RGS-IBG 2023: Street experiments to transform urban mobilities and public space

Conveners: Enrica Papa (University of Westminster;) Samuel Nello-Deakin (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) Emilia Smed (University of Westminster) Kim Carlotta von Schönfeld (University of Porto)

This session focuses on city street experiments, defined as ‘intentional, temporary changes in street use, regulation and/or form, aimed at exploring systemic change towards a post-car city’ (Bertolini 2020). The notion of experiments points to interventions that are limited in their temporal or spatial scale or adopt a discourse of experimental, tactical or DIY urbanism (Landgrave-Serrano et al. 2021, Webb 2018, Talen 2015) while sometimes aiming to inspire long-term change in mindsets or physical environments. The fast pace of change in street use during the coronavirus pandemic holds promise for making cities less dependent on automobiles and delivering more diverse and inclusive public spaces (Honey-Rosés et al. 2021). However, key questions remain: What about these renewed streets is here to stay? To what extent are street experiments potential triggers of systemic change in urban mobility away from motorised traffic dominance and towards more diverse and inclusive mobility and public space? We invite empirical and theoretical papers on temporary street use changes. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches are welcome, as are papers from any disciplinary background. Topics could include, but are not limited to: • Defining and operationalising the concept of street experiment • How streets can serve as an arena for experimentation and transitioning towards a new mobility and public space paradigm • Monitoring and assessing street experiments • Equity and inclusiveness in experimenting with city streets • Public attitudes and opinions on street experiments and the reallocation of street space • The relationship between citizen activism and bureaucratic structures and procedures in street experimentation Street experiments as a means of public participation and citizen engagement If you are interested in presenting a paper in this session, please send a short abstract (up to 250 words) along with all authors' names, email addresses and affiliations to e.papa@westminster.ac.uk , Samuel.Nello@uab.cat , e.smeds@westminster.ac.uk and kcvschoenfeld@posteo.net by 8th March. If you are planning to submit an abstract, let us know as soon as possible to allow us to gauge the level of interest in the session. We have applied for the session to be sponsored by the Transport Geography Research Group (TGRG).

References: Bertolini, L. (2020). From “streets for traffic” to “streets for people”: can street experiments transform urban mobility? Transport Reviews, 40(6), pp.734–753. Honey-Rosés, J. et al. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on public space: an early review of the emerging questions – design, perceptions and inequities. Cities & Health, 5(1), pp.263–279. Landgrave-Serrano, M., Stoker, P. and Crisman, J.J. (2021). Punctual Urbanisms: Rapid Planning Responses to Urban Problems. Journal of Planning Literature, 36(4), pp.467–491. Talen, E. (2015). Do-it-yourself urbanism: A history. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 14(2), pp.135–148. Webb, D. (2018). Tactical Urbanism: Delineating a Critical Praxis. Planning Theory & Practice, 19(1), pp.1–16.

Mobility

For the Mobile Lives Forum, mobility is understood as the process of how individuals travel across distances in order to deploy through time and space the activities that make up their lifestyles. These travel practices are embedded in socio-technical systems, produced by transport and communication industries and techniques, and by normative discourses on these practices, with considerable social, environmental and spatial impacts.

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