Gutterlaw

Contested spaces are places in our city where multiple users claim ownership mostly through occupation, often through association and rarely through legal ownership. My previous series of blogs have focused on the introduction of public art and role of social commentary through art into public spaces. Contested spaces.

This week, under the authority of the Western Cape Provincial Road Traffic Act, Provincial Transport MEC Robin Carlisle issued a series of regulations intended to increase road safety. The regulations stipulate that a 1 metre gap be given to cyclists when being passed by a vehicle. In addition to what cyclists have branded the 'gutterlaw', regulations outline important aspects such as riding with a helemt, no earphones and very importantly remaining in single file.

Our roads are potentially the most contested spaces of all. Public squares and pedestrian routes glazed with eurocentric aspirations of public life leave time to pause and consider. They create opportunities to connect, interact and engage. Our roads however, are spaces contested at speed, with intentions to arrive sooner, move faster and not engage at all, certainly not to connect.

The design solution for spaces contested at speed requires rethinking existing norms. An important principle in all the urban design work that I undertake is that of equality. How should the language of space making frame and reinforce the participants desire to be there, and perceived ownership of that space? In other words when is it appropriate and to what degree do designers allow participants to feel safe, comfortable and accepted?
 
In the case of public roads, our asphalt strips and cycling laws successfully relegate cyclists into the gutter spaces where stormwater debris, stones and litter must be contended with. Additionally, interruptions of the free flow of traffic through pedestrian crossings and signals are seen as necessary evils and often go unheeded by motorists. The case for pedestrian orientated design can be wrapped in commercial interests like street cafes, desirable meandering past shop fronts and the like. Creating cycle friendly and skateboard accommodating spaces are stapled onto discussions about better, greener cities but to what end?  If you have a car, you use it.

Cyclists and other non-motorised transportation modes simply do not equally share the public road space by design. Other than safety and convenience, there is limited motivation for real change as in my opinion, as there simply are not enough cyclists to tip the balances. And herein lies the challenge.

I don't cycle. I don't own a bike. In my mind I understand the need to have more cycle friendly places and spaces but in reality I am loathe to count myself amongst the brave few who go out there into these unequal spaces. I am a mom, living in suburbia. I enjoy driving and the feeling of safety it provides me. But what would happen if I got on a bike and tried, wrote about it and advocated for equality from a saddle rather than a comfortable swivel chair? I care about equality and I am in a place professionally to co-design spaces that can be informed by such an experience.

So starting in December I will be investigating and writing about the contested space that is the road. I will commit to riding 100km every month for 6 months, blogging twice a week and tweeting like crazy (@contestedspaces). What do I need from the cycling community?
- Use this project to further your advocacy!
- I need gear. Of course I will shamelessly promote you and laud you for your efforts. What bike does a mom in suburbia ride? Helmet, light etc. A huge barrier to entry is knowing what works and what doesn't.
- A Go_Pro would be helpful to document evidence.
- I need some lessons on street smart riding. I cannot over emphasize how inexperienced I am and how willing I am to learn.

With the use of my fabulous network of friends and collaborators, I will included some published writing into this smorgasboard of benefit and experimentation.  

I am utterly convinced that diversifying the type and number of non-motorised transport users in our city will go a long way to improving the way our roads are contested. I am very excited to begin this journey with all of you on wheels. Let the challenge begin.

Kirsten

Urban Migration

During a recent city walk through the inner city streets of Cape Town, an interesting discussion was sparked. Led by Creative Cape Town and the Cape Town Partnership, our tour of public art and public life brought us to a scene I witness regularly in Harrington Street. The daily migration of street traders, carting their temporary structures upwards of a kilometer through the city streets to their assigned plots. The discussion was about access to land, distribution of opportunity, and the micro scale urban migratory patterns occurring everyday in our city.

In order for the traders to successfully negotiate the route to the more pedestrianized inner city from the storage facility in Harrington Street, rickety heavy laden carts are first hauled to the middle of the roadway to negotiate the equally strong camber. I look on nervously hoping the cart will not veer out of control into parked vehicles - how many bags of chips and cigarettes will replace a smashed headlight or broken side mirror on a Range Rover?

To my surprise, each trader sets out on this journey alone. Every morning and every evening. No assistance, no camaraderie and no women traders in sight. The conditions are very disheartening and I can only hope that the role out of cycle lanes in our city will also take into consideration other non motorized transport such as these carts. Of course a more sustainable solution would involve accessible storage facilities adjacent to the trading sites to ensure that women, the elderly and everyone less physically capable would be able to trade informally should they wish to do so.

Storage and the daily hauling of goods is an integral part of the discussion around decisions to use non motorized transport. What other migratory patterns within the city should inform the design of the streetscape and manner in which we design shared services?
Stop.
Not for a moment am I sending out a heartfelt call for a designer to design "the-ultimate-store-all-repurposed-airport-trolley" although perhaps there is space for ACSA to be involved here. What is concerning and where perhaps the solution process should begin is in understanding why traders are not assisting each other in this daily commute. The networks of commonality and community of struggle in my observation are not well functioning in this situation and may be poorly served by another designed object.


Lets learn the story, haul trollies, understand the commute, and come to terms with the challenges are facing this community and others who migrate daily in our city.