In Madrid, seven out of ten citizens believe that parking spaces should be replaced by green spaces. 40% would like wider sidewalks and 36% more benches where you can rest. In the case of car parks, one in two Madrid residents would like to see them converted into medical centers, while one in three would replace them with homes, museums or libraries. In the case of young people between the ages of 25 and 34, their preference would be to convert them into co-working spaces.
Internationally, the results are revealing. Brussels, one of the least green cities in the study, is the one you least want introduce more greenery in your city. Londoners are the biggest voters in favor of more public art, street art and graffiti replacing car parks.
In Amsterdam, they want wider bike lanes. And in Stockholm, the 550,000m2 of permanent parking spaces stand out, which is equivalent to more than 77 football fields. In any case, it is estimated that the cars that circulate in the main European cities are stopped 96% of the time.
This is one of the main conclusions that emerges from the study “Cities reimagined by Lynk & Co”, where more than 8,000 respondents from eight European capitals (Madrid, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Brussels) imagine the cities of the future. Thus, they prefer fewer cars on the streets and dedicate space on the roads to green areas and leisure and cultural sites, such as museums or libraries.
“With cars parked 96% of the time, our cities have a lot of untapped potential. The results of the survey confirm that we are heading in the right direction, and I am personally excited that European citizens, and especially those from Madrid, agree with our vision of more accessible, open and green cities. It is time to reclaim our human space in front of the cars“, explains Alain Visser, CEO ofLynk & Co.
For the company, a more efficient use of vehicles, preventing them from being stopped for a large part of the time occupying urban spacewould allow you to enjoy more green spaces, also contributing to generating a positive impact on the environment, and why not, on society.
The survey data confirms the desire of citizens to redesign their cities, taking cars into the background. In this revolution, hecompanies in the automotive sector they play a fundamental role, valuing the use and experience of the property. By reimagining cars to be flexible, shared and adapted to modern life, the company hopes that cities can have more spaces for people.
Reimagining cities with less traffic implies a change of mentality towards cars and their use. 40% of Madrid residents would share a car and 28% already do so. According to the survey, young people are more likely to share the car. Thus, the company defends that a more efficient use of vehicles, in addition to allowing more pedestrian areas, would significantly reduce traffic. The study shows that excessive traffic and traffic jams are a problem for 40% of those surveyed.