Pedestrianisation as a step in a societal transformation? An analysis of support and opposition in Brussels

Abstract

Brussels (Belgium) is one of several major cities with a recent emblematic pedestrianisation project aiming to give public space ‘back to people’. Wondering whether these initiatives represent ‘cracks in the system’ of car dominance, we studied how support for the pedestrianisation has evolved across society, taking into account people's socio-economic and mobility attributes as well as geographical scale. We conducted surveys before and after implementation among metropolitan area residents, people employed in the area and passers-by through online and face-to-face surveys. Findings show a strong increase in overall support, both for the pedestrianisation the central boulevards (now with a majority now in favour) as for a further roll-out. Residential location nearby the pedestrianised centre is identified as a factor of support, but most importantly, habitual car use and remain strong predictive factors of opposition, confirming the various descriptions in literature of automobility as a tenacious socio-technical system.