Barcelona’s Car-Free Superblocks Explained

Barcelona's iconic city blocks are getting a 21st Century makeover.
For more by Tomorrow's Build subscribe now - bit.ly/3vOOJ98
Join our mailing list - bit.ly/tomorrows-build
Executive Producer and Narrator - Fred Mills
Producer - Jaden Urbi
Video Editing and Graphics - Kurt Fernandes
Additional footage and imagery courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona, Servei d'Arqueologia de Barcelona and Martin Wynn.
Listen to The World's Best Construction Podcast
Apple - apple.co/3OssZsH
Spotify - spoti.fi/3om1NkB
Amazon Music - amzn.to/3znmBP4
Follow us on Twitter - / tomorrowsbuild
Like us on Facebook - / tomorrowsbuild
Follow us on TikTok - / tomorrowsbuild
Follow us on LinkedIn - / tomorrowsbuild
Follow us on Instagram - / tomorrowsbuild
#construction​ #architecture​ #cities
Tomorrow's Build is owned and operated by The B1M Limited. We welcome you sharing our content to inspire others, but please be nice and play by our rules: www.theb1m.com/guidelines-for-...
Our content may only be embedded onto third party websites by arrangement. We have established partnerships with domains to share our content and help it reach a wider audience. If you are interested in partnering with us please contact [e-mail].
Ripping and/or editing this video is illegal and will result in legal action.
© 2022 The B1M Limited

[@stevenkaye9829]

You could make an entire series on barcalona and I would watch it all in one go, I just love the architecture and the style of the city.

[@GeekyMedia]

Agreed. One of my favourite Cities in Europe

[@suddenlysolo2170]

I visited Barcelona on a family vacation in 1969 but I was very young. It would be nice to see it again as an adult but I don't think that is going to happen...

[@thomashiggins9320]

I vacationed five days in Barcelona, a few years back. I'd like to return and vacation, there, for five *weeks* . What a great town.

[@myra8158]

@@suddenlysolo2170 why

[@UltraXD.]

Yes 🙌 I’m in

[@mfaizsyahmi]

The funny thing is, Mr. Cerda already solved the walkability and green space problems with his original plan, which posits that the center court of each block should be open on around two sides to allow pedestrians to walk between green spaces. But that plan was ignored in the expansionist fervour and they built up _all_ sides of the block, and even filled in the center court with parking spaces! That decision sure won't bite them in 100 years! /s

[@thetimelapseguy8]

So all the shops and houses would face traffic, while pedestrians are simply removed from the road?

[@annother3350]

What about the elderly and disabled? Screw 'em?

[@lcg3092]

@@annother3350 As said in the video, cars would still be able to cross those streets if needed, but pedestrians have the right of way

[@brulsmurf]

@@annother3350 if you are into that.

[@annother3350]

@@brulsmurf Theyre always grateful!

[@Xunek.]

To transition away from cars, it's not enough to make car usage unpleasant. The alternatives have to be made more appealing, too.

[@markhemsworth2670]

is there a plan for more transit and bicycle lanes/paths/highways?

[@gordon1545]

It's the other way round: To transition away from cars, it's not enough to make alternatives more appealing. Car usage has to be made more unpleasant, too.

[@megalonoobiacinc4863]

and in the Netherlands walking and cycling is the norm while driving is pleasant as well

[@kokofan50]

You don’t have to make driving unpleasant. You just have to have equally, or more, convenient options.

[@ephphatha230]

Once the cars are gone every other mode instantly becomes more appealing.

[@albertobalague]

Hello! I am Albert. Catalan from Barcelona. I live in Calle Almogavers, which is one of the streets that has been transformed. Before, it was a street with 4 car lanes and little space for pedestrians. And the transformation has been incredible. You show it at minute 5:33'. Now there is vegetation, silence and life on the street :) I've been following him for years. And I wish you the best of luck.bye!

[@mariusfacktor3597]

I'm thinking about moving to Barcelona. Superblocks are the most exciting thing happening in urban planning and Barcelona is leading the way. If you were to estimate, how many superblocks do you think exist in all of Barcelona right now? Is the video correct that they will convert many more this summer?

[@moonbeeps]

@@mariusfacktor3597 i don't think that's happening any time soon.

[@KilgoreTroutAsf]

@@mariusfacktor3597 AFAIK it's only a few at the moment, but there are many walkable areas, side streets and parks all over the city

[@rollinsomethingbutiforgot]

How do ambulances work there?

[@moonbeeps]

@@rollinsomethingbutiforgot Ambulances are allowed everywhere ^^'

[@EduNauta95]

As someone who has worked in Barcelona's city hall economic dept, seeing this video makes me super proud

[@benjik3161]

proud of the netherlands model?

[@hydehouse]

This looks utterly miserable.

[@wind2536]

@@hydehouse t american suburbanite

[@benjik3161]

@@hydehouse then go to texas

[@kenboydart]

@@benjik3161 In fact, Austin is very livable so thanks for the compliment

[@mauro78]

Fun fact: Cerdà thought that people would travel with independent locomotives, and that’s why he made the 45 degrees edges.

[@MichaelSnyder1776]

That would be dope 🚂

[@shingshongshamalama]

TRAM ACCESS

[@matiyak4571]

I'm studying urban planning, Cerda is famous as much as Corbusier is infamous.

[@georgseide9764]

i think i know what youre trying to say, but just fyi, famous and infamous mean the same thing ^^

[@matiyak4571]

@@georgseide9764 how do you say famous for something bad

[@brianguerrero6622]

​@@matiyak4571 your usage was correct, they don't mean the same thing

[@LordHenrik007]

What was Corbusiers architecture criticised for? I hadn’t heard about him until now

[@matiyak4571]

@@LordHenrik007 just serch up his unrealised plans for Paris or the problems of Brasilia. Its pretty obvious.

