Temporary, low cost design interventions, known tactical urbanism, can be put into place quickly as they require less planning consents and consultation. They allow design changes to be tested, and adapted in real time, rapidly exposing what works and what doesn’t. Tactical projects avoid the need for long planning, design and consenting processes that weigh-up often polarised attitudes towards change. Working tactically designers can bring the advocates, objectors and the decision makers together and test ideas.
It is widely agreed that cars take up way too much space in our city centres. Many cities already prohibit car access to their centres to improve air quality and allow public life to thrive on the street. Parisian authorities recently banned cars to areas with high pedestrian counts. Hamburg is creating a ‘Green Network’ by connecting the parks throughout the city by closing roads to cars and only allowing access to bike users and pedestrians. Copenhagen is internationally famous for its unique creation of lively pedestrian streets and is often referred to as a city for people. Each of these cities have developed specific ways of designing the city around people. They have created car free areas and pedestrian networks, bike routes, and integrated this with public transit and parking provision.