Merging Green and Active Transportation Infrastructure towards an Equitable Accessibility to Green Areas: Barcelona Green Axes
The UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for the provision of universal access to: (a) safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces, and (b) safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all. The Barcelona green axes plan aims to transform one third of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/4/919 |
| _version_ | 1797604660407697408 |
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| author | Francesc Magrinyà Josep Mercadé-Aloy Borja Ruiz-Apilánez |
| author_facet | Francesc Magrinyà Josep Mercadé-Aloy Borja Ruiz-Apilánez |
| author_sort | Francesc Magrinyà |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for the provision of universal access to: (a) safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces, and (b) safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all. The Barcelona green axes plan aims to transform one third of the streets within its 19th century extension grid, increasing the tree cover and the vegetation, adopting sustainable urban drainage systems, limiting motor traffic, and providing a safer and more comfortable environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and other social activities in healthier environments. These transformations become even greater at the intersection of the axes, where former traffic junctions are becoming squares and urban gardens. This study gives an in-depth analysis of the origins of the superblocks plan, the rationale behind the transformation, and the implementation process. The GIS-based analysis shows how the green axes and the new square gardens (a) transform the city’s disconnected urban green areas into a more interconnected green infrastructure system, and (b) significantly increase accessibility to green areas. The study reveals this strategy’s potential to create a city of proximity, improve the well-being of the population, and build a more equitable city, which could be a useful tool for planning and decision making at both city and regional levels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:49:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4c35cc76b4d0409fa738352d6ef39c50 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:49:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-4c35cc76b4d0409fa738352d6ef39c502023-11-17T20:04:07ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2023-04-0112491910.3390/land12040919Merging Green and Active Transportation Infrastructure towards an Equitable Accessibility to Green Areas: Barcelona Green AxesFrancesc Magrinyà0Josep Mercadé-Aloy1Borja Ruiz-Apilánez2Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyers de Camins, Canals y Ports de Barcelona, Departament d’Enginyeria Civil i Ambiental, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08034 Barcelona, SpainEscola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyers de Camins, Canals y Ports de Barcelona, Departament d’Enginyeria Civil i Ambiental, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08034 Barcelona, SpainEscuela de Arquitectura de Toledo, Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y de la Edificación, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 08034 Barcelona, SpainThe UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for the provision of universal access to: (a) safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces, and (b) safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all. The Barcelona green axes plan aims to transform one third of the streets within its 19th century extension grid, increasing the tree cover and the vegetation, adopting sustainable urban drainage systems, limiting motor traffic, and providing a safer and more comfortable environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and other social activities in healthier environments. These transformations become even greater at the intersection of the axes, where former traffic junctions are becoming squares and urban gardens. This study gives an in-depth analysis of the origins of the superblocks plan, the rationale behind the transformation, and the implementation process. The GIS-based analysis shows how the green axes and the new square gardens (a) transform the city’s disconnected urban green areas into a more interconnected green infrastructure system, and (b) significantly increase accessibility to green areas. The study reveals this strategy’s potential to create a city of proximity, improve the well-being of the population, and build a more equitable city, which could be a useful tool for planning and decision making at both city and regional levels.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/4/919constructed green areasspatial planningstreet designsustainable transportationcity government |
| spellingShingle | Francesc Magrinyà Josep Mercadé-Aloy Borja Ruiz-Apilánez Merging Green and Active Transportation Infrastructure towards an Equitable Accessibility to Green Areas: Barcelona Green Axes Land constructed green areas spatial planning street design sustainable transportation city government |
| title | Merging Green and Active Transportation Infrastructure towards an Equitable Accessibility to Green Areas: Barcelona Green Axes |
| title_full | Merging Green and Active Transportation Infrastructure towards an Equitable Accessibility to Green Areas: Barcelona Green Axes |
| title_fullStr | Merging Green and Active Transportation Infrastructure towards an Equitable Accessibility to Green Areas: Barcelona Green Axes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Merging Green and Active Transportation Infrastructure towards an Equitable Accessibility to Green Areas: Barcelona Green Axes |
| title_short | Merging Green and Active Transportation Infrastructure towards an Equitable Accessibility to Green Areas: Barcelona Green Axes |
| title_sort | merging green and active transportation infrastructure towards an equitable accessibility to green areas barcelona green axes |
| topic | constructed green areas spatial planning street design sustainable transportation city government |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/4/919 |
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