Accessibility Around the World: What Singapore Is Doing Right

From curb cuts in Copenhagen to tactile subway maps in Tokyo, accessibility has become a growing priority in cities worldwide. For travelers and residents with disabilities, aging populations, or mobility challenges, inclusive infrastructure isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential.

As we look at how countries around the world are addressing accessibility, it becomes clear that Singapore is not only keeping pace but, in many cases, leading by example. In this post, we explore how Singapore shares common ground with global best practices, using local case studies to illustrate how accessibility is being thoughtfully embedded into everyday life.

Global Trend: Universal Design in Public Spaces

Singapore in Focus: Gardens by the Bay

One major trend across the world is the use of universal design—spaces created for everyone, regardless of age or ability. Cities like Oslo and Sydney are incorporating inclusive design principles into parks, museums, and public transport systems.

Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay is a shining local example. The popular attraction is fully wheelchair accessible, with gentle slopes, tactile paving, and clear visual signage. Elevators are readily available in key areas such as the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, and seating is thoughtfully spaced throughout the park. A new tour program that allows the Visually Impaired to experience Gardens by the Bay through touch has been launched in late 2024.

These features mirror practices in New York’s High Line Park, where elevated walkways and accessible elevators make it easy for visitors to explore the space regardless of physical ability. By aligning with these international standards, Singapore ensures that both locals and visitors enjoy equitable access to green spaces.

Source: Disabled People's Association

Global Trend: Accessible Public Transport

Singapore in Focus: MRT and Bus Systems

Accessible transportation is a cornerstone of any inclusive city. In places like London, buses have ramps and priority seating, while metros include step-free access and audible announcements.

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has developed a comprehensive “Barrier-Free Accessibility” program, ensuring that nearly all MRT stations and public buses are wheelchair-friendly, with priority seating, tactile guidance paths, and elevators. Real-time travel apps such as MyTransport.SG also provides live updates about lift outages and service changes, a feature seen in leading systems like Tokyo Metro’s accessibility alerts.

This aligns Singapore with global leaders in accessible mobility, and efforts are ongoing to enhance first- and last-mile connections, such as more covered walkways and barrier-free kerb ramps.

Source: Land Transport Authority (LTA)

Global Trend: Tech-Enabled Access

Singapore in Focus: Smart Mobility and GrabAssist

Cities like Barcelona and Seoul are leveraging smart city technologies to improve the accessibility of public services. In Singapore, apps are not just for convenience—they are tools of empowerment.

For example, GrabAssist Plus allows wheelchair users to book rides that accommodate their chairs without requiring transfer. Drivers are trained to assist, and vehicles are specially fitted. This mirrors inclusive ride-hailing initiatives like UberWAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles) in the U.S. and the U.K.

Other tools like LifeSG, the government’s all-in-one service platform, are designed to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), ensuring usability for those with visual or cognitive impairments.

Source: Grab

Global Trend: Accessible Tourism

Singapore in Focus: Changi Airport and National Gallery

Tourism boards in countries like Australia and Japan have invested heavily in accessibility, offering online guides and curated routes for travelers with disabilities. Singapore is no exception.

Changi Airport, consistently ranked among the world’s best, is equipped with wheelchair-accessible toilets, ramps, assistance counters, and hearing loops. Similarly, National Gallery Singapore has started providing tactile exhibits (Hands-on Learning and Development (HOLD) Collection), accessible lifts, and guided tours designed for visually impaired visitors, just like the Louvre’s “Touch Gallery” in Paris.

By taking an inclusive approach to cultural spaces, Singapore aligns itself with the global vision of tourism for all.

Why It Matters: Accessibility Is Global, But Contextual

What unites these efforts globally is the principle of dignity—the idea that everyone deserves to participate fully in society. What makes each country’s approach unique is how it translates that principle into action.

Singapore’s model shows how policy, design, and innovation come together to serve a diverse and dynamic population. While there’s always more to be done, the city’s progress aligns with international standards and proves that accessibility is not about doing the bare minimum—it’s about leading with care.

As we compare Singapore’s accessibility landscape with that of other global cities, one thing becomes clear: Singapore is not just catching up—it’s contributing to the global conversation. From parks to airports, MRTs to museums, the city offers a blueprint of how thoughtful design and inclusive policy can go hand in hand.

Let’s continue to build on this momentum, sharing and learning from other cities while staying grounded in our local context. Because accessibility, at its heart, is a shared journey—one that spans borders but starts right where we are.