equatible use

Bilboards should not be placed on the pavement because this arrangement may cause problems for people ,especially blind people.

Stairs are not suitable for people who use wheelchair so there should be slope for them. As seen in the some pictures, there are useless slopes. Furthermore, there should be smooth passages.

flexiblity in use

Most of overpasses has no choice to determine the direction. Their stairs should provide preferences for both sides.

low phisical efforts

Slopes and stairs should not be scarped. There should be smooth passage.

perceptible information

Everyone can easily understand the signs. They  should not cause the confusing. In addition to the traffic lamps, there should be aural warning for people. Signboard should be eye level. The signboard of departure time should be in every stations. Moreover, the plan of the city should be at the busy city centers.

simple and intivitive use

Entrances of malls and business center should be realized easily without any sign.

size and space for approach and use

Telephone boxes should be wider to allow people with children.

There aren't enough pavement for the pedestrians to walk near the roads.

In bus stops there aren't enough space to allow the passage of both busses and people.

 

 The entrance of the malls are too narrow to  be perceived by people.

 

tolerance for error

The low height of the pavements cause unwanted car parking on them which makes difficult to use pavements by pedestrians.

The turning points are too narrow that can bring about  dangerous situations.

The height of the step is too much to step out for the pedestrians in one step.

Huge stairs on the overpass causes a high physical effort for this reason pedestrians choose the car roads in order to pass the road.

There is a traffic jam which includes the buses, cars an pedestrians.the frequency of bus stops is not appropriate for such a narrow road, causing  disorders in traffic flow.

PRINCIPLE 5: Tolerance for Error - Be Safe

The design should minimize hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
The environment should address current safety standards while providing developmental opportunities needed for exploration and challenge.

• Elements should be arranged to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements are most accesible, hazardous elements are eliminated, isolated or shielded.
• Warnings of hazards and erorrs, fail safe features should be provided.
• Unconscious action should be discouraged in tasks that require vigilance.
• Safer activities and environments should be provided, that allow people to explore, interact, and experience developmentally appropriate risk.
• People’s emotional feelings of security should be supported so they are more likely to engage.
• Accommodate for comfortable supervision and ongoing maintenance should be acquired.

Universal design means simply designing all products, buildings and

exterior spaces to be usable by all people to the greatest extent possible.
It is advanced here as a sensible and economical way to reconcile the
artistic integrity of a design with human needs in the environment.
Solutions which result in no additional cost and no noticeable
change in appearance can come about from knowledge about people,
simple planning and careful selection of conventional products.
In addition to fixed, universally designed features, designers
may include adaptable elements. These can be easily and economically
added or removed when needed for a specific user. Such flexible
facilities and products are usable by almost everyone and are thus
significantly more marketable.
Universal and adaptable features are generally no more
expensive than traditional features if incorporated by the designer at
the programming and conceptual stages. The cost-conscious designer
must consider and advise clients concerning not only construction
costs related to accessibility, but also the long-term costs of ignoring
a potentially huge segment of the population. Clients must also be
made aware of the trend toward stricter accessibility standards in
employment, housing, education and public services.
Many recent innovations in technology have made it easier
for designers to specify both universal and specialized components.
As the construction and manufacturing industries respond to the
aging of the population and new legal strictures, “better for everyone”
and “planning ahead for your family’s needs” will begin to
replace “handicapped” and “elderly” as marketing approaches.
As comfort, safety, and flexibility become more important
key words in advertising, emerging technologies will continue to
respond to the needs of people of all ages, abilities and sizes.
Designers will be faced with a choice: reluctant compliance with
minimum accessibility standards, or a positive, sensitive offering
of universal design services.

PRINCIPLE 7: Size and Space for Approach and Use - Be Comfortable

Appropriate size and space should be provided for approach,reach,manipulation and use regardless of user's body size,posture or mobility.
Comfortable space for movement should be provided for individuals with sensory needs, diverse body size, posture, mobility, and motor control.

• A clear line of sight to important elements should be provided for any seated or standing user.
• All components should be reached comfortably for any seated or standing user.
• Variations in hand and grip size should be accomodated.
• Adequate spaces should be provided for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.

PRINCIPLE 6: Low Physical Effort - Be Active

The design should be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
The environment should support various degrees of physical and social participation while minimizing unnecessary fatigue and the amount of effort that is used.

• Users should be allowed to maintain a neutral body position.
• Reasonable operating forces should be used.
• Repetitive actions should be minimized.
• Sustained physical efforts should be minimized.
• A range of developmental opportunities should provided for challenge to accommodate people’s diverse physical characteristics.

PRINCIPLE 4: Perceptible Information - Be Independent

The design should communicate necessary information effectively to the user,regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
The required information to use design should be clear and easily perceptible by all users.

• Adequate contrast should be provided between essential information and its surroundings.
• Legibility of essential information should be maximized.
• Elements should be differentiated in ways that can be described.
• To give instructions and directions should be made easier.
• Compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitations should be achieved.

PRINCIPLE 3: Simple and Intuitive Use - Be Smart

Use of the design should be easy to understand,regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills or current concentration level.
The environment should allow people to effectively explore and participate in living, and also should be designed with a variety of multi-sensory features that are organized to provide meaningful cues.

• Unnecessary complexity should be eliminated.
• The consistency with user expectations and intuition should be provided.
• A wide range of literacy and language skills should be accomodated.
• Information should be arranged consistently with its importance.
• Effective prompting and feedback should be provided during and after task.
• Intentional multi-sensory (auditory, visual, tactile) stimuli should be provided through a variety of activities.
• Opportunities for people of all abilities should be offered to access and engage in the environment as independently as possible.

PRINCIPLE 2: Flexibility in Use - Be Included

The design should accomodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
A balanced variety and a continuum of developmentally appropriate physical and social activities should be provided throughout the environment, which are dynamic and accommodate individuals’ diverse abilities.

• Choice in methods of participation and use should be provided.
• Right of left handed access and use should accomodated.
• The user's accuracy and precision should be facilitated.
• Adaptability to the user's pace should be achieved.
• Meaningful opportunities should be provide for inclusive, multigenerational use.

PRINCIPLE 1: Equitable Use - Be Fair

The design should be useful and and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
The environment should provide social justice by being equitable and usable by people of all abilities so that they can enjoy their right to use.

• The same means of use should be provided for all users.
• Segragating or stigmatizing should be avoided .
• Provisions for privacy,security and safety shold be equally available to all users.
• The design should be appealing to all users.
• Appropriate surfacing and site design should be provided for physical access into and throughout the environment so everyone can actively engage in social and physical activities.
• An atmosphere of mutual respect and acceptance should be promoted by providing integrated activities.

According to the Center of Universal Design, the intent of universal design is to simplify life for everyone by making products,communications and the built environment more usable by as many people as possible.This study is concerned with the city center of Ankara with respect to universal design principles in the context of urban design.