[@Eraeraeric]

Barcelona is just such an amazing city so proud and honoured to have family there

[@Brain_With_Limbs]

Why can't the USA have a city like Barcelona ;(

[@Husseinworld]

And a big futbol club 😉

[@mauro78]

It must be mentioned as well that a study was made around the emotional state of residents around this super blocks. The study showed severe changed in their stress levels, well being, and simply their happiness!

[@Daltem]

I presume for the positive..... right?

[@HDTomo]

​@@Daltem I mean, given the way he used that exclamation mark, it could be him calling it preposterous or amazing

[@thetimelapseguy8]

@@Daltem well stress levels would decrease when thousands of cars are not roaring past your house.

[@BugJuiceFlavor]

What? This only in a few, sporadic areas and no such studies exist. It's nowhere near impactful enough to cause anything you mentioned due to this, you're just inventing a utopia.

[@frgv4060]

@@thetimelapseguy8 But you are stuck there. Lower income people will have it tougher. It is like a massive gentrification then those same little businesses will have to go with the actual people that buys there. Public transport can’t service everything and rush ours are already bad. So it is a planning to make Barcelona convenient for few. At least people, normal people, friends (I was born there) aren’t happy with all this “cool barcelona” changes making their life worse. Well it is just an opinion. We’ll see. Edit: after seeing the whole video I see what I spotted isI obvious but I would say that regulating prices never ever has worked beyond mere words and promises. So 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@GeorgeP-uj8xc]

If anything even remotely as walkable as this existed in the US I'd be the first customer

[@knifenoir]

Car companies have everyone by the throat

[@monicawarren3678]

The car companies,no,not the car companies!

[@BugJuiceFlavor]

Um, NYC and SanFran ring a bell?

[@ChrisG1392]

Hyperbole or you're not trying.

[@Erik-ek9du]

Carmel, Indiana actually did something similar to provide more walking areas. Check that out.

[@deepfedi4883]

More videos like this please! Big buildings are cool, but the intricacies of urban planning are much more interesting

[@firestarter1888]

Finally, substantial and real developments.

[@yomommastupid]

When I lived in Barcelona I used to take the bus to work. As my apartment was on a hill and my office near the ocean. When I go to downtown i simply used the city bike or walk.

[@scratchy996]

In Germany i liked their "Park and Ride" free parking lots at city entrances, where you can leave your car and hop straight on a bus or tram. It's way more convenient than driving through a city, then wasting time searching for a parking place, where you have to pay anyway. People who commute to work have a public transport subscription already, and it's way more convenient, as the time you spend driving from the city limit to the work place is better spent sitting in a tram, where you can relax, get a head start by reading a few work emails, read or watch something on the phone. I don't know why this is not a feature in every city in every country.

[@leeaymi]

There's no ocean near Barcelona.

[@egycsab]

Ah yea the Mediterranean Ocean, is always stunning.

[@geardownflapsup9344]

now imagine you have a family , old parents, wife and 2 kids. You need quickly to visit your parents on other side of city to bring them something, then you want to have lunch with wife because after work one child has painting class and second child wants to go for a walk in a park with friends. After long day everyone wants to be home and rest. How do you manage that fool with bike XD Oh yeah, you should never have kids, thats right.

[@geardownflapsup9344]

@@scratchy996 park and drive is great, but you dont have enough space for all card drivers and in winter time its better to drive a car than take a ride with others covid sick people on a bus. Get it ? XD XD XD

[@ElsenyoPol]

As a Catalan, I’m surprised that not many people knows about Cerdà, specially urban planners, since Cerdà was the unquestioned creator and systematiser of Urban planning as a new scientific discipline (which he called Urbanisation or “Urbanisme” in Catalan). In the short history of the discipline, Cerdà was the very first to identify its scientific basis and to initiate the development of that new modern and broad field of knowledge. He articulated from scratch its scientific identity, first, through the methodological integration of Public Law and Economics, intricately fused into urbanism or urban planning (as the applied technique for urban planning), as the necessary disciplines articulating the physical-spatial design of town projects or city planning. And, secondly, in order for the new discipline to become a scientific one, Cerdà is the very first to approach a reductionistic analysis of space as socially shaped through the systematic exercise of an essential “regressus” or “reductio” essentialism. Ildefons Cerdà forever changed how our urban environment is arranged and he did it before urbanisation rates took off, meaning that the vast majority of people today live in neighbourhoods and cities shaped by Cerdà’s teachings. If I had to pick one universal Catalan man, from the many brilliant fellow Catalans that have lived through time, I would probably pick him, as the one who has changed the lives of almost any living human today.

[@AliDawn]

I'm going to Barcelona on Saturday so this was perfectly timed for me 🙂

[@TheB1M]

What a SUPER idea

[@thecooldude4371]

So true also first

[@Gaybculture]

Aren’t you both the same guy?

[@thecooldude4371]

@@Gaybculture they are

[@GrandTerr]

@@Gaybculture the voice is the same. B1M is his channel, Tomorrow's Build seems to be owned by somebody else.

[@TheB1M]

@@GrandTerr Both channels are owned by Fred, under The B1M Limited 👍

[@mdhazeldine]

Good video. Also the new tram line linking the 2 existing networks together should go a long way to relieving congestion through the centre too.

[@geardownflapsup9344]

Do you imagine how many tram carts you need so anyone can fit in when they want or need ? You have gas, electicity and green energy so that you can mix it up. There is a reason why we will never have only electric vehicles, just because we dont have enough sustainable tech for it to feed all users. This is great idea only on paper but in reality its and utopia.

