Tactical urbanism is an approach to community engagement and place-making. Tactical urbanism projects are physical urban interventions that are often interim and pop-up in nature, to catalyze long-term change for more liveable streets and spaces. The temporary solutions are means to show that there are well-functioning alternatives and that major changes are possible.
Name of Method
Brief description
Type/Level of Method
Challenges
Besides the immediate benefits of a single case of tactical urbanism for the initiating communities, the approach can also pave the way for regulatory changes and lower the hurdle of the people to actively shape their everyday environments. For cities the approach can bring in creative ideas for making more sustainable urban life possible. With some support from the city's side the impact of the interventions can grow considerably.
Problem, Purpose and Needs
Tactical Urbanism emerged as a movement of grassroot groups that were frustrated with their local governments that failed to improve liveability and sustainable mobility. Individual groups in the US started to make small ‘guerilla’ type improvements to streets and public space to combat inaction. The term ‘tactical urbanism’ was coined by planner Mike Lydon who has also supported scaling the approach, by producing guides for both community level interventions and by building broader programmes with local governments. Tactical urbanism aims at more ‘people friendly’ streets and spaces where people feel comfortable walking, cycling and playing safely. The approach is based on testing new uses in low-risk and low-cost way, allowing the community to ‘test out’ a solution before it’s implemented on a more permanent basis.
Relevance to Climate Neutrality
Challenges
Thematic Areas
Impact Goals
Issue Complexity
Issue Polarisation
Enabling Condition
Essential Considerations for Commissioning Authorities
It is important to think of the long-lasting change when starting with the short-term interventions. The more ambitious the goals are, the more crucial it is to involve diverse groups of people and stakeholders.
Engagement Journey
Governance Models and Approaches
Enabling Conditions
Democratic Purpose
Spectrum of participation
Communication Channels
Actors and Stakeholder Relationships
There is often a small core group ideating and crowdfunding the first interventions but mostly the aim is to then continue the ideation with as many stakeholders as possible. Profound interaction helps to find good solutions that can be welcomed also by those who were not part of the first phases. Stakeholder relations are also crucial to secure funding for the long term solutions. In case the local administration is involved, they may adopt the role of facilitator and to cover the costs in the end.
Participant Numbers
Actors and Stakeholders
Participant Recruitment
Interaction between participants
Format
Social Innovation Development Stage
Scope
Time commitment
When initiated and carried out by community organisations, a single intervention of tactical urbanism typically lasts a couple of days – or one week in order to see how it works on different weekdays and with different types of users. The intervention preparation time depends on the level of ambition and on how much of the physical materials is do-it-yourself type and how much is sponsored and/or purchased (e.g. street furniture). The city-led, highly-visible and formalized interventions are often built to last longer or even become permanent arrangements – if proven successful through the intervention.
Resources and Investments
Typical duration
Resources and Investments
In-house
Step by Step
For a community organisation the sequence could be as follows:
Inspire action and expedite project;
Draw attention to perceived shortcomings in policy and physical design, and allow people to physically experience alternative options;
Widen public engagement;
Deepen understanding of local user’s needs;
Gather data from the real-world use of streets and other public spaces;
Encourage people to work together in new ways;
Test aspects of the intervention before making large investments
For a local government the sequence could be:
Consider what kind of support you want to offer for such interventions
Invite ideas for solutions from the communities (that may follow the stages above)
Award the solutions
Help their execution if promised earlier
Observe and cherish the outcomes
Collect the lessons learnt for the next round
Evaluation
Evaluation should include qualitative and quantitative metrics, often surveys or observational data collection at the site. The prototyping approach allows public input to be gathered through demonstrated preferences instead of stated preferences only. For more comprehensive evaluation efforts, partnerships with universities can be helpful.
Connecting Methods
Tactical urbanism can be used as a tool for public engagement as the physical interventions capture attention and provide an opportunity to engage with the community also in other matters than the actual intervention.
Flexibility and Adaptability
As the interventions are low-cost, temporary changes to the built environment, the approach is very accessible to various actors. At the same time, successful projects are typically very collaborative and context sensitive.
For a city the approach is a great opportunity to crowdsource new ideas from the people. With some support - or at least by allowing things to happen - the city can turn into a laboratory of more sustainable citizen-approved design.
Existing Guidelines and Best Practice
There are guidebooks about the approach in general and about the materials that are typically used. Some of the most influential single solutions – such as the parklets that made their breakthrough in San Francisco – are also well documented. For a European example see e.g. Living Streets.
References and Further Resources
Tactical Urbanist's Guide to Materials and Design v.1.0
Arup on tactical urbanism
Tactical Urbanism and the Role of Planners by Laura Pfeifer
Tactical urbanism toolkit
Mike Lydon & Anthony Garcia (2015). Tactical Urbanism. Short-term Action for Long-term Change. Island Press.