Global street experiments : geodatabase, public engagement, and experiential learning of pandemic-induced tactical urbanism

Abstract

Urban streets are idealised to serve both for mobility and public space functions. However, orthodox planning systems have been criticised for their limited adaptability in shifting towards people-centric streets. In response, tactical urbanism has emerged, offering flexible and innovative solutions through temporary and experimental interventions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cities around the world rapidly repurposed streets for mobility and public space use. Inspired by tactical urbanism, these pandemic-induced street experiments (PISEs) were intentional and temporary interventions aimed at facilitating the transition to people-centric streets. Scholars have speculated about a ‘critical juncture’ for such transformations; however, there is limited theoretical and empirical evidence of longer-term developments resulting from tactical urbanism projects.

How did pandemic-induced street experiments develop capacities for people-centric street transitions? The research question aims to understand the transitional pathways of street experiments within the context of a public health emergency. I theorised PISEs as niche experiments that possess transitional capacities towards systemic changes in people-centric street transitions. The thesis investigates these capacities through the lenses of spatial arrangement, neighbourhood environment, public engagement, and learning – desirable properties of tactical urbanism. This focus gives rise to secondary questions regarding the spatial and temporal distribution of PISEs, and how neighbourhood environments, governmental organisation’s’ public engagement, and experiential learning by governmental representatives contribute to the continuation of PISEs. I employed a mixed-method research design to study the transitional capacities of PISEs. Quantitatively, I constructed a global PISE geospatial database encompassing 539 interventions and analysed the development patterns using visualisation and statistical methods. Qualitatively, I collected case-level documents and conducted interviews for 34 interventions, followed by content and thematic analyses.

The findings show that PISEs facilitated to people-centric street transitions through material, regulatory, and organisational changes that lasted beyond the pandemic. On a global level, one-third of PISEs continued to affect street use. At the intervention level, half of the PISEs presented a transformative trajectory at least until 2023. The transitional capacities were influenced by the suitability of neighbourhood environments, the richness of public engagement, and the comprehensiveness of experiential learning. The study draws several implications: careful planning and consideration of local demand are crucial for the operation of street experiments; establishing a feedback loop with local partners and the public through diverse engagement channels and tactics is essential for effective communication and programme development; engaging in a complete experiential learning cycle, including deep conceptualisation, enables implementers to deliver more transformative street experiments.

This thesis highlights that PISEs can bring lasting impacts to people-centric street transition. Factors such as location, communication, and learning contributed to the intensity of the material, regulatory, and organisational changes. The findings underscore the importance of proactive planning, effective engagement, and comprehensive experiential learning, thereby contributing to the theoretical understanding of pathways from street experiments to people-centric street transitions. The insights also offer practical implications, guiding policymakers and urban practitioners in designing and implementing successful street experiments that promote sustainable and people-centric mobility transitions.