[@geardownflapsup9344]

when people start to get new covid variants its so great to drive on public transport rather than safely drive your own car with your family XD XD XD I wish you always get someone standing or sitting next to you in that tram or buss and sneeze and cough. Feeling better now, dont you ?

[@michadoniec8151]

@@geardownflapsup9344 I own car. Despite that I mostly go around city in public transport (buses and trams) and by bike. Public transport is way more efficient and actually uses less resources than private one because it transport much more people in one go. Also AFAIK more than 30% of travel is done in my city by public transport (and I live in Krakow when most of the time we have about 1 million population). In Asia and Europe public transport is widely used (otherwise especially in Japan or China traffic jams will be horrible).

[@geardownflapsup9344]

@@michadoniec8151 you joking or you are a joker. Take your 2-3 kids to kindergarden and school in morning then go to work. After work come pick them up and go to hobby groups after that take them home. Use only public transport, day after day. XD

[@michadoniec8151]

@@geardownflapsup9344 many kids goes themselves by foot. Schools are nearby. As kid I was going alone to school (and at secondary school i used bus). I was very rarely taken by car by my parents. When I have kids I plan to do the same. Many people in Europe are doing fine without car in everyday life.

[@Mo.Jo.]

I live in Toronto, a very car dependent city like most in North America - I've been to some places in Europe that have not been so car dependent and i can't tell you how much i enjoyed my stay. And my stay's have not been just a couple of days, sometimes I've stayed from a couple of weeks to over a month. Coming back to Toronto and having to get into my car to go anywhere got so depressing! Yes, there is public transport here - but the city is designed to be car friendly and not pedestrian friendly, and the public transport is poor compared to other cities in the world.

[@geardownflapsup9344]

You can live outside of big city in near small green town or village 15-20 km away. Now you need a car to move around. Many people do that and thats not because they want to use car so much its just that no other transport goes the way they need it to go. Simple.

[@blakereid5785]

It’s not that “some” places in The US are dedicated to the car. Almost all public areas are. The few dozen walkable neighborhoods in the US are some of the most expensive.

[@mauro78]

I’ve been waiting for this for ages!! Ahhh so exciting

[@alimanski7941]

Barcelona could be made into a pedestrian and cycling heaven, it has such a potential.

[@gpwnedable]

I've read that Air BnB places have taken over a lot of the old parts of Barcelona, forcing locals out.

[@Dogsnark]

So interesting, and encouraging that cites are making plans to make themselves more people friendly by eliminating cars as the top prioity. But I just realized how my reaction could be part of a future problem you mentioned of increasingly high rents in the super blocks. My reaction is, “I want to live there!”

[@marlak4203]

Yes and I am very glad he mentioned that because that is greatly important too. The wealthy will all ways outdo everyone else and have those places (plus still have cars)

[@martingarciagonzalez2389]

Barcelona desperately needs this. The Cerda Plan wasn't made exactly as it was planned, so the lack of urban greenery is a real issue (the interior of the squares aren't parks of gardens) People praise Barcelona's urbanism for its aesthetic aerial views but there aren't parks in kilometers. Too much roads, too many cars. This is a really good idea.

[@mfaizsyahmi]

Cerda gave _every_ block a park but they squandered them all away

[@martingarciagonzalez2389]

@@mfaizsyahmi Yeah, that's the problem. If you see a satellite image of Barcelona, besides the aesthetic, you'll notice there's not much greenery or open spaces (contrary to Valencia or Madrid)

[@mapgar1479]

There are too many people on transit as well. Europe just needs to scrap the Schengen treaty , illegal immigration and fortify their national borders. E.U. citizens still won't need to show a passport to cross national borders but will still need to go through customs and immigration and show a valid photo I.D.. All others will be required to show a valid passport and or a visa when crossing between E.U. member countries.

[@LaPingvino]

@@mapgar1479 what does that have to do with this?

[@andrewjackson3959]

@@LaPingvino Literally explained to you on his first sentence. Learn to read.

[@GeekyMedia]

I gotta go back to Barcelona soon.. sucha cool City.

[@mauro78]

Poblenou is my neighbourhood! So glad to see it in your video. You might wanna check out the project 22@, it has a lot of repercussion in the city, and some relation to this project.

[@Halomax]

I'm studying architecture in Zurich and we 3d printed the whole district of poblenou last semester...

[@mauro78]

@@Halomax I know!! I’ve been told previously that the intention is to donate it to the city once completed :)

[@Halomax]

@@mauro78 that's right :) was a lot of work also

[@TheoDaJunk]

Give the locals time they'll appreciate the gem they have just like the dutch

[@polbragulat8012]

The problem here with such projects as the Superilles in Barcelona is the lack of alternative metropolitan transport systems that can substitute the abandonment of the car. Either bus or train interurban lines of the metropolitan area in Barcelona can take the number of commuters that today use the car to get in and out of the city.

[@burgerpommes2001]

The Alternative is the bicycle

[@jaumesol3480]

Rodalies is about to hit peak capacity though, I hope the build more express lanes for busses on highway going to the city

[@moonbeeps]

@@burgerpommes2001 That's not really a solution for many people with disabilities.

[@burgerpommes2001]

@@moonbeeps yes it is Thera are bicycles for all sorts of disabilities And the car doesn't go away

[@moonbeeps]

@@burgerpommes2001 sure there are, I bet there are loads of bicycles for blind people.

