Walkway, University of Calgary

"Last fall, while working as a Teaching Assistant for an undergraduate course, I had the opportunity to lead students on a walking tour to explore nearby neighborhoods, streets, and urban features. During the tour, I realized how thoughtfully parts of the University of Calgary main campus accommodate people with different mobility needs within the same shared spaces. In many places, I have noticed how walkways and entryways are often separated for pedestrians and wheelchair users, which can unintentionally create feelings of division and exclusion. However, at the University of Calgary, I found several spaces where curves, gentle slopes, and height transitions were carefully integrated to keep everyone moving together on the same path. Those spaces felt deeply egalitarian to me; environments where people can walk together, stay together, and share moments equally without feeling separated by design."