A common public space

Comments TO THE EDITOR: The rise of micromobility is good news for urban sustainability, but it has generated growing tension on the streets. The coexistence of pedestrians, cyclists, and electric scooter users is increasingly complex, turning sidewalks into zones of conflict. To achieve safe mobility, it is urgent to act on three fronts. First, segregated and continuous infrastructure. The invasion of sidewalks by cycles is largely due to the lack of connected bike lanes. Redistributing road space to guarantee exclusive lanes for micromobility will prevent these vehicles from disputing space with pedestrians. Second, education and effective enforcement. Many users are unaware that scooters and bicycles must respect traffic lights, directions of travel, and speed limits. Ongoing campaigns about current regulations are needed, accompanied by real enforcement that sanctions sidewalk riding and failure to use safety equipment. Third, a culture of respect in which the pedestrian is always the absolute priority. Those who travel on wheels must understand that they are operating a vehicle and that the vulnerability of those who walk demands maximum caution. Registering vehicles, as the road coexistence law requires for those exceeding 25 km/h or 250 W, helps make the rules of the game transparent so that the street is a shared public space, not a speedway. Only by combining better infrastructure, clear regulation, and shared responsibility will we build kinder, safer cities for everyone. Uwe Rohwedder Dean of Engineering and Architecture, U. Central More about: Micromobility, Education, Enforcement, Culture of respect