[@Lena-vw6ye]

Honestly this would be so nice. The way things are designed right now, everyone must drive into huge parking lots of designated shopping areas to park go inside and buy a few items. Suburban is super annoying during the day, at any time during the day of the week, every single neighbor goes out and mows their lawn, lets their barking dogs out, screaming children are flailing constructing something with power tools. I literally wake up at night to get anything done and get peace and quiet.

[@Windex314]

I LOVE watching videos like this. Thank you.

[@arislopes1924]

Barcelona’s design basically follows that of any old well designed European city and reminds of the design of Spanish colonial towns. Where blocks were design with courtyards and backyards in the middle and main roads on one side and smaller narrower streets in between

[@Basauri48970]

Blocks with inner courtyards are common all over Spain. Of course not all of them are as large as those in the deservedly famous Eixample blocks, but even when small they still provide functionality. Over here in Europe washer/dryers are way less common than in USA, so people hang their clothes to dry outside the inner courtyard facing windows, out of view from the main street. Also, on hot summer days, the draft created by opening the opposite windows of a double aspect appartment can be a life saver.

[@andreelliott467]

Love this idea. I’d like to see more on this development.

[@dolphin0064]

The vast vast majority of the cities are going (sadly) in the exact opposite direction: more gentrification, more alienation, archistars bulinding "spectacular" (and anti-human) edifices that just celebrates themeselves disregarding the wellbeing of the people, zoning without considerding the social effect but just mechanical efficency. We have masters whose their human centric vision are completely neglected, such as Jane Jacobs, Christopher Alexander, Nikos Salingaros and few others. Happy to see at least one city that seems to rediscover such lessons (well, I hoped that these names would be cited in this video).

[@bobyoung1698]

I began studying urban planning many years ago, part of a broader range of studies called Urban America. I remember some of the more exciting developments, in particular the New Town concept, of which Reston, Virginia is an example. But America has never achieved significant progress in innovative urban planning on a large scale and I'm afraid the country may never see an end to the concept of sprawl.

[@rpemulis]

im no expert or nothing, but the more i read the better i understand my life long frustration with american suburbs. i can't imagine any dramatic changes in the places i have lived outside of climate change becoming so dramatic it can't be denied anymore. i was hoping though thats just me being cynical and that the experts had a more optimistic view.

[@bobyoung1698]

@FedEXfright Because I'm an authoritarian son-of-a-bitch. Now sit down and shut up.

[@AlejandroRamirez-le2vv]

@FedEXfright we are already forced to get a car to live here, if anyone is forcing people to live a certain way it has already happened here. It's not about getting rid of cars but building for multiple modes of transportation and not force one time of building to take over huge amounts of land (single-family zoning)

[@kingcurry-btchsDestroyer]

@FedEXfright why are you so dic#-headed. Nobody talks about removing cars. It's about having multiple ways of traveling. If you are that addicted to them, then drive as much as you want. But stop forcing your view that much. No, of these 300.000.000 muricans the majority will want a greener life for them and their kids. So wrong arguement there also.

[@MarkyNomad]

Having lived a significant amount of time in Barcelona this is something the city desperately needs. The city feels so packed with tourism in most areas so removing the cars for more space to explore seems like a great idea. Most of my favorite barrios have already done this (Gracia, Gotico, Raval) so hopefully the city can cut down on cars as much as possible. It is a reason that the most densely populated city in all of Europe is L'Hospitalet. Because the cost of living in Barcelona has skyrocketed due to tourism! Edit: And anyone who has walked in l'Eixample between the Catalunya to Espanya stretch and not taken Gran Via knows the struggle when you have to walk up and down for every single corner! It's unbearable honestly.

[@MarkyNomad]

@FedEXfright Cars don't need to be removed completely, but cutting it down to essential usage and going from there is the ideal way to go, both to ensure better public health and overall quality of life. You can make every 3rd street designed for delivery of goods, ambulances, fire trucks and police cars and it would still function fine. The ideal city/country is not where the poor can afford a car, but where the rich uses public transport. Sadly countries like the US have gotten to the point where public transport is extremely dangerous and distances are getting longer and longer because cities are turning into parking lots. I traveled around there two weeks ago and the air quality and overall urban architecture is pretty dystopian compared to cities like Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Tokyo where you see a lot of benefits living without a car that go across countless aspects ranging from mental health quality to your cost of living.

[@j.s.4304]

Cars are not the main issue. Massive tourism is what should be addressed. If you want to get cars out the road, make a viable and useful alternative.

[@MarkyNomad]

​@@j.s.4304 Barcelona is one of the most amazing cities in the world, so tourism will never disappear. Fewer cars will create more space for people, which is something that can actually be implemented. Anyone who has driven in the city knows how horrible it is. Main canals in l'Eixample/SF would help so much, especially for the locals. If you don't believe me try watching a delivery truck driving through Gracia next time you visit.

[@j.s.4304]

@@MarkyNomad I live in Barcelona and driving is not that bad. Do you live in Barcelona as well? Do you suffer the hordes of tourists in the center blocking the pass and stations near les rambles? Do you get the door of your house peed by drunk tourists every night?

[@MarkyNomad]

@@j.s.4304 I lived there for around two years before I moved to Tokyo. It didn't take long until I moved to Gracia because I found it a lot better to live overall. Going back in two weeks. But, in all honesty I never had any issues with stations being clogged. The only places that were overcrowded were maybe La Rambla or the area around Sagrada Familia, but I feel most locals or expats living there don't really go to those places too much. I spent a lot more time in Sant Andreu, Sant Gervasi and the northern part of l'Eixample because it's cheaper, and less of a gimmick. Gotico, Raval and Born are all nice places. Perhaps not designed for the huge amount of people that walk those streets daily, but the thing about mass tourism is that it's bi-product of an amazing city. It doesn't help that the city is really tiny in terms of land area either. I read somewhere that l'Hospitalet is the most densely populated city in all of Europe because it's built like l'Eixample, but for families and commuters. There are things that can be done to cut down or prevent overtourism, but in all honesty I just see it getting worse. And now that the Chinese middle class is reaching a point where trips to Europe are getting more and more commune... Your wall will probably dissolve by 2030 from tourist pee and vermut.

