City Speed Limits & the quest for safe & livable streets
Exploring the impact of 30km max speeds on our streets in Amsterdam
Each group explored a different dimension of this theme, resulting in three complementary toolkits and websites aimed at diverse audiences—from urban planners and policymakers to local residents and engaged citizens.
One group focused on how urban planners and engineers could be better supported in implementing 30 km/h policies. Through stakeholder interviews, case studies, and policy analysis, they developed a digital tool that helps identify suitable urban conditions for slower speeds. Their work emphasized the importance of safety, long-term livability, and integrated design, providing planners with both evidence and inspiration.
Another team centered their project on public engagement and storytelling. They investigated how local residents experience urban speed, using participatory workshops, surveys, and interactive prototyping to design a website that communicates the everyday benefits of slower streets. Their platform uses playful language, visualizations, and small-scale narratives to help people connect emotionally with the idea of safer, quieter cities.
The third group took a more experimental and sensory-based approach, exploring how people physically and emotionally perceive speed in the city. Using walking interviews, audio-visual documentation, and speculative design methods, they created a toolkit and website that aims to shift public perception and open up new ways of thinking about mobility and urban rhythms.
Together, these projects offer a multifaceted perspective on the 30 km/h city—from policy and infrastructure to perception and behaviour—contributing new tools, insights, and provocations to support safer and more inclusive urban futures.