Networks and cities' news

Nudging Planning Processes: Soft Planning and Behavioural Shifts for Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Mobility*

In contemporary urban planning, we often take it for granted that improved infrastructure, new bike lanes, bus lines, and digital apps will be enough to shift mobility behaviours. But experience shows that without addressing deeper cultural, emotional, and psychological factors, change is irrelevant and short-lived. Through my experience in URBACT S.M.ALL and several other European and non-European projects, I have learned the transformative power of what I call soft planning: a way of thinking about urban change that prioritises process over product, relationships over regulations,
policies over normative or technical plans, and empowerment over enforcement. 

Within this frame, nudges, those gentle behavioural signals that shape decisions without limiting citizens' choices are among the most powerful planning tools at our disposal.

Talking Hands: S.M.ALL's Fifth Quartely Report

The first quarter of 2025 marked a turning point for the S.M.ALL network. With the Mid-Term Review completed and Integrated Action Plans reaching maturity, partner cities dived into shifting from planning to practice, launching real-world tests of the inclusive mobility solutions they had co-designed.

Winter is for Action: The Fourth Quarterly Report of S.M.ALL

As the year drew to a close, the S.M.ALL network didn’t slow down. Instead, it shifted gears from planning to action. The fourth quarterly report captures a crucial phase where Integrated Action Plans (IAPs) started shaping real, on-the-ground changes across partner cities. With a strong focus on pilot projects, citizen engagement, and risk management, this quarter laid the foundation for a transformative 2025.

Highlights from PUMA second quarter in 2025 (April - June)

Breathing New Life into Bucharest’s Oldest Tram Depot

Located in central Bucharest, just behind the Government headquarters, Victoria Depot stands as a significant, yet underutilized, landmark of industrial heritage — the oldest tram depot in the city, and a site with considerable potential for urban regeneration. Characterized by its iron framework, spacious halls, and embedded urban history, the depot had gradually receded from public attention — until the GreenPlace network brought it back into focus through a structured participatory initiative.

Future STEAM Cities Transferability Study

The Future STEAM Cities Transferability Study explores the potential for adapting Aveiro’s STEAM City model across four European cities—Alytus (Lithuania), Kolding (Denmark), Oulu (Finland), and Płock (Poland). Conducted within the URBACT Innovation Transfer Network framework, the study identifies the key conditions, challenges, and opportunities that shape the successful implementation of STEAM-based urban innovation.