[@whyisgamora4191]

I live in a much smaller city (~200k, Ghent) from which the centre and surroundings were made almost entirely car-free. People didn't like the idea at first & protested, but many years later, everyone loves it & we've become the 'bike city' of Belgium. The possibility to walk & bike everywhere safely is amazing. I'd only need a car if I need to be outside of the city.

[@AurelAvramescu]

I've visited Ghent a couple of years ago and I liked very much the fact that I couldn't go by car in the centre. Was a very pleasant experience, no noise, beautiful architecture and relaxing.

[@rpemulis]

the idea of this is so foreign and wonderful to me as an american that its like reading some fantasy novel. its like watching star trek.

[@AurelAvramescu]

@@rpemulis ​ @whopper jr. I understand you. I've had a similar problem couple of years ago in my home country, but the things are getting better even there. Currently I live in Berlin and since January I've took the car 3 times from the garage: once to go to ski and 2 times to go with my cat to vet, apart from I am cycling with my son every morning to the school and back and in week-ends we take the bikes and either cycle to a nice place that is below 20km from our place or we take a train to go with our bikes in some remote villages around. Traveling longer distances: High Speed train: Berlin to Paris 8 hours, Berlin to Switzerland 8 hours. Take the train from the city, go out from the train in the city.

[@lamichhane]

The ultimate environment friendly city is not all EVs but no cars at all

[@firestarter1888]

Exactly private EV's are a gimmick. Only public transport is sustainable environmentally.

[@jameslarkin4067]

And better public transport

[@kokofan50]

Thanks for being the anti-car stereotype. While you may not like cars, they do have a place in ouor transport systems.

[@marcrchz]

Exactly.

[@niclasd.]

@@kokofan50 of Course they have their place in our transport systems RIGHT NOW. But cars can't and won't be the future of transport. They are incredibly inefficient compared to trains. EVs aren't an alternative because they need a lot of rare resources to produce (that need to be imported from countries like China where people work under awful conditions). The shift to cities that are "public transport only" might seem like a radical measure but is the only option we have if we really want carbon neutral, livable and enjoyable cities.

[@lodovicostevanato521]

literally a paradise

[@everythingsilver]

I LOVE THIS CHANNEL!

[@TomorrowsBuild]

Thanks!!

[@ericdanielski4802]

Nice video.

[@mrsealpoop7781]

.. he said less than a minute after the seven-minute-long video was posted.. 🤔

[@ericdanielski4802]

@@mrsealpoop7781 I can also Wirte First, but now I get my heart.

[@mrsealpoop7781]

@@ericdanielski4802 here’s another heart ❤️

[@Boo-pv4hn]

Where I live we already have cycle-tracks linking the whole town and local amenities within walking distance from each area of th town the furthest is 20 mins away. We have a 17hertacte protected forest, rewinding of side grassy areas to support wild flowers and insect habitats ect. And where planting thousands of tress every year, they have a program where locals can get involved. I wish everywhere did this! I hope thy consider roof gardens and green roofs too lik e they are in London.

[@ainahko16]

Urban planners from my hometown of Houston should look into this.

[@Hm-bz4ps]

Thanks for putting the work into this video

[@LqdSanity79]

Tokyo has been doing this for decades. Any point in the city is within a 15 minute walk from a train station. Zoning allows for all types of buildings in all neighborhoods, so you're always within walking distance of restaurants, shops, doctors offices, schools, parks, entertainment, etc. Only 5% of people even own cars as it's simply not needed. We can't have this in America because the oil and automobile lobbies bought our local politicians and bribed them to design our towns with all commercial areas in one spot so you have to have a car no matter where you live. The only thing within walking distance of most homes/apartments is more homes and apartments. It must be nice to have politicians that actually care about the people they represent instead of the just the corporations that donate to their campaign.

[@bowwak5366]

That's why Tokyo is literally blocked with cars and people are being stuffed into trains like a cattle or to concentration camp?

[@edrius154]

@@bowwak5366 Though current traffic congestion is quite high (40%), its mostly during morning and evening rush hours. There has been significant decrease from 2019 which was at 60%. Train congestion also had a massive drop cause of the new health regulations. And Japan has been trying to improve it, but financial issues, landscape, and oppositions makes it quite difficult for change on a large scale for lowering traffic. _Source: tomtom, statista, ejrcf_

[@mabybee]

Coming from the U.S., after nearly a century of building almost everything around convenience and accessibility for personal vehicles, I’m happy to see anything that prioritizes pedestrians with minimal compromise. Too many American city centers have been torn up and locals inconvenienced to make things easier for people that live 30km away.

