Pace-setters & Front-runners
Pace-setters & Front-runners* is a 4-year project that worked on the development of a slow mobility network in Flemish cities with the participation of local children. Slow mobility is here understood as a network of car-free paths, alleys, squares, etc. in the city that enables slow and safe mobility for pedestrians and cyclists with opportunities for socialisation and recreation. Slow mobility is essential for the development of child-friendly cities, allowing children to move around their neighbourhood in safe and autonomous ways. A second but equally important goal of the project was the development of a method through which children can participate in their local development of slow mobility in cities.
* Gangmakers & Koplopers in Flemish; original project name.
More information can be found on the project’s website
& Office for Public Play website.
This project was made as Office for Public Play and in collaboration with Trage Wegen VZW, Das Kunst, and Kind & Samenleving; and with the support of the Flemish Authorities: Vlaanderen/Verbeelding werkt (2016-2019).
Dialogue Shapers (2015) in Dampoort, Ghent (BE)
workshop working on the development of the method during the first pilot year.
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All photos by Annelies Vaneycken
The children exploring urban slow mobility in a playful way.
The Chair Dance dialogue between the children and Elke Decruynaere, alderman for Education & Youth for the city of Ghent, dealing with the children’s questions, requests, and doubts about developing a child friendly mobility in their neighbourhood .
The children exploring urban slow mobility in a playful way.
The children developing their Front-runners Map with criteria for child friendly mobility in the city.
The children discussing their rights for child friendly mobility with Filip Watteeuw, alderman for Mobility for the city of Ghent, by working on a Pace-setters Convention.
Child Parade, developed by the children & artist/choreographer Liesbeth Swings, as closure of the first pilot year.