Example of a
tactical initiative in Plaça de les Glòries
allowing people to use the streets for games, sport and cultural activities, such as outdoor cinema. It
is estimated that when the direction, traffic bans depending
on type of vehicle, and streamlined parking. The tactical initiatives are
low
budget, temporary and reversible which are used for demonstrating the model’s application. They can be considered as trial-and-error meas- ures where the effect sought is to change the uses that people make of streets – one of the most signifi- cant challenges for the Superblock project. The tactical initiatives con- sist of actions with great potential for transforming the use of public space without the need for carrying out large-scale work. To be more specific, these could be measures for management, urban furniture and painting. That way the public can experience and appreciate the effects of the change and express their opinions. Finally, structuring initiatives are
such that enjoy large consensus and which are stable over time, able to involve more substantial budgets and apply corroborated models. The current initiatives are intended
to be carried out under two major lines: citizen participation and tacti- cal urban planning. No major physi- cal changes are planned at the start. The first initiatives will involve com- mitment to flexible physical changes
66
with budgets that are small and, in some cases, reversible. That way city residents can quickly reclaim streets and see for themselves whether or not the model is working. When implemented to the full,
Superblocks will be complemented by the introduction
of 300km of
new cycling lanes (there are cur- rently around 100km), as well as an orthogonal bus network that has already been put in place, whereby buses only navigate a series of main thoroughfares. The goal of the orthogonal network of bus routes is reducing the number of routes, but keeping the same number of buses and increasing the frequency to cut waiting times and traffic. The new system, when completed, will reduce the number of routes from 94 to 28, waiting time to less than five minutes (the current aver- age being 14), and trip time – with one connection – to less than 35 minutes across the city. This system should ensure that anyone is less than 300 metres from a bus stop at any time and that one could go from any point A to point B with just one transfer in 95 per cent of the cases. In the very final stage, curbside parking within the Superblocks should disappear (by building off-street garages), and the maximum speed be 10 km/h,
thinkingcities.com
Superblocks model is implemented to the full, pedestrians will enjoy 94 per cent of the space on the inner streets of the Superblocks, pollution will be reduced dramatically, ensur- ing that 94 per cent of the population will not be exposed to dangerous lev- els of particulate matter, and 73.5 per cent will not experience noise levels over 65 dB. The ideal walkable area will be a mix of residential and com- mercial areas. Another Spanish city, Vitoria-Gasteis, has implemented its own Superblocks since 2008 and has seen a positive impact on pedestrian space, noise and air quality, as well as an increase in business activities. The new designs will be installed nine
in different places across
Barcelona (starting with the most polluted and at the same time cen- tral Eixample neighbourhood) with an estimated total project cost of about €11 million. The city has, how- ever, identified 120 intersections where the concept could be applied, stating that car-free spaces are a right for everybody no matter what part of town.
FIRST IMPLEMENTATION – FACING REALITY
The first “Superilla” pilot project implementation in Cerdà city expan- sion grid, started operation in mid- September 2016 in Poble Nou. The lack of through-traffic and the sin- gle lane for motor vehicles moving within the block leaves most of the area free for cyclists and pedestrians to enjoy. Despite that the residents living
in the area were generally in favour of the Superblocks programme and they have been well informed about it by means of various citizen participa- tory processes. However, confront- ing the reality of the Superblock was not accepted by everyone with the
Photo: Barcelona City Council
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