I used to dislike those bright colours, and I'm still not a fan, but now I think I get why they're important: they make the ugly asphalt look less like asphalt. This is key to make the space more inviting. Otherwise, it'd look half-assed, and people wouldn't want to stop by, sit and have a cig like that man on 2:21
That is a very good point, to conceal the asphalt-y look in a way that's quick and cheap enough. Overall, it makes it clear what spaces are for cars and which ones for humans - in the end, everything with colors, greenery, etc. will be human, everything grey and gloomy for cars. That's something we support!
Great video! I love what you had to say about the changes being modest and done quickly. It's obvious changes like this needed to be done years ago, and it's nice to see a city like Barcelona implement protected bike lanes quickly (even if they require improvements down the road). I can't wait to visit next summer! Looking forward to more of your videos
I can understand how some people are upset that it doesn't look nice today but I can't grasp why they lack imagination on what it could be made to when accepted by the public. Conservatives are against drastic changes and against tactical urbanism. How are city councils supposed to convince them?
I don't think the complaints about the look are entirely sincere, to be honest. There are people out there who just don't like the concept of public space and can't be convinced otherwise.
Thank you for this video showing possibilities. I find it interesting that people are upset that it isn't attractive. As an American, used to our cities, I like the visual effects. Perhaps they aren't stunningly beautiful, but seriously, are they not a huge improvement over all the cars?
Totally agree, a huge improvement! And I kinda like the bright colors, not only does it brighten the space and my mood a bit, but it's like a "warning, warning, warning" to drivers that if they try to come over they should realize that something is amiss and they shouldn't be there. Or at least in my mind that's what I would be thinking, lol!
At the very least the response should be "well then let's make them look even nicer," not "shucks, I guess the only alternative is to let the cars have it."
No, they aren't. There are other cities with this kind of traffic pacification much better execution like "Madrid Central" or other smaller spanish cities like León. In Barcelona things have been done well in the past in places like Gracia or Born. This new interventions are complete mess. Check the total degradation of Ronda Sant Antoni for example.
Thanks so much for this video. There's so much good here. Love the initiative to reduce vehicle traffic by schools. 🙏🏾 I live in Chicago, another city with a grid system. I'd love for the Superblocks concept to be implemented here. Sidenote: The cycle lanes shown could totally stand to be wider in some areas.
Thank you for your comment! We definitely hope some of the ideas will spread out to other parts of the world (and we also wish that some of the better ideas from elsewhere will be implemented here, such as decent-sized bike lanes). By the way, Chicago is such a gorgeous city!
I'm amazed at how the political will over there is able to achieve things like this. Over here, people scream until they're blue in the face if you so much as whisper about removing car lanes or parking.
I think people who dislike the somewhat garish colour scheme are of "all in" type; as in "if you remodel the street, create pavements and green spaces already and while you're at it, replace the old asphalt; oh, and after a month we'll get grumpy about it taking so long". People in my town are very appreciative about the things already done, but absolutely can't stand when the refurbishments take even a month longer than expected. And people similarly complain about the main walking street having its lanes cut down to one during the pandemic and left at that.
Hahaha we do recognize that type of person!!!! The thing is, they are going to remodel many of these intersections with greenery and stuff, just not quite now, and so they might as well put something temporary than not do anything at all. It shouldn't be that difficult to understand 🤣
I come here to update you with an opinion I heard this week and with which I partially agree: painting the streets, as opposed to building an actually wider sidewalk, signals that the whole thing is easily reversible (as easy and cheap as it was to paint). In other words, it gives room for those who oppose the pacification to push back and go back to before. Hopefully that won't happen!
I like the low-lying solid "lumps" separating the cycle lane from the car lane - my town has put up temporary plastic bollards that don't look at all nice, and make the cycle lane feel too narrow; always feels like you're going to strike them with your handlebar or pedal.
We definitely have mixed feelings about them. I would like them more if I didn't see so many that had been knocked out of place by cars running over them one too many times. But, they're probably better than the plastic bollards that crumple the first time a car grazes them.