[@ChrisG1392]

minimal compromise for a young person maybe but I bet few American families would be satisfied with life in European "walkable cities" and no private outdoor space. its great for poor people with no kids. terrible for kids and people with money want privacy

[@mabybee]

@@ChrisG1392 America has built a society around cars since the end of WWII, of course many Americans wouldn’t like it. There’s a lot of things Americans don’t like that are commonplace around the world. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t work, it just means America has built its identity around being different. I’m 27 with a young family and strapped for cash and space. It takes almost $80 to fill up my 2016 Subaru once a week if I just go to my routine places, then there’s potential maintenance, insurance, depreciation, etc. so by the time it’s said and done, it easily can be $6,000+ a year just to have a relatively decent car because I’m forced to and even then, the I’m going to have to upgrade soon due to a growing family. That’s more cost effective than having to share public spaces with other people? I live in a car dependent area that is just a few miles from downtown yet there’s dirt trails where sidewalks should be due to so many people walking that it’s killed off the grass, the nearest bus stop from me is a 15 minute walk but doesn’t go anywhere near the most popular stuff in the city - it’s a 30 minute walk to the bus stop that takes me where I need to go and another 20 minutes just to go 2-3 miles yet the bus stops are always full, but the infrastructure near my house is built up to move thousands of cars every hour at 45mph to drive out to the suburbs and even then they’ll complain because there’s too many red lights and they can’t stay at a consistent 45-50mph all the way to their community. There’s a popular park and botanical garden about half a mile from my house and I would never consider walking there due to how poorly the infrastructure is built for pedestrians. My neighborhood just got a sidewalk within the last few years and people use it all the time yet when we go for walks we have to walk around cars, garbage, debris, the curb cuts making it to where we have to actually walk on the street to turn a corner, the sidewalks are narrower in some parts, etc.. I’m just happy to be able to walk somewhere besides in the street but that’s pathetic and I live in one of the 25 largest cities in the U.S. If people have money and want to live in a private space to avoid people, they can do that. But it’s illogical at best to tear cities apart and build infrastructure so they can get somewhere 10-15 minutes quicker and build our cities to where only the richest can afford to live in the center parts but even they still have to own a cars lot of times due to funding for other forms of public transportation being limited so the transportation departments can build bigger highways and afford upkeep. It’s easy to be comfortable with the illusion that cars make life easier and quicker, especially if you’re content to just accept and repeat the narratives within American auto culture, but with how much society at large and individuals spend to sustain it, it’s silly to think that it’s the only way that should be prioritized.

[@machtmann2881]

@@ChrisG1392 TIL Europe is only made of poor people with no kids

[@AurelAvramescu]

@@ChrisG1392 Actually for people with kids are excellent, because the kids are becoming independent from a younger age, you don't need to carry them by car everywhere until 16. Kids as young as 9-10 are using alone the public transit or are cycling to school and to other activities in the city where I live.

[@hailexiao2770]

​@@ChrisG1392 If American houses are better for privacy, why the skinny wood walls and sliding windows? Thick masonry walls and casement windows are far better for keeping stuff out. Plus I want my kids to be able to walk around from a young age instead of being a virtual prisoner before the legal driving age.

[@rcookie5128]

Gosh I love urban development and city history!

[@Mister_Vintage]

The opening looks like a scene from the movie Dredd

[@reirei_tk]

People act like cars are the only way to make cities work, but in my city I can (I live in the USA): - walk to my doctor, allergist, grocery store, and neighborhood market - bike to my dentist and work - walk to the train station if I need to go to another city These places exist, and they've existed before our cities became car dependent. Unfortunately, the westward expansion of my city seems to be biased towards cars. Walking and biking will ALWAYS be more environmentally friendly than any electric car or renewable, and it's cheaper for the city to maintain. It's better for people's health too, not just physical but mental as well. Such a city makes public transit more financially viable. Let's not forget that all of this reduces traffic. The benefits are all there, but people are too attached to the way things are, partly because they don't see how it could work any other way. The frustrating part is, this is how cities were built before cars became widespread! This is something we've lost, not something we haven't done before!

[@edusala97]

Sure the us is so right about this , who needs cars right??

[@pjordi]

00:23 min spanish flag? You couldn't find a catalan one?

[@MarriedWithBackpacks]

Videos like this make me excited for the future! Would love to have the convience of living in a city centre, but still have the quiteness and greenery of the suburbs. I live in rural Spain atm, but would concider moving to a super block...

[@jusjetz]

We have a grid system in the USA 🇺🇸 it’s not always perfect and now I would love to see all super blocks in all existing Grid blocks.

[@ander4163]

Vitoria Gasteiz (a smaller city in the Basque Country, Northern Spain) its staring its own superblock. It will ban all cars in the city centre. You should see it

[@marchernandez4596]

Not a superblock, just pedestrianised downtown, like many european cities.

[@ander4163]

@@marchernandez4596 look for "supermanzanas Vitoria Gasteiz"

[@marchernandez4596]

@@ander4163 I have watched It, I have seen the project, and it's just a rebranded pedestrianisation of downtown, like we have in many places of Europe.

[@Andrew-ob5ij]

Every city should be doing this

[@criticalcookie2579]

Another benefit of this type of solution is it's a healthier way to live simply by walking more and not inhaling fumes from cars and trucks continuously.

[@97nelsn]

This is Not Just Bike’s dream come true

[@thomasfholland]

Did you know that Paris did this concept for dozens of blocks starting back in (approx.) 1990. It made a huge difference in the quality of life for the people living there.

[@Goxilla]

I´ve just been to Barcelona and it´s such a nice city. I didn´t know about the car density because it didn´t feel that way. If it wasn´t for the huge amount of pick pockets and other con artists Barcelona would be the best city to live in southern Europe (in my opinion)

[@pizzaipinya2442]

Well, the car density thing is tricky. It is true, is the densest car city in Europe, BUT it is also the most densely populated metro area in Europe! So many people packed in there, only with some having a car, you already get a crazy density. Another statistic here: only 24% of trips in Barcelona are done by car, the rest is all walking or by public transport (cycling is a really low percentage still) :)

[@jianxianggian2832]

I'm visiting Barcelona later this year, and would love to experience one of these pedestrianised areas! Could anyone recommend a few of these transformed streets that I should go? Appreciate it

[@kmaguire7161]

This sounds wonderful. I hope it all works out.

