specific accessibility barriers are supported as a means of achieving inclusive public services.
• The principle that design improvements for one group often yield universal benefits for all passengers is adopted as a core tenet of public transit planning.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues related to two Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article focuses on the challenges faced by “people with larger bodies” in accessing public transport. This highlights an inequality in access to essential urban services based on a physical characteristic (“other status”). The creation of the “Fat Friendly” map by advocates is a direct response to this inequality, aiming to empower a specific group and promote their inclusion.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The core topic is urban mobility and making public transport systems (buses, trains, taxis) in cities like Brussels more accessible and inclusive. The article argues that improving accessibility for one group makes transit “better for everyone,” which is a key principle of creating sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban environments.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s discussion, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Target 10.2: Promote universal social, economic, and political inclusion

  This target aims to “empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… other status.” The article’s call to make transit more size-inclusive directly supports this target. By highlighting the struggles of people with larger bodies, it advocates for their social inclusion by ensuring they can participate fully in city life through accessible mobility.

• Target 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all

  This target calls for providing access to transport systems for all, “with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations.” The article’s central theme is the lack of accessibility in public transport for a specific group (large people), framing them as a population whose needs are not being met. The discussion about how agencies “could easily accommodate their needs” in buses and trains is a direct call to action to fulfill this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several ways progress could be measured:

• Implied Indicator for Target 11.2

  The existence of the “Fat Friendly” map itself serves as an inverse indicator of progress; it highlights a current lack of universal accessibility. A reduction in the need for such a map would indicate that transport systems have become more inherently accessible. A direct indicator would be the number of transport agencies that have adopted and implemented size-inclusive design standards for their vehicles and infrastructure.

• Implied Indicator for Target 10.2

  Progress towards inclusion can be measured by the adoption of policies by transport authorities that explicitly address the needs of passengers of diverse body sizes. The article implies that few communities currently take such steps. Therefore, an increase in the number of cities and transit agencies implementing “size-inclusive” measures would be a clear indicator of progress in promoting social inclusion in mobility.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: usa.streetsblog.org