I like planters. They tend to do a better job of keeping cars out. They can also be aesthetically pleasing. More thought needs to be given at intersections (exiting and entering the bike lanes) to keep cars out. I don't consider anything a true bike lane in the United States unless there's physical protection.
Sadly, the few superblock intersections that exist in Barcelona aren't at all as great as they are advertised by the politicians. They all look like little mini-ghettos full of homeless people, trash, graffiti, garbage containers, etc. Not like a small park as they advertise it :(
Barcelona es la ciutat de prestigi de tota Espanya i per a millorar les nostres ciutats i pobles per tot el pais hem de mirar-la! Avall en el cotxe, vista la bicicleta, el bus, i el tren
I'm always amazed at how these guerilla changes can last more than a day or too. Where I live, the shop owners feel utterly entitled to use the on street parking, and if anyone blocked it then the council would be called immediately.
I'd add to our previous comment (by Jedidjah) that I (Anna) know for a fact that people with mobility issues have reserved parking in many, many places. My mother's friend parks her adapted car at the very door of Palau de la Música, despite it being in what looks like a pedestrian-only narrow street area. By the way, the main impediment for folks with mobility issues to park are other car drivers who park on their reserved spots. So, in the absence of heavy traffic and of reserved parking thieves, those who need a car the most will be able to get around much more easily!
I used to dislike those bright colours, and I'm still not a fan, but now I think I get why they're important: they make the ugly asphalt look less like asphalt. This is key to make the space more inviting. Otherwise, it'd look half-assed, and people wouldn't want to stop by, sit and have a cig like that man on 2:21
That is a very good point, to conceal the asphalt-y look in a way that's quick and cheap enough. Overall, it makes it clear what spaces are for cars and which ones for humans - in the end, everything with colors, greenery, etc. will be human, everything grey and gloomy for cars. That's something we support!
Great video! I love what you had to say about the changes being modest and done quickly. It's obvious changes like this needed to be done years ago, and it's nice to see a city like Barcelona implement protected bike lanes quickly (even if they require improvements down the road). I can't wait to visit next summer! Looking forward to more of your videos
Thank you! I agree, it would have been nice to see these things happen years ago. But better late than very late!
I can understand how some people are upset that it doesn't look nice today but I can't grasp why they lack imagination on what it could be made to when accepted by the public. Conservatives are against drastic changes and against tactical urbanism. How are city councils supposed to convince them?
I don't think the complaints about the look are entirely sincere, to be honest. There are people out there who just don't like the concept of public space and can't be convinced otherwise.
Thank you for this video. I'd love to see more of how they designed the space around schools.
Definitely planning on visiting those in a future video!
Thank you for this video showing possibilities. I find it interesting that people are upset that it isn't attractive. As an American, used to our cities, I like the visual effects. Perhaps they aren't stunningly beautiful, but seriously, are they not a huge improvement over all the cars?
Totally agree, a huge improvement! And I kinda like the bright colors, not only does it brighten the space and my mood a bit, but it's like a "warning, warning, warning" to drivers that if they try to come over they should realize that something is amiss and they shouldn't be there. Or at least in my mind that's what I would be thinking, lol!
At the very least the response should be "well then let's make them look even nicer," not "shucks, I guess the only alternative is to let the cars have it."
No, they aren't. There are other cities with this kind of traffic pacification much better execution like "Madrid Central" or other smaller spanish cities like León. In Barcelona things have been done well in the past in places like Gracia or Born. This new interventions are complete mess. Check the total degradation of Ronda Sant Antoni for example.
This isn't even considering the famous superblocks.
Thank you for your comments! We will definitely go explore the superblocks in a future video.
So glad I discovered this channel! You guys are amazing :D
Thank you so much for your kind words!
Thanks so much for this video. There's so much good here. Love the initiative to reduce vehicle traffic by schools. 🙏🏾
I live in Chicago, another city with a grid system. I'd love for the Superblocks concept to be implemented here. Sidenote: The cycle lanes shown could totally stand to be wider in some areas.
Thank you for your comment! We definitely hope some of the ideas will spread out to other parts of the world (and we also wish that some of the better ideas from elsewhere will be implemented here, such as decent-sized bike lanes). By the way, Chicago is such a gorgeous city!