[@Dutch_fellow]

In big cities these concepts are great! Yet they introduce all the vehicle restrictions nation wide mostly, which hurts all the people living in small villages outside of the city...

[@adanactnomew7085]

People in rural areas can take the train into the city

[@eln0n01]

@@adanactnomew7085 or they can just drive like we do in modern times

[@JAKempelly]

I love that you're making urbanism videos now. Always a fan but now a super fan

[@1738Creations]

Mega City 1. Looks like the definition of hell.

[@fridayfriday3948]

In Canada they are doing the opposite such as, removing seating from public areas. Everything here is real estate and commercial. If you want to sit the coffee houses are the place they want you to go, spend money or go home. It is sad.

[@happylittlewarlus]

Americans "six lane stroad since four lanes werent enough"

[@JonnyJayKhan]

Barcelona already feels so modern, when the Sagrada is finished and it's more pedestrianised, it will be such a good place to live

[@le_beks]

as a Catalan myself, i love Barcelona, but right now crime has gotten higher, and I really wish we could change the mayor to fight that :/ otherwise I love my city! Visca Barcelona i Visca Catalunya :)

[@witerly]

xddddd

[@saranbhatia8809]

Way forward!

[@1nvd]

It blew my mind going there on a skateboarding trip with my friends

[@thecooldude4371]

Amazing

[@brianw.4585]

It's very beautiful and idealistic, but without the reality of how things really work. Cities require food to be trucked in, emergency services, general trades to keep everything working, and I'm fairly certain most people commute several miles to work. It may be a better idea to plant roof top parks or a central park instead.

[@HenryBrewer1]

Thanks Brian, very useless comment!

[@JakeTroxell]

Thank you. Your the first comment that seems to understand that ideal is so much more complex than just saying do it.

[@gg_gabriel_99]

@@JakeTroxell exactly, it’s simply not doable, escepially in places where during winter time, the temperature drops below 0 degrees.

[@pizzaipinya2442]

Trucks are already having trouble on superblocks here!

[@b.gopalakrishna870]

Nice information shared by you. Voice is Cristal clear nice topic

[@scottcates]

Bold and beautiful Barcelona

[@mikepod637]

studied abroad in the gothic quarter for 100 days in 2019. As someone in the sprawl of NYC and now Boston, Barca was impressive with how they manage traffic/urban design. Im shocked it has the hgihest car per capita in Euro cities (seemed less) and only 10% dedicated parks.... but most parks are small but in abudance so thats a bit deceptive

[@jaumesol3480]

I don't mean to sound pedantic but Barcelona is a city Barça is a football club Barca means boat Also, the video says the highest car density, not car per capita. That title goes to a city in Italy.

[@mikepod637]

@@jaumesol3480 ah thanks. Americans we call it barca lol for short

[@pizzaipinya2442]

@@mikepod637 you can call it Barna or BCN, but please, not Barça :) It actually makes sense that Barna is the city with the highest car density in Europe, as it's also the metro area with highest people density in Europe :)

[@Debaucherousgeek]

I recognize your voice guy. Why isn't this a B1M video?!?

[@maryocecilyo3372]

É ele mesmo?

[@zachli8774]

hey guys, you know today's Bing picture? It is this one! amazing!

[@kennethdavis4987]

Great video and I love the concept. I’m curious as to where people park their cars? Especially visitors from another city or even Superilla?

[@cardboardboxification]

tuff shit... park in the woods and walk like to old days

[@TheMetalFreshTiger]

About what you said at 2:40 circa on urban planning, the very strange nation is USA. I think it’s pretty uncomfortable their planning of cities where there are veeeery big areas with just houses, areas with just shops and areas with just skyscrapers….

[@tsuobachi]

It's true. The USA could make much use of this type of city planning.

[@tuams]

I live in the city and I really hope this becomes a much wider project. The air quality and lack of green really makes me upset some days.

[@shakostarsun]

If you have a metro system it's easy. You could route electric trolleys on thin lanes too for easy above ground traffic that runs easy and on schedule because literally their electric machines on wires. I see these in Chisinau, Moldova.

[@IlfStoyanov]

As someone who lived in Barcelona for a while and considers it one of my homes, I might be a bit biased, but calling Ildefons Cerda "a pretty big deal" is the understatement of the year. Cerda is The Deal. Period.

[@sagharzaka1]

I see so many people here cheering up this idea of cars free barcelona , we as in people from barcelona love the idea too but it can only be done when public transport is at its best and on an affordable price but sadly thats not the case in barcelona we have the most expensive public transportation system in the whole spain we pay almost double comparing to some cities people are not happy at all

[@chrisvmazer9692]

It is just a big mistake to built our cities that we live in around cars rather than humans

[@vairiankingkade6120]

That’s amazing Now I want to move there

[@HalfLapJoint]

How's progress? If I'm visiting Barcelona in June 2023 will there be any completed areas in Eixample to check out?

[@dystopiaeatsmoney]

I can't wait until cars are seen as an unfortunate boil on the bum of history.

[@uneotarieseul9584]

Will never happen. Although cars are troublesome in cities and should disappear in the next 20 to 30 years. Cars are needed everywhere else. You can't do anything without cars if you live in the countryside where the only public transportation is a bus who comes 2 times per day (if bus there are)

[@dystopiaeatsmoney]

@@uneotarieseul9584. Cities without cars would already be a beautiful change for better...I hope to live to see that became reality.

