Making Streets for People

The rise of the automobile in the mid-20th century led to car-centric urban planning. Street reclamation emerged as a counter-movement to restore the street as a social space, influenced by urbanists who argued for human-scale cities.

The 'Superblocks' (Superilles) project in Barcelona, Spain, restricts through-traffic in residential areas to create pedestrian-friendly zones.

Street reclamation is the process of reallocating street space from automobiles to pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit, often referred to as 'complete streets' or 'living streets'.

By prioritizing human activity, cities can mitigate the negative impacts of car dependency, such as traffic congestion, air pollution, and social isolation.

Mechanisms include traffic calming, widening sidewalks, installing protected bike lanes, and implementing 'shared space' designs where traffic signals are removed to encourage cautious, slow driving.