As Figure 3.1 indicates, Barcelona’s streets are primarily laid In addition to increasing people’s safety from a mobility out as blocks of buildings. The PMU’s objective is to reduce perspective, these people-first spaces have a social function, the amount of traffic within those blocks (that is, to move because they can be used to host events and other activities. away from the “Model Actual” shown in Figure 3.1) and create “people-first” “superblocks” where only emergency vehicles, Figure 2 illustrates the PMU’s objectives in the area of bicycles, and pedestrians are allowed (that is, to bring about the promoting and creating more spaces for new mobility methods. “Model Superilles” shown in Figure 1). With its strong focus on Barcelona could potentially add up to twenty-three hectares of sustainable modes of transport, the plan follows the “ecodistrict” such spaces through the city, thus increasing accessibility for principle, which can also be found in Toronto’s Sidewalk project people, reducing noise pollution, and promoting a car-free city (see Chapter 6). It will help to make pedestrians and the most (PMU, 2013-2018). vulnerable vehicles (for example, bicycles and motorcycles) safer, and it will promote these transportation modes. Figure 3.2 - New social places to promote new mobility modes, PMU Barcelona 2.2 Pedestrians’ mobility pedestrian rate of 0.8 m/second); • Installing devices such as escalators and elevators in By implementing its superblocks plan, Barcelona could create neighborhoods with accessibility problems. 750 hectares of spaces in which pedestrians and bicycles are the primary forms of mobility (PMU, 2013-2018). Within this focus on pedestrian mobility, the City Council has promoted a participatory project through which children go to These blocks would dramatically reduce the risks of accidents, and from school without the accompaniment of an adult. In and they would create a pleasant and safe environment for addition to encouraging active mobility among children, the people to walk in—especially children and people who have scheme is an opportunity to develop students’ autonomy, sense limited mobility. The superblocks plan includes, among other of citizen coresponsibility, and grasp of social values. It also aspects (PMU, 2013-2018): promotes the safety of the superblocks and helps the city to •Expanding and promoting the implementation of zones with operate on a people-first basis. 30 km/hour speed limits; •Studying the installation of pedestrian crossings that have 2.3 Bicycle mobility short waiting times and allow sufficient time for the slowest pedestrians to walk across them (assuming, for example, a Bicycles are becoming an increasingly frequent presence on 91 Quélin and Smadja | HEC PARIS | SMART CITIES | The sustainable program of six leading cities | 2021