[@kvm1992]

@@dystopiaeatsmoney You will never see such day.

[@kvm1992]

@@uneotarieseul9584 Cars will not disappear. It always adapt to match whatever the current technological trends are. In 20 to 30 years you might as well see hovering cars like seen in the movie tomorrowland.

[@milly-sy4bc]

@@uneotarieseul9584 You solved your own prolem in your comment. Good public transport is the killer of cars.

[@R4TeT]

As a local you should mention that there is a huge opposition to this plan...

[@jaumesol3480]

I second this

[@brianohehir9515]

Wow love it. I wish WA would get to this now!

[@VanlianXTamiaX]

So beautiful.

[@klettersteig599]

My main question is how do goods get to the businesses on the interior of the super block? Is there dedicated parking on the outside of the square that would allow for delivery trucks to transfer their goods to porters who would then carry them by foot (mules?)?

[@PhillipRPeck]

Delivery vehicles are allowed in

[@jaumesol3480]

As other people have pointed out, all the streets are accessible by motor vehicles, the point is that the streets inside the block can't be used as through-roads. As for parking, there is enough space for delibery vehicles to just park on the side of the street, and the lack of curbs and vertical elements allows this without it being too much of a hassle for pedestarians. Source: I live in Barcelona

[@ooooneeee]

Next time watch the video first.

[@thebookwasbetter3650]

I like their use of dumpsters. Basically no allys so they have to be in the streets and take up what would otherwise be parking spots. And they are nice looking dumpsters. I wish NYC would do this. Instead they just pile bags on the street and plenty of stuff doesn't make it into the garbage trucks. I remember one time it snowed 8 inches on garbage day. That garbage was covered by the plows and stayed there until spring.

[@ndrwfm]

I agree. I went last year and loved seeing the cute dumpsters. Old San Juan in Puerto Rico uses small dumpsters like this because there's no space between buildings, and it a very nice change from the sore sight of hundreds of garbage bags every garage day.

[@Jonas-uh7bb]

Absolutely love barcelona just came back last week :(

[@legoEgoJJproduction]

are there plans on how people in the superblock can move around/get out of the superblock? like tram/train/bus?

[@pizzaipinya2442]

You walk to the next street and there you take the bus or whatever :)

[@julianosvonskingrad7009]

In Germany it's called "Fußgängerzone". Entire webs of streets for pedestrians only. And is as old as time. But nice to know that people only care when some spanish city sells it as "21st Century makeover".

[@toriberu]

Fußgänerzonen sind im Gegensatz zu Superblocks aber nicht auf einen Großteil der Stadt ausgelegt, sondern meist im Stadtzentrum. Und dann landet man eben wieder bei dedizierten Einkaufszonen.

[@SeanLumly]

I'm so glad that the world is slowly phasing out the car. I hope this trend continues until the end.

[@paazbra]

There is no such trend. The number of cars in the world is increasing.

[@abhishekparmar6702]

Untill the end ? You want to cross countries on foot 😛

[@tryomama]

​@@abhishekparmar6702 um. train?

[@tryomama]

@Kingkar Das wind, solar, dams, nuclear is clean too. Really starting to prove my point indirectly

[@kvm1992]

@@tryomama No, it's not clean. I don't know how you came to that conclusion but wherever you got your information it's misleading. You can't ignore the importance of such energy impact to the environment.

[@alessandrapirelli7040]

Love the idea! Good job Barcelona! 🥰

[@nevarran]

Sounds pretty good. Kudos to Barcelona.

[@stephengirling7859]

This is a WEF program called '20 minute cities'. Everything you need within a 20 minute WALK from your home. If you exit your zone you will be penalised. Even paradise becomes a prison if you can't leave!

[@PK-sg1po]

It’s interesting and scary to see the hatred some people have for private ICE cars. It is the only form of mobility that can not be easily influenced by anyone. Electric cars are easy to restrict, public transport is not in the citizens control and walking or cycling can take you maybe 20 miles away. Basically people are talking against their own freedom of mobility.

[@groundcontrol-888]

Let's all binge watch B1M !!! There's a few channels on youtube, that give us the real news !!

[@jackieraulerson2005]

Very interesting. I applaud Barcelona for making this change. Good luck!!

[@XDarkGreyX]

Barcelona will always be to me the city our English class could not go to because our teacher was afraid of flying, and the city where one student from another class "tested" some illegal substances and was sent home because of it. Great memories

[@kekistanihelpdesk8508]

Thank you for such a relevant contribution to the urban planning discussion.

[@manelsevilla7200]

Barcelona se vende y se da a conocer muy bien. Pero para ser justos. La mayor recuperación de zonas verdes de España la hizo Madrid, soterrando el tráfico del río Manzanares. Además todo el anillo verde que quiere desarrollar alrededor de la ciudad (Bosque Metropolitano). Un esfuerzo tiránico en inversión pública que ningún extranjero conoce (?).

[@marchernandez4596]

El área metropolitana de Barcelona tiene la recuperación del Besòs y el Llobregat junto con las playas (estas desde los 80'), más la Sierra de Collserola y la Conreria.

[@manelsevilla7200]

@@marchernandez4596 Sin faltar, pero lo del Besos no se acerca ni por asomo a lo del Manzaneras. Y ya nos volvemos a remontar al 92. Lo de Montjuic no tiene nada que ver, es más como la Casa de Campo. Honestamente, admiro esa facilidad de BCN para saber vender su marca y darse a conocer.

[@marchernandez4596]

@@manelsevilla7200 Montjuïc? Más bien toda la Sierra de Collserola, la Conreria, y las playas recuperadas.