The SUNRISE project came to an end: let us show you what kind of measures were implemented in the Budapest pilot area. This H2020 project aimed at developing, implementing, and facilitating co-learning about new, collaborative ways to address common urban mobility challenges at the urban district level. This has been achieved through the participatory planning processes in six “neighbourhood mobility labs” (Bremen-Hulsberg, Budapest-Törökőr, Jerusalem-Baka, Malmö-Lindängen, Thessaloniki Neo Rysio-Thermi and the centre of Southend-on-Sea).
We held the first participatory meeting in 2017 during the European Mobility Week about the mobility development of Törökőr, where the participants could ‘spend’ 27.000 virtual Hungarian Forints for the issues they found the most important. In parallel, we collected problems and proposals about Törökőr’s mobility via a mapping application. The participatory planning continued in October: we held the second forum with the inhabitants. The local consultancy body ‘Core Group’ was established which represented the inhabitants and other stakeholders in the planning process on the operative level. Thematic walks were also part of the project when the participants could familiarize themselves with the obstacles visually and mobility impaired people and parents with little children face in their everyday lives.
As a result of all these, by autumn 2018 the project reached an important milestone: after a long process of preparation, problem mapping, idea collection, project development and cost estimation, the decision has been taken with the involvement of the Core Group about which measures are up for voting for the residents and users of Törökőr. Based on the results of the online and paper-based votes, the three most popular investments fit in the budget, which were – after detailed planning and procurement of the necessary approvals – implemented in the spring of 2021. These were the following:
- 1. to create a safer environment around those educational institutions which are located in the northern part of the Törökőr area
a. with a wide speed bump (also serving as level crossing) in the middle of the square and the limitation of parking for better visibility;
Photos: on the left - before (source: Google Maps); on the right - after (source: Antal Gertheis)
b1. with wide speed bumps (also serving as level crossings) in front of the kindergarten;
Photos: on the left - before (source: Google Maps); on the right - after (source: Antal Gertheis)
b2. with wide speed bumps (also serving as level crossings) in front of the nursery;
Photos: on the left - before (source: Google Maps); on the right - after (source: Antal Gertheis)
c. with a raised and visually highlighted pedestrian crossing towards the Arany János school in the square, and
Photos: on the left - before (source: Google Maps); on the right - after (source: Antal Gertheis)
d. with tactile signs that help the visually impaired (see the photos above).
- 2. To redesign the area of an underpass and in this way to make the two connected intersections safer for pedestrians and cyclists
a. at the crossing of the Tábornok street and Francia street: the intersection was raised to sidewalk level and narrowed down with curb extensions for the sake of the pedestrians’ safety
Photos: on the left - before (source: Google Maps); on the right - after (source: Antal Gertheis)
b. on other side, at Mexikói street, new pavement for the footway and tactile signs were built
Photos: on the left - before (source: Google Maps); on the right - after (source: Antal Gertheis)
- 3. To make the area around the Tábornok street safer for pedestrians:
a. with a wide speed bump (also serving as level crossing) at the crossing of Tábornok street and Utász street
Photos: on the left - before (source: Google Maps); on the right - after (source: Antal Gertheis)
b. With curb extensions at the crossing of Tábornok street and Őrnagy street
Photos: on the left - before (source: Google Maps); on the right - after (source: Antal Gertheis)
c. By making the area bordered by Mogyoródi street, the Budapest-Cegléd-Szolnok railway line, Kerepesi street and Hungária ring a 30km/h zone.
Photos: on the left - before (source: Google Maps); on the right - after (source: Antal Gertheis)
d. By opening the one-way streets mentioned above for two-way cycling
Photos: on the left - before (source: Google Maps); on the right - after (source: Antal Gertheis)
The main goal of all the investments was to make mobility safer. The indicators – elaborated in the project – aim at measuring the results of the investments. The results of the Törökőr pilot show that the residents are satisfied with the investments: their sense of security has increased.
The project partners in Budapest were: Budapest District 14 Zugló, BKK – Centre for Budapest Transport and Mobilissimus.
The main results of the project can be read in this online publication.
