1199 | 873 | Calling youth to planning sustainable mobility through participatory mechanisms. The experience of CES4Kids Project in Cascais, Portugal | Ana Louro, Nuno Marques da Costa, Eduarda Marques da Costa
The inclusion of children and youth in planning processes is relatively scarse. However, their experiences and perceptions already interfere in their daily lives, namely in their mobility options. Considering that younger people can be a precious trigger for a paradigm shift in mobility that favors soft mobility, and thus sustainable mobility, the CES4Kids project tested a methodology based on public participation mechanisms for youth in identifying their mobility problems and propose solutions. Based on the results obtained from this experience that took place in two schools in the municipality of Cascais, Portugal, with youth aged 13 to 17 years, this presentation aims to: 1) present the results of the survey on the mobility of participating students, which fits the diagnosis of their mobility – dynamics and difficulties; 2) systematize the problems studied by the participating youth and the proposed solutions answering to four pillars of sustainable mobility (environmentally friendly, safe, accessible and inclusive mobility). It was possible to observe the diversity of young people’s daily mobility patterns, strongly influenced by the family context (eg. using the car as passenger drived by a family member), but also framed by the urban context of the residence area, with impact on transport networks and services existing. As for the solutions proposed by the students, these proved to be diversified and oriented towards the problems felt by them. An example of this are the proposals to create secure bicycle parking outside the school, increase the number of bicycles available in the shared system outside the school or improve the conditions of the cycle network. It should be noted that the dynamic developed showed great adherence, interest and curiosity by the students, who saw in this space for dialogue and discussion, a window of opportunity to get their vision to local decision-makers.
Ana Louro, Nuno Marques da Costa, Eduarda Marques da Costa
Centre of Geographical Studies, Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning, Associated Laboratory TERRA, University of Lisbon
ID Abstract: 873