The Haren neighborhood council met several times to talk about mobility and the “Peaceful neighborhoods” plan. First, the members of the council discovered the pre-diagnosis carried out by the external study office (Tractebel) responsible for this mission. Thanks to the diversity of profiles making up the neighborhood council, members were able to feed into the ongoing analysis and draw attention to the themes of road safety, public space and accessibility. This diagnosis was presented to the general public in spring 2022, in order to be enriched with the individual contributions of each harenois, during field actions or by marking problems on an online map. Then, the project team presented 3 development opportunities to the neighborhood council and secondly a mobility plan proposal. Following members' reactions, this proposal was significantly reworked. A final project was presented to the entire district at the end of November 2023.
Problems and objectives
With the implementation of the regional mobility plan “Peaceful neighborhoods” in Brussels, the Brussels municipal administration wants:
· Improve the quality of life in neighborhoods by reducing through traffic.
· Ensure easy access to neighborhoods (also by car, but at low speed).
· Rethink certain public spaces, giving priority to pedestrian areas, where the neighborhood lives.
· Improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions linked to transport.
Following the numerous road safety problems, the City of Brussels has developed an action plan entitled “Haren appaisé”.
History and context
The Good Move plan provides for the creation of 50 peaceful neighborhoods throughout the Brussels Region for the period 2020-2030. A peaceful neighborhood is an area with a new traffic plan that promotes local and active mobility, as well as local public transport . Motorized transit traffic is discouraged. Priority is given to the quality of life of residents, visitors and all those who work there.
The benefits of peaceful neighborhoods are numerous and concern everyone.
Calmed traffic above all offers better road safety for everyone, it is more pleasant to travel on foot or by bike. The public space is improved for more conviviality and a better quality of life. We also breathe less polluted air. Reducing noise leads to less stress and allows for better sleep.
To achieve this vision, the municipal administration has already approved certain principles in the majority agreement:
- The application of the STOP principle: first pedestrians, then cyclists, then public transport and finally cars.
- A mobility and parking policy that reduces car pressure and further frees up public space by reducing transit traffic.
- Improving road safety
- Significant improvement in the efficiency of the public transport network.
The City has already taken several measures in accordance with this vision and these principles, but other concrete measures must still be formulated.
To respond to the real needs and concerns of residents, traders and visitors to the City of Brussels, the City wants to involve the different stakeholders at different times in the exercise.
Concretely, the implementation of “Soothed Neighborhoods” by neighborhood takes place in 3 phases: diagnosis of the current situation, formulation and implementation of measures, and evaluation.
Organizing, supporting and financing organizations
The City of Brussels
Recruitment and selection of participants
Co-creation was envisaged with members of the neighborhood council. This council is made up of 11 citizens chosen at random and 6 neighborhood associations. By its composition, the council is on the one hand a sample of the neighborhood's population and on the other hand, thanks to the associations, it is well anchored in the neighborhood.
Methods and tools used
On the platform www.fairebruxelles.be an interactive map has been created so that citizens can indicate precisely the place where nuisances linked to mobility are encountered. (diagnostic phase)
For presentations to neighborhood councils, maps were printed so that citizens could easily see the proposed changes.
During public meetings, 5 dialogue tables allow citizens to find out about the planned changes and obtain a technical explanation from a mobility expert and to discuss in small groups facilitated by a meeting facilitator.
What happened: processes, interactions and participation
Here are the steps of the participatory process:
February 2022 – Haren neighborhood council: Presentation of the mobility pre-diagnosis by the Tractebel design office.
April 22 and 27, 2022 – Field actions with Babbeleir
May 2022 – Call for suggestions online on the participatory platform
March 2023 – Haren Neighborhood Council: Presentation of 3 levers (or opportunities) for the construction of the future traffic plan:</p>
September 2023 – Haren Neighborhood Council: Presentation of the ' Haren appeased' mobility plan: proposal of 2 possible scenarios for lever 3 "heavy goods vehicle circulation" and dialogue with the College of Mayor and Aldermen.
October 18, 2023 – Haren Neighborhood Council: Presentation of a final ' Haren appeased' mobility plan , adapted according to the elements mentioned in September.
November 27, 2023 – Public information meeting
Influence, results and effects
The co-creation phase with the neighborhood council allowed for close dialogue between technical services, aldermen and citizens/associations. In this sense, the neighborhood council was one of the stakeholders who was able to contribute to the final proposal, presented to the neighborhood.
Analysis and lessons learned
During the consultation phase, the neighborhood council is informed of the modifications before any other citizen. It is important to clearly clarify the role of the neighborhood council in this case: would it have the role of ambassador, or spokesperson? Or is it, on the contrary, supposed to deliberate in council and respect confidentiality?