Mari Luz Brownrigg-Gleeson, gives the main keys to a study that has analysed the social and economic impact on pedestrianised areas of the capital.
Researcher Mari Luz Brownrigg-Gleeson, part of EELISA-on-the-MOVE and Transport Research Centre (TRANSyT-UPM), has participated in the new episode of the podcast SomosUPM, from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, here she has shared some of the main results of the study we lead in the framework of the European project SCALE-UP.
The study, carried out in collaboration with Andrés Monzón y Adriana Cortez, is in line with the objectives of our EELISA-on-the-MOVE. It analyses the effects of pedestrianisation in busy areas of Madrid, such as Puerta del Sol and Plaza de Olavide, assessing its impact on mobility, quality of life and the local economy. One of the most relevant findings is the high level of satisfaction among citizens and businesses, despite the initial reluctance that usually surrounds this type of intervention.
In addition, there is a significant decrease in car use in the affected areas, accompanied by an increase in the willingness of citizens to walk, which reinforces the idea that such urban transformations favour a more sustainable, inclusive and liveable city.
These results can be found in detail in the following article: Reasons to Pedestrianise Urban Centres: Impact Analysis on Mobility Habits, Liveability and Economic Activities (Brownrigg-Gleeson et al., 2023), available at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/23/16472
We also highlight how pedestrianisation favours local commerce, promoting more frequent use of neighbourhood shops and hospitality services, in line with the 15-minute city model, which was also discussed in the episode and which is the focus of Mari Luz’s research.
As our researcher points out, “Madrid can be a more pedestrian-friendly city, but that means reducing the space available to private vehicles,” a message that, although sometimes controversial, is increasingly present in urban mobility policies.
You can listen to the full episode here:
https://youtu.be/2N1Im_KuZuA?si=wA5PSURQXg1DMZLu
