by Tracy Rodrigues
There are many differences between Europe and the United States, but from a planning perspective, none are as great as the stark contrasts between walkability and access to transportation; in other words, mobility. Generally speaking, European cities are compact while American ones tend to be more sprawling. This divide stems from the environment that those cities developed in. European cities are older and were often planned with basic necessities in mind, like security, that are still seen in the remnants of ancient Roman city walls. American cities developed much later, without size constraints, and as a nation we are much more reliant on cars. These divergent histories are common knowledge to urban planners, but what is significant is how little mentalities have changed today.
Europeans view pedestrian mobility as a right, Americans as a privilege. European politicians and planners often speak of “the right to mobility” as Mr. Adria Gomila, Mobility Services Director of Barcelona, expressed at the 2014 Smart City Expo World Congress in November. That Barcelona has a mobility team and director is surprising, but it shouldn’t be, because it matches the city’s commitment to improving the quality of life of its citizens. Gomila argues that every citizen has the right to mobility in their own city. This mindset sets the stage for Barcelona’s ambitious 2018 Urban Mobility Plan, the objective of which is to be “sustainable, safe, equitable, and efficient.” The goals state that by 2018, 2.5% of city travel will be by bicycle, 41.3% by public transport, 35.1% by walking, and 21.1% by car. In this hierarchy, walking takes the lead. The bicycling goal has already been met, and others are expected to be accomplished ahead of schedule as well.
Barcelona’s mobility plan was not designed by out of touch bureaucrats. It directly aligns with city dwellers’ wants and needs. Barceloní expect their city to provide them with a certain quality of life that includes access to transportation, walkable neighborhoods, affordability, responsible tourism, and even the right to sleep! It is not uncommon to see banners hanging from balconies reminding people to be quiet at night.
Barcelona is a city that unapologetically puts people (pedestrians) first. To be fair, New York gets many things about mobility right. It is relatively easy and cheap to get around (if you live in Manhattan and don’t mind the occasional subway fare hike). Citibike, though still lacking in the neediest neighborhoods, is working and it is continuing to expand its reach. More recently, the speed limit was reduced to 25MPH evidence that there may finally be a change of attitude regarding pedestrian rights. New York City must continue down this path of prioritizing mobility and hope that other American cities one day follow suit.
*Tracy spent the fall semester abroad through Wagner’s partnership with ESADE in Barcelona, Spain.