Instructions for Establishing a Spontaneous Vehicle-Prohibited Area in Your Urban Setting
Creating a Car-Free Pop-Up Zone: A Guide for Local Communities
Transforming a local street into a temporary car-free zone can offer numerous benefits to a community, encouraging physical activity, social interaction, and economic opportunities. Here's a step-by-step guide to organizing a successful car-free pop-up event, inspired by successful programs like Boston's Open Streets and Pottstown Play Streets.
1. Identify the Location and Time
Choose a suitable local street or area for transformation into a car-free zone. Determine the timing for the closure, such as specific days or hours. For instance, Boston closes Newbury Street from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
2. Engage Stakeholders and Partners
Involve local government departments, businesses, community organizations, and residents early in the planning phase to gain support and input.
3. Secure Official Permissions
Obtain necessary permits from city or local authorities for road closures, traffic diversion, and use of public space. Coordinate with police and emergency services to maintain safety and accessibility.
4. Plan Street Activation and Programming
Design activities that encourage community engagement, such as play zones for kids, outdoor dining or retail expansions for local businesses, live music, games, and wellness programming.
5. Arrange Logistics and Safety Measures
Set up barricades or signs to close streets to vehicle traffic. Ensure pedestrian accessibility, emergency vehicle access points, and parking restrictions. Provide alternative transportation options nearby.
6. Promote the Event
Use flyers, social media, local media, and stakeholder networks to raise awareness and encourage community participation.
7. Execute and Monitor the Event
On the event day, manage the street closure, oversee activities, respond to any incidents, and gather participant feedback.
8. Evaluate and Plan Future Events
Afterward, assess successes and challenges to improve future car-free pop-up zones.
Supporting Your Efforts
- Contact local transportation or parks departments for guidance and permits.
- Join or form partnerships with nonprofits, schools, and local organizations to help plan and fund activities.
- Seek out event toolkits and guides from cities that provide detailed play street or open street information.
- Coordinate with bike-share programs or public transit to provide easy access near the pop-up zone.
By following these steps and leveraging community partnerships and official resources, you can successfully create a temporary car-free zone that enhances physical activity, social connection, and economic opportunity in your local community.
Preparation is Key
Gather volunteers and helpers at least 2/3 hours ahead of the event, ensuring that all alternative route signage is adequately in place for motorists and buses.
Getting the Community on Board
Speak to local neighbors and get them on board with the car-free day, helping them to understand the benefits it will have and how it will help the local community. Once you have obtained signatures, apply for permission and/or a permit from your city's transportation department to host the event.
Funding and Support
Consult with local government representatives to find out which levels of government may be prepared to be involved with funding for the pop-up and how much they are willing to invest.
World Car Free Day
World Car Free Day, an annual event, encourages cities to temporarily close central roads and replace them with walking and cycling infrastructure, markets, cafes, children's play areas, street furniture, and street performances. World Car Free Day usually takes place in mid-September.
Long-Term Impact
A car-free pop-up event may encourage bigger car-free measures to be implemented in the long run.
Planning and Organization
Involve different organizations, residents, and politicians in the planning and organization of the event, seeking feedback, ideas, and inspiration from local community officials, representatives, NGOs, or community groups.
Promotion and Community Engagement
Get help from friends and volunteers to put up signs, posters, and hand out flyers about the event, and create an online event on social media platforms to encourage people to spread the word and generate more interest.
Creating an Attractive Pedestrian Area
Creating an attractive pedestrian area supports economic income and helps create a healthier local economy. Decide on the location of the car-free pop-up zone, considering which road would be best repurposed, and consult with neighbours and make an advance application to close off particular streets if necessary.
Repurposing the Closed-Off Zone
Generate ideas for repurposing the closed-off car zone, consulting with others about what would be the best use of the area, such as interactive objects and play areas for children if the area is in a residential neighborhood.
Feedback and Improvement
After the event has finished, follow up with those who attended to ask for feedback, whether they found the event useful, and whether there could be any improvements for next time. Be open-minded to constructive criticism to understand how future events could be made better.
Resources
Obtain barricades and no-parking signs from your local council and ask for donations for things you could put in the pop-up zone such as recycled street furniture, boxes, and crates to create a fun atmosphere.
- To boost the appeal of the outdoor-living strategy, consider transforming a car-free pop-up zone into an attractive pedestrian area, complete with repurposed interactive objects, children's play areas, or local home-and-garden markets.
- Encourage a lifestyle that promotes physical activity and social connection by organizing community events like World Car Free Day, where Central streets are temporarily closed for walking, cycling, and various local activities.
