EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Citizens' participation in the traffic and environmental planning

Citizens' participation in the traffic and environmental planning

Introduction

Broad involvement and understanding through traditional and alternative citizens' participation methods.

Problem

The desire to create a broadly based understanding in physical planning projects is based on ensuring ownership and on shaping the projects in the best possible way so they become successful in the long run.

Description

Dialogue in the planning process has been a priority in the Road & Park Planning Administration in recent years. The type of process differs depending on the project's character. Below, examples from three different projects and processes of citizens' participation are described.

Approach

Three dialogue processes and their methods:

A. The new Traffic and Environment Plan 2004 was developed in cooperation with citizens, politicians and other players. A proposal for a dialogue process was made and it included the involvement of citizens and other players. The process was planned to occur in three 6-month periods. The purpose was to ensure involvement in and understanding of the final plan. The process of involvement consisted of:

Attitude analysis: telephone interviews with 1000 representatively selected citizens;
Focus groups;
Individual interviews with approximately 20 persons;
Debate forum on the internet.

B. Public hearings about Italiensvej by the Metro on Amager

The hearing emerged on the basis of a fierce debate in the local press concerning the transformation of Italiensvej ('Italy road') into a bike and pedestrian passage. The dialogue process lasted 3 weeks and entailed the following:

Distribution of an information leaflet to every household - Publicity in the local press;
Possibility to send comments to the Road & Park Department;
An open debate forum on the Departments website where citizens could debate the issue.

C. Traffic and Urban Environment Plan for Østerbro

The goal for the process was to ensure local support for the plan. 15 local organisations were invited to follow the project as an expert monitoring group and as a network. In addition, a working group of technicians from across the administration and a steering group of leading officials were created. The process lasted two years in 2002-2003. The method built on previous experiences was inspired by the Appreciative Inquiry method. A part of the process included:

Appreciative interviews made by the monitoring group;
City walks for the residents;
Traffic and Urban Environment bazaar with an exhibition and a photo contest for children. The bazaar was part of the initial phase of developing ideas. In small work shops new ideas could be discussed;
Debate meetings, a bus trip, a bike ride.

Results

The results from a dialogue with citizens are rarely measurable. However, each project has had succes with different ways of involvement.

Beneficiaries

The dialogue has a value for citizens because it enables their ideas and proposals to be heard. Furthermore the Road & Park Department gains from the process through their projects receiving more support and hence more durability.

Contact info

Vej & Park - Road and Park Planning Administration of Copenhagen
Denmark
Lotte Bech, tel. 0045 33 66 34 62

Project start date

Links

More information on the Municipality of Copenhagen Public hearings about Italiensvej by the Metro on Amager (in Danish only)Traffic and Urban Environment Plan for Østerbro (in Danish only)Traffic and Environment Plan 2004 (in Danish only)

Trafik- og Miljøplan 2004 (in Danish only, PDF, 8MB) Dansk

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Keywords

Citizens' participation

Institutional characteristics
Local Authority