Principal Transport Planner Peter Thompson shares this example of inclusive placemaking in Reykjavik, and how providing for one group can improve our cities for everyone.
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Principal Transport Planner Peter Thompson shares this example of inclusive placemaking in Reykjavik, and how providing for one group can improve our cities for everyone.
On my trip to Iceland last summer, I spent several days in the capital city, Reykjavik. As well as observing what the city has to offer in terms of sustainable transport and placemaking, I visited its famous Rainbow Street, Skólavörðustígur.
Reykjavik Pride is an event which has taken place each year since 1999 and as part of this, Skólavörðustígur Street was temporarily painted in rainbow colours from 2015 to 2019. Since 2019, the rainbow colours have been left permanently in place. This street, as well as a street in the town of Seydisfjordur, represent Iceland’s friendliness and acceptance towards its LGBTQ community.
Residents were allowed to participate in the painting of the street. The city’s mayor also got involved and was quoted as saying “This is one way to make our city livelier, more human and simply a better place by great collaboration and beautiful thinking."
Not only is the Rainbow Street a permanent fixture, but the street has also been transformed in recent years since being pedestrianised. Having previously been designated as one of Reykjavik’s “summer streets” in 2019, which restricted vehicle access between May and September, the street has since been permanently pedestrianised. This has also allowed planting, cycle parking and outside seating and dining to take place on the former road surface, and is now promoted widely as a top destination in the city, even during the winter months.
Skólavörðustígur is one of a number of central Reykjavik streets to have been transformed in this way, following the principles of placemaking, with the intention of creating public spaces that promote people's health, happiness, and well-being.
These changes, in addition to the sustainable transport facilities within the city centre, such as clearly demarcated scooter parking areas and facilities for cyclists on steps implemented as part of new developments, all contribute to making the centre of Reykjavik a welcoming and sustainably accessible place, which is pleasant to walk around and spend time in.
