Conflicted Streets

The project is one of several funded under the Driving Urban Transitions programme of the Urban Europe collaboration that focuses on the 15 Minute City (15mC): the idea that our towns and cities can be planned for a mix of uses, at medium to high density, with good walking, cycling and public transport, so that – if we choose – we can get to the activities we need within a 15 minute journey by one of those modes. The 15mC concept highlight conflicts between spaces of mobility (enabling local and regional mobility, but also including space currently used for parked vehicles), and spaces of place (emphasising urban qualities that make people want to live in such places). Such proposals sometimes generate conflicts between those who feel they will lose out from such changes (residents who will lose parking; shopkeepers who fear the loss of parking) and those who will gain. Therefore, conflict over the use of space in streets is a key issue that has to be addressed in planning for the 15mC. In many cases, such conflicts cannot be solved in consensus oriented approaches to planning and decision making. A key goal for this project is to learn and build knowledge of planning practices and processes for the 15mC, bearing in mind that there is often a much argument and protest when such changes are proposed. For this reason, the project is an important step in building knowledge about what generates conflicts in plans for the 15mC, and developing guidance on how to deal with such conflicts. Key steps in the project include: Gathering information about conflict that has occurred in current and recent 15mC initiatives. Following the design and implementation of some 15mC spaces in partner cities, with a particular focus on why and how conflict occurs and how it is managed. Develop guidance to assist the management of conflict in such schemes in the future.

While of critical importance to facilitate a transition to climate neutral cities, the 15mC concept is vague and complex. To realize the potential of the 15mC concept to bring about change, there are many potential conflicts between stakeholders representing different interests and perspectives. Essentially, the 15mC concept highlight conflicts between spaces of mobility (enabling local and regional mobility, but also including space currently used for parked vehicles), and spaces of place (emphasising urban qualities that make people want to live in such places). Therefore, conflict over the use of space is a key issue that has to be addressed in planning for the 15mC. In many cases, such conflicts cannot be solved in consensus oriented approaches to planning and decision making. A key goal for this project is to learn and build knowledge on planning practices and processes acknowledging the political and contested nature of such processes of change. This proposal is an important step in building knowledge about what generates conflicts in plans for the 15mC, and developing guidance on how to deal with such conflicts.