Co-designing neighbourhood mobilities

A new article by Stby is featured in the latest issue of Landscape, the Journal of the Landscape Institute. Geke writes about the Bike Parking Consultation in London and how we utilised the Streetlabs methodology, building on the work we have been doing in Amsterdam.

Current challenge

The challenge tackled during the project was that cities need help in redesigning public spaces to promote sustainable mobility, reduce pollution, and encourage healthier lifestyles. They aim to balance limited space by prioritising walking, social interaction, and green areas over cars. This complex transition requires gradual, strategic changes aligned with current maintenance schedules.

Moving beyond traditional consultation

Effective transition to sustainable public spaces requires open, collaborative conversations among stakeholders. Policymakers should seek input from residents and businesses to shape policies and projects. Moving beyond traditional consultation, which limits stakeholder input to objections, is essential. Instead, engaging in open exploration of opportunities, like the Streetlab approach, fosters joint decision-making and future-oriented planning.

Improving bike parking

Since 2016, Stby has run 15 Streetlab projects in Amsterdam and recently facilitated a co-design process for London’s Golden Lane Estate. With many residents cycling and outdated 1950s bike facilities, volunteers secured funding for improvements. Over 60 residents participated in Streetlab sessions, using maps and props to suggest parking solutions. Recommendations are now detailed in a plan awaiting City of London approval.

Key principles of the Streetlab approach

The Streetlabs method is outlined in the article. It involves co-creative sessions with up to 30 residents, local businesses, and visitors per session, fostering open and structured discussions led by moderators. We use creative materials to guide conversations and document ideas through visual inspiration images. Results from these sessions yield both short-term local adjustments and long-term citywide improvements, balancing immediate, easily implementable changes with broader, systemic solutions requiring extensive cooperation.

Towards more sustainable and healthier public spaces

The co-creative and open Streetlab approach engages policymakers and local communities in step-by-step transitions to make public spaces more humane, cleaner, and safer. These transitions require gradual, iterative steps rather than detailed blueprints. The key dilemmas involve complex considerations for sustainable and healthy urban public space use. In Amsterdam, successive Streetlabs have shown growing support for major changes like building underground bicycle parking and reducing car parking spaces, boosting municipal confidence for implementation. Many of these changes are now underway.