2023 soon coming to a close…..
I took some time on this sunny Warsaw winter morning to compose a year-in-review reflection over morning coffee ☕
It’s easy to forget all the things that transpired in a year. I like to look back and reflect on milestones, collaborations, projects, life twists and also things that didn’t work out so well (or at all) that you learn from.
WARSAW WORKSHOPS & A YEAR OF FIELDWORK
A little over a year ago, I hosted my very 1st workshop here in Warsaw for my dissertation research.
Now, a year later, I have hosted over 20 workshops engaging locals in what I call ‘mobility thought labs’- workshop experiences designed to engage inhabitants of a community in discussing issues of urban mobility.
It’s been a year rich in fieldwork, also with diverse surveys and many interviews. Very grateful to all the places that provided me space for these experiences as well as local collaborators who helped in diverse ways!
Thanks to my supervisor Ewa for your guidance on my research as well!
EDINBURGH WORKSHOP
In collaboration with Living Streets Edinburgh, I hosted my first remote urban mobility thought lab in early 2023 and distributed a 15-minute city survey there. While in-person workshops are much preferable, I look forward to refining my remote workshop delivery for more collaborations. Thank you Simon and David for collaboration for the Edinburgh experience.
URBAN TRANSIT LAB
In March, Alan Raposo and I launched Urban Transit Lab. Check out the UTL website below:
DESIGN CONVENIENCE PANEL
In May I presented at the ‘Design Convenience: designing sustainable urban environments’ event hosted by The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design. Thank you Professor Jo-Anne Bichard for the opportunity (and looking forward to more collaboration!).
CUPT TALK ON SOCIAL EXCLUSION & TRANSIT EXCLUSION
In June I delivered the ‘power speech’ at the Centrum Unijnych Projektów Transportowych conference on Transit Exclusion & EU Funds. My talk was focused on social exclusion.
Issues of transit exclusion and its diverse negative impacts are very critical for me in both my media advocacy here at Pedestrian Space and in my research. It was a real milestone for me to speak at this event and also very special to visit Wrocław for the 1st time.
WALKING LABS
Over the course of several months, I coordinated several walking labs in my dissertation case study area. Thanks Lepszy Służewiec for the collaboration!
GLOBAL WALKABILITY CORRESPONDENTS NETWORK NEW FACILITATORS
Over the summer, we welcomed Raluca Hurmuz & Merve Özhan as new network facilitators. So glad to have you both on board!
FUNDACJA PEDESTRIAN SPACE
In August, Pedestrian Space was confirmed as an NGO! I am excited about the formality, even as I preserve a grassroots spirit, as there is so much more education and outreach I aspire to do.
GLOBAL WALKABILITY CORRESPONDENTS NETWORK RETREAT
In September we hosted the 1st ever GWCN: Global Walkability Correspondents Network retreat in Warsaw, with individuals coming from several countries to participate in a weekend rich with walks, local tours, socializing and activities.
I look forward to continuing to design and organize GWCN events, with a focus on thoughtful local engagement and education.
URBAN TRANSIT LAB WARSAW
In collaboration with Warsaw Public Transport, we launched UTL Warsaw, which ran in October. Project summary soon at:
GUEST LECTURE AT LUND UNIVERSITY
In October, I had my 1st guest lecture job at Lund University- a very special milestone for me,.
It is also aa special place on my sustainable urbanism research journey, having lived there 20 years ago, taking an Environmental Psychology class at the time.
GLOBAL WALKABILITY CORRESPONDENTS NETWORK CHAPTERS
Over the past few months, we have been supporting the establishment of local GWCN chapter. Thank you Raluca Hurmuz for all your fantastic work supporting chapters!
PLAYGROUND ADVOCACY
Together with local architect Adam Włodzimierz Wach, we have launched a playground advocacy project for our local neighborhood. More on that in 2024!
CEURES PROJECT
Thanks to my supervisor Ewa for bringing me on board the CEURES project, coordinated & led by David Szebeni and funded by the International Visegrad Fund.
Urban resilience is a core thread in all my work so it’s truly special to participate in this project.
WRITING ON MOBILITY AS A VALUE
Wonderful to round the year off with a feature in ITS International Magazine. Thank you Adam Hill!
FEATURE IN EIT Urban Mobility VIDEO
‘How is the 15-min city concept transforming our towns? | Discovering Ursynów in Poland!’
INDIAN VOICES OF WALKABILITY
Very excited to have launched this project and call for submissions this month in collaboration with Radha RH!
Interested in collaborating in 2024?
Feel free to connect at info@pedestrianspace.org