As a partner in the Active Cities project, the district of Eimsbüttel in Hamburg, Germany, aims to address urban spatial challenges and promote sustainable mobility in and around its schools. The objective of their pilot is to reconfigure street segments using a parcipative approach, putting cyclists and pedestrians at the heart of street planning in the immediate surroundings of local schools, while creating space for neighbourhood activities and for children to play. It is hoped that the successful implementation of a pilot such as this will act as a model for other schools to follow.
With a pilot of this nature, citizen and stakeholder involvement throughout the process is of paramount importance. Key stakeholders of this pilot include schoolchildren, school staff, parents, neighbours, and local specialist groups and initiatives. Through ensuring that these key stakeholders remain up to date with all developments, the district of Eimsbüttel has seen clear benefits. The first workshops that participation of these groups allows for the creation of user-friendly designs, increased commitment levels and transparent process design, resulting in better management of critics to the pilot and resolution of conflicts. Further formats focussing on activation for active mobility, behaviour change and design ideas will follow.
Eimsbüttel involves stakeholders and citizens through a variety of channels, including sharing information on social media, through press releases and on local school radio. Additionally, the district hosted working groups and information events with key stakeholders to collect ideas and opinions. Collecting ideas of school children in an idea book have been the basis for two workshops with local schoolchildren and adults, laying the foundation for further design process.
“So far, the process is going quite well overall. Contact and cooperation with the school is very good and the atmosphere at the workshops has been inspiring, characterised by the commitment of all involved. In projects of this kind, there are frequently points of criticism, but despite concerns over the loss of parking spaces and conflict with the cycling route running through the area, we are happy with the progress that has been made.” Maren Derneden