Built to Exclude: How Urban Design Erases Disability and BIPOC Needs

No benches. No ramps. No way through.
This isn’t bad planning—it’s systemic neglect.


July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. And for too many, simply getting down the block is a mental and physical battle. Cracked sidewalks, missing curb cuts, and unreachable ramps are not design flaws—they're signals of systemic disregard.

This series breaks down how transportation and infrastructure shape mental health, especially for underserved groups like disabled people, BIPOC communities, and frontline workers. 

Accessibility isn’t a favor. It’s a right.

Urban design isn't neutral. It tells you who is welcome, who is expected, and who is ignored. In many neighborhoods of color, especially where disabled people live or work, that message is clear: you weren’t considered.

Poorly maintained sidewalks, bus stops with no shade, crosswalks timed for the able-bodied—these aren’t just inconveniences. They’re barriers. And for BIPOC disabled residents, the message is loud: this city wasn’t built for you.

Design Fails That Hurt the Most Vulnerable
Urban planners often prioritize vehicle flow and visual appeal over accessibility and equity. That means:

  • Curb cuts missing or too steep to use safely

  • Sidewalks cracked, narrow, or blocked by poles and scooters

  • Public transit stops without benches or shelter

  • Crosswalk signals too fast for wheelchair users or elders to cross

  • Ramps installed but leading to nowhere, or blocked by construction or trash

In affluent areas, design is thoughtful and amenities are maintained. In lower-income BIPOC communities, infrastructure is either decaying or designed to control, not accommodate.

When Mobility Becomes Mental Trauma
Not being able to move freely within your neighborhood doesn’t just limit access to jobs, healthcare, and social life—it chips away at your dignity.

  • Disabled Black and Brown residents report deep feelings of shame when needing assistance for everyday mobility.

  • Isolation and depression increase when physical barriers keep people from attending events, voting, or visiting family.

  • The constant navigation of risk (e.g., falling from an uneven curb) adds chronic stress.

  • Seeing your needs ignored by city design contributes to institutional betrayal and trauma.

The Trucking Angle
Truckers with disabilities—or even temporary injuries—often encounter inaccessible rest stops, poor signage, and sidewalks or parking that doesn’t accommodate mobility devices.

In cities, loading zones are built without ramps. In rural routes, rest stops are inaccessible or unsafe. For truckers of color, these issues are compounded by racial profiling and lack of ADA compliance in segregated zones.

  • Black and Brown truckers with chronic pain or limited mobility report fewer accommodations from carriers and shippers.

  • No ramps or assistance at freight facilities means drivers risk injury or rely on others for help.

Mobility inequity doesn’t stop at the city limit—it stretches across the supply chain.

Data + Examples

  • According to the CDC, 1 in 4 Black adults in the U.S. lives with a disability.

  • A report by the Brookings Institution found infrastructure in low-income neighborhoods is 40% more likely to be out of ADA compliance.

  • In Los Angeles, only 7% of bus stops in Black and Latino neighborhoods had shade or seating, compared to 27% in wealthier areas.


Urban design can heal or harm. Here’s how to fix it:

  • Universal design as a baseline, not an add-on

  • Community-led audits to identify and fix inaccessible spaces

  • Enforcement of ADA compliance in all public infrastructure projects

  • Equity-focused investment in sidewalks, crossings, and bus stops

  • Include disabled BIPOC voices in all transportation planning processes

Conclusion

Urban spaces reflect our values. When infrastructure is broken or missing in communities of color, it tells us what’s been deprioritized. But we can reverse that narrative. By designing for those most often excluded, we build a world that works better for everyone.

Further Resources