there is no lack of fuel to move cars , but today we realize that the way cities have been growing in the second half of the 20th century , centered on the car , is not the valid model for this first half of the 21st century , in which the beginning of all action must be centered on people .
There is a clear need to initiate an urban transformation that allows us , person by person , neighborhood by neighborhood and each city contributing one by one , to improve the quality of life we deserve in our cities . In this plays a fundamental role not only our behavior as protagonists of these , but the strategies of those who lead the urban future , whose vision must materialize in short- and medium-term actions with great determination , because the legislative cycles of four years pass quickly , and projects do not take off . Lack of determination can take its toll not only at the political level : the health of citizens is at stake .
A city that works is a city that you want to be in , enjoy , make use of , and live in , but do our cities work for everyone ’ s needs ? The vision of a city in which not all citizens ’ rights are put into operation becomes evident when we analyze the role of urban mobility . Public space in cities has been invested for decades in generating space for rapid and efficient transit of motor vehicles . However , a good part of that public space can be reverted to be used again not only for commuting , but for simple actions such as being , walking , entertainment , children ’ s play or to generate more shaded spaces , with more vegetation and for public transport , for cycling , or to move differently . The result is that the space that is finally reduced for the car is only a small percentage of the space generated .
Cities where change has already taken place today enhance the relationships that citizens have with the streets , with the city , and their relationships with others . They are divergent cities . Their path has gone differently towards the development of such important values as equity , inclusion and opportunities for all .
We find abundant examples of cities of different sizes such as Munich , Hamburg , Vienna , Groningen , Paris , Vitoria or Barcelona transforming themselves and preparing their future for the goals of reducing emissions and adapting their functioning to impro-
34 OTWO 33 / APRIL 2022