Key takeaways for Thriving Streets and Cities

Antwerp
• The intense dialogue with local retailers during the temporary intervention showed that many shop owners have a negative view of their own neighbourhood and how it is evolving. Therefore, it’s important to properly support positive actions in the neighbourhood, so that not only customers are convinced of the potential of the neighbourhood, but also the retailers themselves.
• The experience with the temporary intervention has demonstrated that regular and structured consultation with retailers is necessary. When dialogue only starts in response to decisions, you get an energy-consuming conflict instead of an enriching cooperation.
• After a long preliminary phase, people expect more… also a thorough transformation of the public space.
• The transnational exchanges stimulated to look at our strategies from different perspectives and improved the learnings of our experiences; they also provided a lot of inspiration.

Debrecen
• Real community involvement is crucial; people are open to listen and be part of a dialogue; honest conversations can also contribute to changing mind-sets.
• It is important to have clear objectives and principles behind the actions; make sure you focus on the objectives and the positive change you want to achieve in your communication – and not on the individual actions.
• Sometimes unwavering determination is necessary to carry out a change project; some actions may be unpopular but necessary to achieve a positive change. After seeing the results people often change their opinion.
• Whatever you do, there are always people who oppose; usually, they are louder than supporters. Find those who agree and get them on your side.

Igoumenitsa
• Pedestrians have to populate and reclaim the public space from cars.
• A strong and clear vision is crucial – but it worth nothing without the will and commitment of decision-makers to make the change happen.
• Transformation of public space does not happen overnight – it takes time. Also, change always generates conflicts and involves decisions that are unpopular. Nevertheless, the example of many cities prove that it is possible to change places, as well as the behaviour and attitude of people.
• Streets are shared between different types of users – cars, cyclists, e-scooter users, pedestrians. The No1 rule to ensure safety? Stronger street-users (typically cars) should respect and protect the weaker ones.

Klaipeda

• Activating the local community requires trust – and building trust takes time. Our experience shows that it is not realistic to expect people, businesses to take initiative immediately. Nevertheless, that does not mean that the municipality should give up; on the contrary, we should keep trying.

• Quality and attractiveness of a public space is a complex thing – it requires quality infrastructure, green areas, good accessibility for all, a variety of shops and cafés, diverse supply of events and programmes. All these are necessary to change the image of a place in people’s mind. And once that happens, they start to come. To get there is difficult and takes time – but when that happens, the public space comes to life – after all, people go where people are.

Nova Gorica

• Centre safely accessible for pedestrians and cyclists: developing safe, protected bicycle connections, expanding pedestrian zones free of motorized traffic, reducing the proportion of free parking places, improving public transport connections.

• Connected community: attractive and safe public spaces for socializing, quality urban furniture and frequent public events in public spaces.

• Vibrant commercial and service centre: encouraging economic activities and the commercial use of currently vacant shops.

• Local heritage as cultural and touristic attraction: quality renovation of heritage buildings, developing an offer of frequent quality cultural events.

Oradea

• Tests and temporary interventions may end up in disapproving the foreseen changes; that’s, however, should not be considered a negative outcome. In fact, they are part of the learning process and can be valuable in designing local policies and help to avoid major pitfalls – as the experience of Antwerp and Nova Gorica clearly demonstrate.

• Working together with our Thriving Streets partners showed that the mind-set of city-dwellers (and local politicians, for that matter) is very similar when it comes to urban mobility. Transforming urban mobility is not just an infrastructural challenge – it is at least as important to change the mind-set and attitude of people.

• Learning from case studies is useful; however, if one wants to understand the
important details, intricacies and all aspects of a successful change process, site visits are crucial. Since they can also be very inspirational and effective in changing mind-sets, more politicians should participate in such visits besides technical staff.

Parma

• Small is beautiful: consider smaller interventions, not just big, expensive projects. Small solutions can be implemented in a shorter time, with fewer resources, are less risky and can address the requests of citizens in a shorter time.

• You can’t do it alone: Your potential allies are out there - be creative and innovative in engaging stakeholders, to encourage participation and the design of innovative solutions. Don’t forget: participation is a matter of trust between citizens and local government (and building trust takes time)! Draw on the wealth of experience, knowledge and tools of URBACT cities.

• Evidence is king: do not take anything for granted, don’t work based on assumptions. You can never know enough about your city challenges and dynamics. Engage with stakeholders, collect data and evidence relentlessly. (However, be careful to avoid analysis paralysis!).

• There is no simple solution: the physical and social complexity of an urban neighbourhood always requires an integrated approach and multi-sectorial competences.

Santo Tirso

• Don’t be afraid to talk to people. Involve them.

• Change is actually possible – you need to combine clear vision, political will and technical competence…

• … plus it does not hurt if you have strong local allies.

• It is important to have hard data to debunk wrong assumptions.

• A good parking policy not only regulates parking but also generates revenues for the city.

London Borough of Southwark

• The mission should be to ensure the best service and environment for residents and visitors and persistently strengthening the quality of life for all.

• There is a need for strong political will combined with an experienced team of officers to bring the right change.

• Designing for one specific group with needs is likely to benefit any other group.

• A great place needs at least 10 reasons to be there.

• You are never finished. A good place is evolving.