The role of urban design to achieve a cycling and walkable city
As urban planners and designers we are always busy with envisioning the future. These visions are long term processes involving diverse stakeholders. From our projects we have learnt that a shared common future vision is essential, but it needs to be accompanied by small steps that are realized within shorter timespans. We call these small steps experiments. At the seminar we shared lessons learnt from experiments we have developed in the public space to stimulate and inspire towards cycling and walking cities. In the two days previous to the seminar, we built a temporary square as one small step within the vision of a walkable and cyclable Marrakech.
Our presentation took place within a seminar organized by Pikala bikes, an NGO based in Marrakech using the bicycle as a tool for education, employment and sustainability to empower young Moroccans, in collaboration with the Dutch Cycling embassy, the Embassy of the Netherlands in Morocco and the municipality of Marrakech. Next to Urbanos, the Dutch Cycling Embassy, BYCS, De Loendersloot group, the municipality of Utrecht, the HR group and Ring-Ring presented their visions to stimulate cycling in Marrakech and to exchange knowledge and know how between the two countries.
More information: The Dutch national television (NOS) made an item about the seminar and the opening of Pikala bike’s new location as a close up of the seminar. The Dutch Cycling embassy wrote about the seminar and our tactical urbanism intervention in Marrakech.
