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.
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.
An instrument that enables the assessment of road infrastructure projects taking into account sustainability goals.
A joint survey between district politics and initiatives has potential to drive change. A survey means to ask inhabitants of an area what they like or don't like about status quo and what they want to change. The initiative has local knowledge of the area and knows what is important to ask. The survey results give politicans guidance what kind of change is backed up by the inhabitants.
From our experience a joint survey is possible when
- all involved people are amicable towards each other
- there is a third neutral party (for example science project or neighbourhood management) that coordinates the process
The picture stems from Ljubljana, where the urban design studio prostorož set up benches in public space. They attached a QR-Code, where people could vote if they wanted this bench to stay. In a short period of time about 400 people voted, that they would like the bench to stay because they frequently use it. On this basis prostorož talked to the people in charge of that area. The survey was enough evidence for them to let the benches stay! What a success!
In case this inspires you to take action: Make sure that the QR-code is made out of solid material, that endures the time you want the survey to last. The tool material link will lead you to a website where different survey tools are offered, a lot of them without additional costs.
more tools for Evidence…
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.
Communication platforms like slack or discourse have dedicated channels for different projects and teams, keeping discussions focused and easily searchable. On the scale of a small initiative they don't cost anything.
There are several digital to do lists out there, that can help you as a group to organise projects, assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress collaboratively. Trello is free until ten collaborators, wekan and kanboard are completely open source.
Defining goals, structures, roles and means of decision making are all crucial parts of founding and maintaining collectives, cooperatives, and other groups. Many aspects of organisation however remain ad hoc, informal and opaque, creating the possibility of power imbalances, misunderstandings and exclusion. The link will lead you to website with key questions that any group should consider and define during its formation.
more tools for Vision…
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.
You have a very clear picture of the local change you want to achieve? You want to show decision makers how much support your vision locally has? Then a petition might be your cup of tea to drive change.
A simple, user-friendly tool for overview and booking of free spaces for use by initiatives.
In this format district politics and initiatives meet up in a casual setting. This benefits everyone: On the one hand politicans can efficently update several initiatives at the same time and get wind of citizens troubles related to urban space at an early stage. Initiatives on the other hand get insights and can discuss their visions and potential future collaborations.
more tools for Action…