From Unlock15
Welcome to the UNLOCK15-Toolbox - we are collecting tools to empower „agents of change“ from civil society as well as city officials to unlock existing lock-ins. We hope you will find some relevant tools to drive change towards mobility transition in your context!
From experience, three types of tools are need for real change: tools to create and communicate evidence, tools to envision possible futures and scenarios and participatory tools for on-site action.
Evidence
This type of tools help you to collect evidence, which supports the change you are aiming for. Some tools also allow crowd-based approaches to involve citizens in a broad manner. Evidence helps to convince decision makers to back-up change.
Measuring the speed of public transport
"We can’t reduce the speed limit on this road because the busses would lose time!“ This or similar arguments may come up in discussions about street transformations. In those situations, it can help to bring evidence into the discussion. For example by measuring the speed of busses. Read more about how we did it:
Joint Survey between initiatives and district politics
In Vienna they managed something extraordinary: They did a survey collaboratively between district politics, administration and civil society. This has a lot of potential for different reasons:
Observing and visualising human behaviour in public space
Collecting data on how people use space can give you a solid foundation to discuss how it should be designed. These apps can help you to collect your data.
Vision
In this category you find tools that help you to create a vision of what you are aiming for. A strong vision is key for driving change because it helps you to grow as a movement and to shift public opinions. This category also includes tools that help you envision how you want to work together as a group.
Public Engagement Onion
This tool inspires you what kind of participation methods are out there and the level of participation they allow.
Local coordination circle
A local coordination circle is made out of local people e.g. shop owners, residents as well as people from the administration. The various perspectives provided by the project advisory board are intended to help identify planning requirements at an early stage and to take them into account more effectively as the project progresses. They act, so to speak, as seismographs for the mood and needs within the neighbourhood.
Action
Small steps towards the realisation of local change can help to make the vision tangible and also easier to be discussed. Tools for action help to make the impact of change tangible and involve local communities.
Platform for free meeting spaces
A simple, user-friendly tool for overview and booking of free spaces for use by initiatives.
Streetdesign table
By setting up a table in the street, a big print of the layout of your street and pens you can provide a fun way to develop ideas for greening, traffic calming and street furniture. You could discuss with passers-by what uses they would like to see, what space is needed for them, and what ideas they can come up with. From a simple cycle path to a vibrant street park! If you live in Vienna, the platform WirMachenWien can assist and do the workshop with you.
Gamification of climate friendly behaviour
Gamification is the application of game-design mechanics — such as points, rewards, competitions, challenges, and progress tracking — to non-game contexts in order to motivate behaviour change. In the context of urban sustainability and mobility, it turns everyday choices like taking public transport, cycling, or saving energy into visible, rewarding actions that feel meaningful and fun rather than obligatory.