Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/streetexperiments
Our cities are dynamic, living entities, and nowhere is this more apparent than in our streetscapes. For too long, we’ve accepted the dominance of vehicular traffic, relegating streets to mere conduits for movement. However, the “Street Experiments for Sustainable and Resilient Cities” course on Coursera challenges this paradigm, offering a compelling vision for reimagining our streets as vibrant public spaces. This course is a must-take for anyone interested in urban planning, community development, or simply creating more livable cities.
The course begins by establishing the crucial role of streets as placemaking opportunities. It skillfully uses the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, highlighting how it accelerated our thinking about alternative street uses. We delve into the history of streets, exploring how societal ideologies have shaped their evolution and how even the automotive industry is recognizing the need to diversify mobility futures. This initial module effectively raises awareness about the potential for streets to be more than just thoroughfares.
The second module, “Getting to Know Street Experiments,” takes us on a global tour of practical examples. The course brilliantly categorizes street experiments into four typologies, ranging from simple street re-markings to the complete opening of streets to non-vehicular traffic. It powerfully illustrates how tactical urbanism, often driven by bottom-up initiatives, can be a potent force for positive change, leading to healthier and more engaging urban environments.
“Implementing Street Experiments” provides a practical roadmap for bringing these ideas to life. It details the entire process, from conception to execution, and candidly discusses the challenges involved. The course emphasizes the immersive nature of experiencing street changes firsthand, contrasting it with static plans. It teaches strategic problem-solving through tactical urbanism and underscores the power of visually appealing spaces in marketing themselves. The connection between culture and street design, particularly ‘mobility culture,’ is explored, positioning real-world laboratories as crucial for understanding and fostering new urban cultures.
Finally, “Evaluating Street Experiments” tackles the critical question of impact. While acknowledging that not all experiments lead to permanent change, the course equips learners with the tools to assess their effectiveness. It defines five key characteristics of successful street experiments: radical, change-driven, feasible, strategic, and communicative. Crucially, the course stresses the importance of community involvement, recognizing that citizen buy-in is paramount for the long-term success and permanence of these transformative urban interventions.
Overall, “Street Experiments for Sustainable and Resilient Cities” is an insightful, practical, and inspiring course. It empowers learners with the knowledge and inspiration to advocate for and implement changes that can lead to more sustainable, resilient, and enjoyable urban living. I highly recommend it.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/streetexperiments