URBAN ACCESSIBILITY IN THE CITY CENTER OF SENHOR DO BONFIM (BAHIA, BRAZIL): A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE GEOGRAPHY OF AGING

Abstract

The Geography of Aging provides a fundamental analytical framework for understanding how urban space is produced and appropriated, revealing socio-spatial inequalities that affect society. This study analyzes urban accessibility in the city center of Senhor do Bonfim, Bahia, Brazil, seeking to understand how the production of urban space responds to the needs of individuals in the aging process. Methodologically, the research combined a literature review, direct observation of public spaces, and semi-structured interviews with 24 residents aged 60 years or older, in addition to an assessment of accessibility conditions based on the ABNT NBR 9050 standard. The results indicate that, although the city center concentrates services and collective facilities, significant limitations persist related to inadequate sidewalks, urban furniture, parking spaces, pedestrian crossings, and leisure areas, thereby compromising mobility, safety, and the full use of the city by aging individuals. Interviewees’ perceptions reveal that public spaces are often used out of necessity rather than as environments for social interaction and leisure. It is concluded that the city of Senhor do Bonfim has not yet been structured as an age-inclusive urban space, highlighting the urgency of public policies and planning practices grounded in the principles of universal design and socio-spatial justice.