Iceland Added More Than 1,700 Wheelchair Ramps in Just 4 Years

Nice News -  One step can change everything — and in this case, we’re talking not about a metaphorical step, but a physical one. Icelandic designer and tech mogul Haraldur “Halli” Thorleifsson is a wheelchair user who experiences firsthand the barrier that steps create every day for people with disabilities.
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“That one step was the main obstacle between me and fully participating in society. And, not just me; anyone who uses a mobility device to get around,” he told Fast Company. On a mission to pave the way for more accessible public spaces in Iceland’s capital, he launched Ramp Up Reykjavík. The accessibility initiative set out to fund the installation of 100 ramps in places with the most foot traffic within one year— and met that goal with time and money to spare.
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Since 2021, the project has helped build more than 1,700 ramps across Iceland. “The biggest challenge in the beginning was making people believe that this was possible,” Thorleifsson said. But now that he’s proven how seamless it can be, he’s eager to help other countries make life a little easier and more equitable for people with disabilities, one ramp at a time.