---
title: The Story behind Pedesting
description: Discover how the innovative Pedesting app, co-founded by Nabeel Ramji, is transforming urban accessibility for wheelchair users and making cities more inclusive for everyone.
---

[blog](https://blogs.pedesting.com/blog)

# [The Story behind Pedesting](https://blogs.pedesting.com/blog/the-story-of-pedesting)

 Written by [Admin](https://blogs.pedesting.com/blog/author/admin) | Jul 15, 2025, 7:27:10 PM

 

## From Frustration to Innovation: How One Question Sparked a Movement

*By the Pedesting Team*

When Nabeel Ramji looked around the city he lived in, he often found himself asking why so many public and private spaces were still difficult to navigate for someone using a wheelchair.

After earning his degree and building a successful career as an asset manager, Nabeel met Erin Shilliday, a registered architect in Alberta. During one of their early conversations, Nabeel asked a question that would change the course of both their careers:

> **"As someone who uses a power wheelchair every day and finds it challenging getting around, why do architects keep designing buildings that do not work for people like myself?"**

That conversation sparked a meaningful partnership and led to the creation of **Pedesting**, a mobile app that helps pedestrians find accessible, barrier-free routes throughout cities, including indoor pathways.

As Nabeel began researching the market, he discovered that more than **six million Canadians** live with a disability. Many experience daily frustration, anxiety, and social isolation — something he deeply related to.

> *“For the longest time, I felt alone and isolated, where I did not think I had an individual voice due to my disability,”* he shared.  
> *“However, as I learned and met others in the accessibility community, I was inspired to use my unique personal lived experience as a strength towards taking the entrepreneurial leap.”*

Pedesting was created to bridge the gap between how cities are designed and how people actually move through them. With a focus on technology, community feedback, and inclusive design, the app is helping reshape the way cities welcome everyone.

📰 Read more about the launch: [Global News coverage](https://globalnews.ca/news/9973789/app-calgary-pedestrians-accessible-barrier-free-routes-downtown/)  
📺 Watch Pedesting's story: [CBC Television segment](https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/1.6689531)  
🎥 Watch Nabeel Ramji's story: [Haskayne Bold Leaders Award](https://youtu.be/SRPxzaYnq_g)

[View full post](https://blogs.pedesting.com/blog/the-story-of-pedesting)

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