IN-PERSON Barcelona Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

The global pursuit of livable cities has led local governments to revitalize public spaces, shifting from car-centric infrastructure to pedestrian-oriented environments. Barcelona has become a reference, widely recognized for its Superblocks and green axes. While significant efforts have been made to demonstrate their benefits and contradictions, there remains a lack of citizen-based research on how people use these urban spaces. This study addresses that gap by focusing on citizens’ experiences while walking through the city. Conducted in the Sant Antoni and Poblenou neighborhoods -where a Superblock has been established and further pedestrianization is underway -this research explores the question: Why do we walk where we walk? Citizen science workshops were organized to investigate the factors, both tangible and perceptual, that shape walking behaviors in traffic-calmed zones. Participants—including residents, workers, and visitors—walked a route with a predetermined starting and ending point, while carrying GPS devices and completed a structured questionnaire designed to capture their motivations for route selection. To complement these experiential insights, the shortest and near-shortest routes were identified using the k-shortest path algorithm applied to urban network data. A comparison between algorithmic routes and actual trajectories revealed that individuals often favor paths perceived as safer, more pleasant, or personally meaningful over those that are simply the most direct. The preliminary findings are presented through an interdisciplinary lens, contributing to debates on walkability and urban mobility. The study underscores the value of combining quantitative data with lived experiences and highlights how citizen science can better connect urban planning with everyday practices to build more livable cities.