Methodology to Accelerate Changes in Behavior, Attitudes and Mindsets (MACBAM) towards Walkability
About this good practice
There is a comprehensive and innovative approach to support the development and delivery of change in Braga, integrating 3 pillars: Transition Management, Urban Design, and Social Psychology of behaviour change. The process helps steer the selection of appropriate physical and cultural measures to support a reduction in car use increase in quality of life for citizens in public space. A PhD (Corais, n.d.) validated and applied it in a living lab with measurable success.
The process begins with the recruitment of 5-7 participants to ensure stability and efficiency. It follows key steps: 1. Identifying problems; 2. Analyzing actors and systems; 3. Creating a shared vision of the future; 4. Linking long-term goals with short-term actions through experiments (tactical urbanism); 5. The scope of the public space transition is broadened as part of a continuous co-creative process which is based on learning by doing.
In Braga the approach has been used to test the reallocation of public space in favour of the pedestrian. It has supported the development of a permanent urban design project (using 2D, 3D drawings, mock-ups and augmented reality). The process was monitored through surveys, interviews and observation confirming that it is a flexible and adaptable way to guide action strategy.
Researchers, administration and society are the main beneficiaries. And the main stakeholders are the pioneers and ambassadors (e.g. children, health professionals, civil protection).
Resources needed
The resources are mainly the result of voluntary support from the participants.
For the meetings a physical space, materials for the co-creation activities, food and drinks are needed. For the experiments (tactical urbanism) some resources may be necessary but we can reuse materials.
Evidence of success
The Municipality of Braga has replicated the methodology in other projects.
The results of the PhD indicate: A positive change of behaviour by some participants (eg more people walk and fewer choose to drive cars when public space changes are co-created); temporary measures can become definitive and help reduce the number of cars in a given area; the majority of citizens agree with the temporary changes and, when surveyed, want to see the changes implemented permanently and immediately.
Potential for learning or transfer
Through evaluation by counts, surveys, interviews and observation it was found that the application of the methodology supported a consensual transition agenda and helps define acceptable experiments to apply in the public space. The co-creation of future projects accelerates the speed of behaviour change and can increase society's receptiveness for the reallocation of public space in favour to pedestrians.
By facilitating opportunities for reflection and mutual learning (between researchers, the administration and society), sustainable change can be implemented (by changing thoughts, practices and processes).
The Municipality of Braga has been motivated to adopt the co-creation procedure to other ongoing projects following the success of pilots. Any city that seeks to reduce excessive use of the private car (70% of the modal split in Braga) stands to potentially improve the quality of life (e.g. safety; pollution; social cohesion; universal accessibility) by adopting this approach.
Further information
The City Walking to 2050. Braga as a Laboratory for a Resilient and Sustainable Urban System
Images
Documents
Poster_Filipa Corais_Final.pdf
futuretransp-02-00006.pdf
Transition Experiments_a boost to 2050.pdf
A transition Agenda to Reinvent Braga.pdf
Website
Good practice owner
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