Tactical urbanism
What it is
Tactical urbanism is the use of cheap, quick and often temporary interventions, such as paint, planters, movable seating and pop-up bike lanes, to test changes to streets and public space before committing to permanent reconstruction. The term was popularised in the United States around 2010 by Mike Lydon and others, drawing on grassroots actions like guerrilla bike lanes and Park(ing) Day. By making change reversible and visible, it lets residents and authorities trial and adjust designs at low cost and low risk.
Why it matters
It democratised the reshaping of streets, letting communities and city staff act quickly without large budgets or long planning cycles. The approach was scaled up in projects like Barcelona's superblocks and, dramatically, in the emergency street reallocations of the 2020 pandemic.
Plans it shaped
- Munster Promenade & Cycling Network Plan (2000s–)
- Atlanta BeltLine (2005–)
- Christchurch Central Recovery Plan (Blueprint) (2012)
- London Mini-Holland (Waltham Forest etc.) (2014–)
- Fortaleza Bicicleta Integrada & Transit Plan (2014–)
- Paris Plan Vélo & RER Vélo (2015–2026)
- Moscow My Street Program (2015–)
- Los Angeles Mobility Plan 2035 (2015)
- Lviv Integrated Urban Development Concept (2016)
- Barcelona Superblocks (Superilles) (2016–)
- Ghent Circulation Plan (2017)
- Cordoba Urban Mobility Plan (2018)