Application of the first Superblock
Published on 04 July 2018
Spain
Cataluña
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About this good practice
Superblocks are conceived as units of urban organization. Passage of vehicles is no longer the main function of the superblock’s inner streets, but they become space for staying and exchanging, leisure, etc.
This model organizes the city so that the pedestrian has real priority, followed by bicycles and public transport. The objectives are to pacify spaces and liberate passing traffic in certain routes, humanizing and winning them for citizens’ activities.
Barcelona faces significant challenges in terms of air pollution, traffic congestion and need for green spaces, which require resolutions to pacify the city to make it a place to live in.
The first pilot was developed in the area of Sant Martí, applying basic mobility measures with fast execution actions, to show the new uses that could be achieved. This was followed by a process of assessment and proposals from residents.
The final mobility scheme was implemented with actions on public space to adapt the model to the territory, its inhabitants, and their activities, achieving several benefits:
- Improvement of public space habitability
- Progress towards sustainable mobility
- Increase of urban green spaces and biodiversity
- Participation and co-responsibility of citizens
Barcelona City Council is the institution leading the project, involving numerous stakeholders: residents and their associations, city council experts, transport operators, specialist consulting companies in mobility and transport, etc.
This model organizes the city so that the pedestrian has real priority, followed by bicycles and public transport. The objectives are to pacify spaces and liberate passing traffic in certain routes, humanizing and winning them for citizens’ activities.
Barcelona faces significant challenges in terms of air pollution, traffic congestion and need for green spaces, which require resolutions to pacify the city to make it a place to live in.
The first pilot was developed in the area of Sant Martí, applying basic mobility measures with fast execution actions, to show the new uses that could be achieved. This was followed by a process of assessment and proposals from residents.
The final mobility scheme was implemented with actions on public space to adapt the model to the territory, its inhabitants, and their activities, achieving several benefits:
- Improvement of public space habitability
- Progress towards sustainable mobility
- Increase of urban green spaces and biodiversity
- Participation and co-responsibility of citizens
Barcelona City Council is the institution leading the project, involving numerous stakeholders: residents and their associations, city council experts, transport operators, specialist consulting companies in mobility and transport, etc.
Resources needed
The City Council of Barcelona has invested 1.6 M euros in the pilot project of Superblock in the District of Sant Martí.
Evidence of success
Environmental quality and other indicators of mobility have already improved, and limitation of traffic has had a positive effect in air quality and noise thresholds.
In the long run, we expect to go from:
- 8.7% to 58% pacified streets
- 46.1% to 65.8% pedestrian space
- 95% to 100% population with cycling network < 300 meters from home
- 174.7 to 380.8 ha. green space
- 53% to 71% population exposed to admissible air quality
- 55% to 72% population exposed to acoustic levels
In the long run, we expect to go from:
- 8.7% to 58% pacified streets
- 46.1% to 65.8% pedestrian space
- 95% to 100% population with cycling network < 300 meters from home
- 174.7 to 380.8 ha. green space
- 53% to 71% population exposed to admissible air quality
- 55% to 72% population exposed to acoustic levels
Potential for learning or transfer
The experience of the Superblock model can be exported to other cities that suffer similar problems to those of Barcelona, with an intensification of the presence of private vehicles occupying a great part of the available urban space.
The urban realities that are taking place in the city are diverse, and not all depart from the orthogonal urban plot of the Eixample neighbourhood defined by Ildefons Cerdà.
Barcelona is developing different pilot projects of Superblock in its districts and each Superblock pilot is different to the previous, assuming the particularities of each neighbourhood, urban plot where work is done, as well as the needs of the neighbours that are reflected in the processes of participation.
In this sense, the city of Barcelona itself is making a process of transferring its initial pilot project in the district of Sant Martí, and is rolling this idea out successfully in other urban contexts.
The urban realities that are taking place in the city are diverse, and not all depart from the orthogonal urban plot of the Eixample neighbourhood defined by Ildefons Cerdà.
Barcelona is developing different pilot projects of Superblock in its districts and each Superblock pilot is different to the previous, assuming the particularities of each neighbourhood, urban plot where work is done, as well as the needs of the neighbours that are reflected in the processes of participation.
In this sense, the city of Barcelona itself is making a process of transferring its initial pilot project in the district of Sant Martí, and is rolling this idea out successfully in other urban contexts.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Barcelona City Council
Spain
Cataluña
Contact
Project Officer