The WHO estimates that 99% of the global population currently breathes polluted air, over 80% of adolescents don’t get the recommended levels of physical activity, and road traffic fatalities are the number one killer of young people ages 5-29. These are stark reminders that decisions about how we shape our cities and streets have a profound impact on people, especially kids. Since 2018, GDCI has been working with leading cities that want to change these trends and put kids first when designing their streets.
In 2022, the Street for Kids program launched its first-ever Leadership Accelerator, bringing 60 city leaders from 20 countries to a six-month training. After completing the accelerator, GDCI invited the teams to apply for a seed grant of 20,000 USD and year-long technical assistance to implement their vision of creating safe, attractive, and inspiring streets for kids in their cities.
In April 2023, ten cities across four continents were selected and started work to bring their visions to life: Abuja, Nigeria; Cuenca, Ecuador; Istanbul, Turkey; Leon, Mexico; Lima, Peru; Lusaka, Zambia; Recife, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; Solo, Indonesia; Tyre, Lebanon. Their projects are inspiring as they are diverse, offering a wide range of examples of advocacy and engagement, design best practices, and bold visions for streets that promote road safety, active mobility, outdoor play, and social connections.
Collectively, the 2023 cohort reclaimed over 40,000 SqM of public space that prioritizes children and caregivers, engaged over 4,000 children in the process, and trained 140 practitioners. On average, the transformations reduced traffic speeds by 37% and the number of vehicles exceeding speed limits by 53%. While we are proud of their collective impact, we are even more excited to share some of their individual stories.
In Abuja, Nigeria, Ochenuell Mobility, a non-profit organization, partnered with the Directorate of Road Traffic Services to implement a six-month awareness campaign, including an Open Street event for children and caregivers, involving more than ten schools from different parts of the city. To demonstrate what’s possible, they donated 20 bicycles to the community and installed bicycle parking near the school. The campaign reached over 2,000 people, and more than 400 students were consulted in the process.
In Cuenca, Ecuador, Huasipichanga, a non-profit organization, partnered with the Cuenca Municipality and the Municipal Company for Mobility, Transit, and Transportation (EMOV) to implement a temporary street transformation that connects a primary school with a nearby park. As part of the process, over 60 children participated in engagement activities around street design. The transformation reduced traffic speeds by 36% and increased pedestrian volumes by 118%. Children were observed playing more on the street and reported feeling safer walking and crossing the street.
In Istanbul, Turkey, Superpool Design Studio partnered with Istanbul’s planning agency and Maltepe Municipality to implement a temporary street transformation connecting a primary school and a kindergarten and reclaiming space as part of the city’s Play Strategy. To engage the community, the team conducted a pop-up and inauguration event, reaching over 400 children. The transformation reduced the number of vehicles exceeding speed limits by 55% and increased pedestrian volumes by 49%. After the transformation, 51% more people were socializing in the new plaza, and seven times more children were observed playing.
Read more about the city’s previous transformation of Zümrütevler Square, and watch videos about how Istanbul is encouraging healthy play and road safety through street transformations.
In Leon, Mexico, the Municipality of Leon partnered with the Government Family Service Agency (DIF), and the non-profit Colectivo Tomate to implement a temporary street transformation that connects a children’s social club, a kindergarten, and two middle schools that serve nearly 1,000 children. The project included a two-month-long on-site engagement process with over 350 children and teens participating in activities. Following the transformation, weekday vehicle volumes decreased by a third, 82% fewer vehicles exceeded 30 km/h, and play activities tripled. 75% of parents reported they feel the street is safe for their children to play and cycle independently.
In Cerrillos, Chile, the non-profit Ciudad Emergente partnered with the Cerrillos Municipality to connect a local elementary school and a nearby park by temporarily pedestrianizing a street, creating a safer space for nearly 350 children. After the transformation, pedestrian volumes increased by 5x on the street, and caregiving activities doubled in front of the school. A vast majority of people surveyed reported that they would like to keep the street pedestrianized permanently.
Read more about making kids’ journeys to school safer in a previous Streets for Kids project in Santiago, Chile.
In Solo, Indonesia, the non-profit Kota Kita partnered with the Surakarta City Department of Transportation to redesign two streets near a high school, benefiting more than 500 students and residents. More than 400 kids, caregivers, and community members participated. The interim transformation created a safer, more attractive, and more inclusive environment for children by reclaiming public space for pedestrians and introducing traffic-calming elements and street art.
In Lima, Peru, the Municipality of Lima and non-profit ANIDARE company partnered to pedestrianize a street adjacent to an elementary school in the city’s historic center. For several weeks, the intervention reclaimed 850 sqm for pedestrians, activating it with multiple events and activities, including Tai Chi classes, bicycle schools, outdoor cinema, dance classes, and fairs. The interim project also included street elements for play and rest, increasing by seventeen times the number of children playing in the streets. After the transformation, caregivers’ feeling of safety doubled, and their average time spent on the street increased from 6 to 50 minutes.
In Lusaka, Zambia, the non-profit Zambia Road Safety Trust partnered with the Lusaka City Council to improve the conditions of three streets surrounding two schools, serving more than 1,000 children. The permanent transformation incorporated traffic calming measures such as speed bumps as well as signage, designated pedestrian crossings, and markings, and added 245 sqm of new rest and play areas. Following the transformation, there was a 70% reduction in vehicle speeds, 90% of children were walking on protected infrastructure, and caregivers socializing on the street doubled.
In Recife, Brazil, the Traffic and Transport Authority (CTTU) worked with multiple municipal departments and the non-profit Colectivo Massape to improve safety and access for over 560 students attending three schools by designing and constructing nearby streets. The project transformed 35,415 sqm of public space, incorporating raised crossings, play elements, benches, shading structures, and trees and greenery on the new sidewalks. Through surveys and multiple engagement sessions, more than 600 children, caregivers, and residents participated in this process.
In Tyre, Lebanon, non-profit The Chain Effect partnered with the Tyre Municipality to implement a series of activities, programs, and workshops to introduce the ideas of safe and healthy streets to local students, culminating with an interim street intervention. With the help of the students, the project improved the entrance of the school by installing a new crosswalk, a parklet and a mural. In total, 300 children and teens participated in more than ten engagement activities throughout the process.
To learn more about designing streets for kids in your city, download the Designing Streets for Kids guide, now available in multiple languages.
Learn how street transformations designed for children can be scaled up and made permanent.
Global giants Janette Sadik-Khan (Transport Principal, Bloomberg Associates and Chair of Global Designing Cities Initiative), and Salvador Rueda (Director of Urban Ecology Agency of Barcelona) arrived in New Zealand’s capital to back the sustainable street changes that are putting people at the heart of Wellington’s streets.
With the support of the Clean Air Fund, GDCI will help reduce harmful PM2.5 air pollution, focusing on one of the most at risk groups, children.
