How Can Municipalities Address Conflicts When Redesigning Streets?

A municipality wanted to turn a car park in the city centre into a green park. After arranging the conventional participation meetings, there seemed to be a strong opposition to this change. However, the meetings were in fact largely attended by middle‑aged and older men, and many of them were drivers. Instead of giving up on the idea, the Mayor organised consultation and participation efforts involving young people. Unsurprisingly, the younger participants had a different view about what should happen in this space. They were far less interested in a space and preferred having access to a green area in the city centre. Eventually, the project went ahead. This was a real study case of a park the older generation opposed, but young people made possible in Sandness, Norway. 

The Conflictedstreets project explores conflicts and resistance to change in street usage, with the aim of making streets friendlier places for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.  In an interview, Tom Rye, Professor at Molde University College, shares guidance, examples and four lessons learned that other cities can use when trying to make similar changes:

When faced with protests, consider lifting those voices that aren’t the loudest

Often people protesting are not from the area and have resources to make their voices heard. Local media can amplify their complaints against the project. However, this opposition, while visible, may not be representative of the overall view of the population. Thus, make sure to amplify other voices, especially those who support the changes too.

Communicate reasons for and benefits from the project, and do it early 

The news that reach the headlines might not be those about a new project changing the streets, and politicians can find hard to get their message across in local newspapers, television or radio. Thus, use every publicity channel available, such as social media, to spread news about people using green spaces or other changes already implemented. 

Allow people to see in reality how a change in street space works, as if it were an experiment

Experimentation can demonstrate that the traffic problems people sometimes fear may result from such projects often do not occur. This is called tactical urbanism, which simply means using elements like wooden benches, tables, large plant pots, paint, bike stands, and similar, that can be placed in a street rather quickly. The advantage is if the idea does not work, these elements can also be removed overnight or within a couple of days. 

Addressing fears and listening to concerns of businesses, residents, and even politicians

There’s often a fear that if parking is reduced, businesses will lose customers and residents won’t have anywhere to park. So what can be done about that? 

For residents, consider introducing a residents’ parking zone to give residents priority for the remaining parking spaces, and therefore addressing their concerns. For example, in Norway, the city launched a strong publicity campaign showing how much additional parking already existed nearby. This strategy worked for the municipality. 

In Spain, another strategy used was bringing together business owners that support the idea of removing parking spaces with those who had problems with it, as part of the consultation process. This strategy worked well persuading those with concerns. Similarly, in Austria, a city promised citizens a vote at the end of as part of its participation process around removing parking from a central square. The municipality invested a long consultation process, and the reduction of parking spaces eventually went ahead.

The interview ends with Professor’s Tom Rye addressing the fears of yet another group, politicians: 

“From a political point of view, it is better to implement measures that reconfigure streets and give more space to pedestrians than to give in to the protests. Politicians often make compromises because they fear losing votes, but weathering the storm and implementing the measures tends to work better.”