Tactical urbanism is a term used to describe a collection of low-cost, temporary changes to the built environment in cities, which aim to improve local neighbourhoods and public spaces. A featured activity linked with the launch of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 was supported by a number of partners in Buenos Aires, Argentina, including local government officials and colleagues from WHO, World Resources Institute and several national associations, namely Asociación Madres del Dolor, Luchemos por la Vida, Asociación Minu and ACCTIVAS.
Produced by a collective of artists from Uruguay under the direction of Alfonso Villagran of Artis4Lovers, a creative concept, in line with the principles of tactical urbanism, was developed and executed. It features several crossings at a prominent location in Buenos Aires painted with visuals associated with the logo of the Decade of Action. Embedded in the visuals are QR codes, which when captured by a mobile phone, take the viewer to more information about the Decade of Action, including its Global Plan. The painted crossings served as a backdrop for the handing over of the Global Plan by the national associations to local authorities.
It is hoped that this advocacy effort will be replicated in select cities around the world in the lead up to the High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on “Improving Global Road Safety” to be held in July 2022, as a way of reclaiming city streets for people and drawing attention to the need to make streets safe for all who use them.