Reclaiming the Street for Livable Urban Spaces

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/reclaiming-the-street

Introduction

**Course Review: Reclaiming the Street for Livable Urban Spaces** **Overview:** "Reclaiming the Street for Livable Urban Spaces" is a transformative six-week online course offered through Coursera that delves into the evolving landscape of urban mobility and the impact of citizen engagement in creating vibrant streetscapes. In the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, when cities worldwide have undergone significant changes to their public spaces, this course not only educates about theoretical frameworks for understanding these transitions but also equips participants with practical insights and strategies to instigate change within their own communities. **Course Highlights:** 1. **Understanding Transitions in Mobility:** The journey begins with a critical investigation of the transitions framework, which offers a unique lens through which to view the rapid alterations in urban mobility. Participants will examine the driving forces behind changes and gain insights into how they can contribute to developing more pedestrian-friendly environments. This module sets a solid foundation, making learners aware of the complexities of mobility systems and how their local efforts can integrate with larger societal shifts. 2. **Streets as Transition Experiments:** This module focuses on the concept of temporary initiatives that can invoke lasting change. The course takes you through real-world examples from cities like Oakland and Milan, where street experiments have garnered political support and led to substantial transformations. Understanding the mechanics of such initiatives provides a strong argument for grassroots action and empowers learners to see their own ideas as viable solutions. 3. **Living World vs. System World:** The course delves into the intersection of citizen activism and bureaucratic processes, illustrating how change can be navigated even within rigid systems. By exploring case studies from France, participants learn about the innovative tactics activists employ to outmaneuver bureaucratic hurdles, fostering a sense of empowerment that remains crucial for anyone seeking to effect change in their own locale. 4. **Redefining Traffic in Cities:** Here, the course addresses the traditional narrative surrounding urban traffic, encouraging participants to rethink its role in city dynamics. Through an engaging examination of global case studies, learners are introduced to impactful solutions that see traffic as an opportunity rather than a constraint, emphasizing the potential to repurpose reclaimed areas for community enrichment. 5. **Guerilla Style:** The penultimate module shines a light on the power of collective action. By sharing stories of activists in London, Amsterdam, and New York, the course reveals that community organizing can significantly magnify individual efforts. This module inspires participants to mobilize, suggesting that the fusion of personal commitment with community engagement can break systemic barriers and incite meaningful change. 6. **Wrapping up the Course:** The course concludes by integrating the knowledge and insights gained throughout the six weeks into a peer-reviewed project. This final project encourages students to synthesize their learnings and articulate a clear action plan for future endeavors within their neighborhoods. **Recommendation:** "Reclaiming the Street for Livable Urban Spaces" is an essential course for urban enthusiasts, community leaders, and anyone interested in the future of public spaces. Its combination of theoretical frameworks, real-world applications, and a strong emphasis on grassroots involvement makes it a well-rounded educational experience. Whether you are a seasoned urban planner or a passionate citizen looking to make a difference, this course will not only empower you with knowledge but inspire action in your community. With its engaging content and practical approach, I highly recommend this course for anyone eager to contribute to more livable, walkable, and sustainable urban environments. Take the first step toward reclaiming your streets and transforming your neighborhood into a vibrant community space!

Syllabus

1 — Understanding Transitions in Mobility

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen changes to the streetscape happening in cities all around the world. While the fast pace of these changes is promising for building a world less dependent on automobiles, one unanswered question remains: Are these renewed streets here to stay? In this module, we introduce you to the "transitions framework" to understand how change happens in the mobility system at different scales in society, As we progress through this course, your understanding of this framework will help you identify where your efforts can be best applied in creating change.

How do experiments play out on the street? You will be pleased to discover that creating change in public space can be a bottom-up process driven by temporary initiatives. We examine how temporary experiments can then be solidified into policies and permanent street changes after a successful experiment concludes. Oakland, USA and Milan, Italy are two places where policy makers have announced ambitious plans to transform their streets after witnessing a high level of political support for their experimental initiatives.

What happens when citizens encounter a bureaucracy? It is no easy feat to instill a system level change in large systems, whether it is government or another large technocratic organization. But even the largest bureaucracies are staffed by individual people, just like you and me. Where front-line individuals of an organization meet their constituents, the results can be particularly interesting. With certain rules and procedures in place, street-level professional have to be creative in how they navigate the conservative system world in order to create change that matters in the dynamic living world. We go to France to understand how activist groups have deployed their tactics to create change in the bureaucracy.

What is the role of traffic in our cities? While mobility (virtual and physical) is essential to accessing opportunity, is it possible to achieve mobility without traffic? In this block, you will read an academic paper that visits five cities around the world to explore creative solutions to the problem of traffic. In doing so, we find that by moving people more efficiently, we are able to repurpose the reclaimed space for more valuable uses, even in the middle of a highway. As it turns out, changing the way we talk about traffic, especially moving away from utilitarian language, is a powerful way to change perceptions of traffic for yourself and others.

What can individuals do to change the system? As it turns out, a connected group individuals united in a common goal is far more effective at creating change than any one person alone. You will read about how activists in London and Amsterdam leverage their internal and external relationships to mediate between themselves and the bureaucracy. We then go to New York for a reminder that traffic is not carved in stone. It is a clear sign of change when streets are eerily empty in a famous city known for its gridlock traffic.