Public acceptability of Barcelona’s Superblocks: individual factors associated with public support and opposition
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37230/CyTET.2025.226.12Keywords:
Air pollution, Traffic calming schemes, Urban interventions, Public acceptance, SurveyAbstract
Given that public opposition is considered one of the main obstacles to the introduction of traffic calming and pedestrianization schemes, this paper investigates public acceptance and attitudes towards the Barcelona superblocks. Based on a survey with residents in Barcelona (N= 501), we analyse on the beliefs and emotions, as well as the socio-demographic characteristics of supporters and opponents to the superblocks. The results showed a significant polarization in the acceptance of the superblocks. Relative to opponents to the superblocks, supporters were younger, more likely to be female, more likely to live near a superblock, not own a car and position themselves on the left side of the ideological scale. Policy-specific beliefs, emotions, perceived process legitimacy and institutional trust are strongly associated to acceptance of the superblocks.
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