COMMON_ACCESS

COMMON ACCESS works with SMEs, NGOs and municipalities in suburban neighbourhoods of Amsterdam, Bergamo, Ghent, Munich, Pavia and Oxford to examine the diversity of accessibility conditions, existing community practices, opportunities for new experiments, their social and mobility impacts, and the policy factors that support or hinder commoning initiatives that address accessibility challenges. A range of tools are being developed inspire civilians and practitioners by informing on existing commoning practices and community values concerning proximity.

The ‘Flower of Proximity’ digital community-led tool maps and visualises both individual and community values regarding their proximity to local essential services: https://flowersofproximity.com/

The ‘COMMON_ACCESS Atlas’ is an online resource that allows users to explore and learn about existing commoning accessibility practices across Europe through an interactive map: https://tinyurl.com/COMMONACCESSAtlas
 

COMMON_ACCESS is driving change in how cities approach accessibility, especially in suburban areas. By working with local communities in Munich, Oxfordshire, Ghent, Milan, and Amsterdam, the project supports inclusive, place-based strategies that challenge car dependency. 

Tools such as the ‘Flowers of Proximity’ workshop methodology and digital platform are already shaping local planning debates and challenging policy. The project fieldwork has uncovered the complex conditions that impact the communities and their leaders in the delivery and operation of commoning practices; opening up conversations with municipalities and key stakeholders regarding the initial accessibility challenges, the policy, economic and barriers experienced by the commoning practices, and the opportunities for community-led innovation.