Self-organizing or organizing one another? Cycling groups’ participation to planning

ABSTRACT

Studies on planning have traditionally exposed how institutional participation opposes informal modes of participation. But do activists have to choose between the two? Suggesting that there is a grey-zone, recent work has focused on the distinct paths that individuals take to engage in civic life. We argue that strategies that involves both civil society-led and traditional approaches may help defend planning options, especially for those not considered in formal decision-making in local planning. In what ways can the interrelation of traditional and non-traditional modes of participation help bring forth new ideas? Building on a case study of urban activists tackling issues regarding cycling in Québec City (Québec, Canada), we observed how they connect planning with different modes of participation. Activists take part in the debate on urban planning through institutional platforms, demonstrating their desire to be recognized. Also, they take actions to increase the legitimacy of alternative modes of mobility.

KEYWORDS:

• Planning
• Cycling
• Urban activism
• Self-organization
• Public participation

Acknowledgments

This article is associated to a research project funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC Insight Development Grant, grant number: 430-2015-00609).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Promo-Vélo (Promo-Bike) was the main activist organization in Québec City until its dissolution in 2011 after the city held public consultations on the sustainable mobility plan. This well-organized group gathered its members several times a year to provide training, put together a wide variety of events, was present in the media, conducted surveys and presented briefs during consultations. Its dissolution around the time as the mobility plan was published can be explained as a coincidence of events.

2. This CHOI 98,1 radio anchor later retracted his words.

3. The 28 Neighborhood Councils of Québec City act as independent legal corporations, mandated to provide advice to the city council and to initiate different projects at the neighborhood level.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [430-2015-00609]

Notes on contributors

Guillaume Béliveau Côté

Guillaume Béliveau Côté is a PhD candidate in land planning and regional development at University Laval (Canada), Guillaume Béliveau-Côté holds a bachelor’s degree in applied politics from the University of Sherbrooke (Canada), and two master’s degrees, one in geopolitics from the French Institute of Geopolitics (France) and another in environment from the University of Sherbrooke. His research field relates to civic action in urban planning. Specifically, actions by which groups and individuals transform public spaces or take part in public debate to instigate new or alternative practices and ideas for a more sustainable urban setting.

Geneviève Cloutier

Geneviève Cloutier is a faculty member at University Laval at the Graduate School of Land Management, Urban and Regional Planning, Prof. Geneviève Cloutier is the Director of the Centre for Research on Planning and Development. Her research focuses on public participation, collective action, climate change adaptation experiments and processes through which planning theories and practices evolve.

Émilie Houde-Tremblay

E’milie Houde-Tremblay is a PhD candidate in Land Management and Planning at University Laval. Her thesis focuses on revendicated agroecology in Madrid. She holds a master’s degree in Land Management and Planning and a bachelor’s degree in Natural and Managed environments. Her research interests relate to agroecology, urban planning, multi-stakeholder governance, mobility of ideas and institutionalization.

Chedrak Sylvain De Rocher Chembessi

Chedrak Sylvain De Rocher Chembessi is Assistant Professor in Economic and Social Innovation at Université de l’Ontario Français (Toronto, Canada). He holds Ph.D. in Land Planning and Regional Development at University Laval (Canada) and Economic Geography at University of Limoges (France). His teaching and research focus on collective action, drivers, and barriers in implementation of ecological transition projects. For his doctorate research, he analyzed main factors in circular economy’s implementation in Quebec and France.