I'm amazed at how the political will over there is able to achieve things like this. Over here, people scream until they're blue in the face if you so much as whisper about removing car lanes or parking.
Thanks for sharing your impressions and presenting barcelona.
Thanks to you for your comment!
I think people who dislike the somewhat garish colour scheme are of "all in" type; as in "if you remodel the street, create pavements and green spaces already and while you're at it, replace the old asphalt; oh, and after a month we'll get grumpy about it taking so long".
People in my town are very appreciative about the things already done, but absolutely can't stand when the refurbishments take even a month longer than expected. And people similarly complain about the main walking street having its lanes cut down to one during the pandemic and left at that.
Hahaha we do recognize that type of person!!!! The thing is, they are going to remodel many of these intersections with greenery and stuff, just not quite now, and so they might as well put something temporary than not do anything at all. It shouldn't be that difficult to understand 🤣
I come here to update you with an opinion I heard this week and with which I partially agree: painting the streets, as opposed to building an actually wider sidewalk, signals that the whole thing is easily reversible (as easy and cheap as it was to paint). In other words, it gives room for those who oppose the pacification to push back and go back to before. Hopefully that won't happen!
"but we're not here to see any of that …"
… now if only we could find an abandoned railroad somewhere.
@@BikingBarcelonaTogether or an abandoned rail-trail, maybe?
I like the low-lying solid "lumps" separating the cycle lane from the car lane - my town has put up temporary plastic bollards that don't look at all nice, and make the cycle lane feel too narrow; always feels like you're going to strike them with your handlebar or pedal.
We definitely have mixed feelings about them. I would like them more if I didn't see so many that had been knocked out of place by cars running over them one too many times. But, they're probably better than the plastic bollards that crumple the first time a car grazes them.
They’re not very common where I’m from unfortunately but we call them armadillos
I like planters. They tend to do a better job of keeping cars out. They can also be aesthetically pleasing. More thought needs to be given at intersections (exiting and entering the bike lanes) to keep cars out. I don't consider anything a true bike lane in the United States unless there's physical protection.
Sadly, the few superblock intersections that exist in Barcelona aren't at all as great as they are advertised by the politicians. They all look like little mini-ghettos full of homeless people, trash, graffiti, garbage containers, etc. Not like a small park as they advertise it :(
Love it! Thanks for making these videos!!!
Thank you so much for your kind comment!!!
Hopefully the garish paint can be replaced with some green paint & lots of papers with crabgrass!
Way to go 👍
great video
Thank you! We are just learning how to do this, but we are very excited to share our view of this amazing city with anyone who wants to see it ☺️
Barcelona es la ciutat de prestigi de tota Espanya i per a millorar les nostres ciutats i pobles per tot el pais hem de mirar-la! Avall en el cotxe, vista la bicicleta, el bus, i el tren
I'm always amazed at how these guerilla changes can last more than a day or too. Where I live, the shop owners feel utterly entitled to use the on street parking, and if anyone blocked it then the council would be called immediately.
Where is are cars carrying seniors & others with limited mobility supposed to park? This plan will create no-go areas for many older residents.
That's a good question! The plan is not for this street to become car free. Cars will still be allowed, but only at low speed (
I'd add to our previous comment (by Jedidjah) that I (Anna) know for a fact that people with mobility issues have reserved parking in many, many places. My mother's friend parks her adapted car at the very door of Palau de la Música, despite it being in what looks like a pedestrian-only narrow street area. By the way, the main impediment for folks with mobility issues to park are other car drivers who park on their reserved spots. So, in the absence of heavy traffic and of reserved parking thieves, those who need a car the most will be able to get around much more easily!
Aixó es una merda, les empreses marxen a Madrid, millors autopistes i accesos a la ciutat.
those concrete blocks kill people, specially motorcyclists. Good job Ada 👍
In what situations?
if they drive to fast and without paying attention
the concrete blocks are there to do many things, including to inhibit reckless behaviour
it's a 10kmh zone, unless you go 5 times de speed limit you'll be fine
Example of the Dunning-Kruger effect.