Accessibility through commoning. New perspectives for inclusive cities and beyond

This paper introduces commoning accessibility (CA) as a novel conceptual framework that redefines accessibility as an essential good for activity participation and needs fulfilment, one that can be collectively managed. This perspective emerges from the observation of collaborative practices among actors engaged in the co-creation and governance of accessibility provision. Widespread examples of such practices include shared vehicle ownership, community-run amenity supply, and community managed digital platforms. A common feature of these practices is their reliance on collaboration among individuals who actively participate in co-creating and governing mobility, proximity, or digital connectivity-oriented solutions to address shared and specific accessibility needs. Despite being largely overlooked in planning and transport research and practice, these initiatives – here defined as commoning accessibility practices – offer valuable insights into enhancing access to essential services and social opportunities, particularly in transport-poor contexts. This paper develops a conceptual framework to provide both theoretical depth and operational clarity to the notion of CA. Grounded in the theory of the commons and building on the concept of commoning mobility, it introduces a novel conceptual framework for examining the significance of CA practices and their contextual impact across different European settings.