EP-2024-WK-03
Project title: Becoming a citizen: understanding adolescents’ walking practices for better public policies
Main Applicant: Cristhian Figueroa M.
Affiliation: Dept de Planificación y Ordenamiento Territorial, Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana (UTEM) & Centro de Desarrollo Urbano Sustentable (CEDEUS), Chile
Partners:
- Natan Waintrub, Escuela de Arquitectura, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Artes, Universidad Mayor, Chile, & Centro de Desarrollo Urbano Sustentable (CEDEUS). Santiago, Chile.
- Daniela Godoy Donoso, Departamento de Planificación y Ordenamiento Territorial, Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana (UTEM).
- Erwin Aguirre, Departamento de Planificación y Ordenamiento Territorial, Universidad Tecnológica, Metropolitana (UTEM). Santiago, Chile.
- Isidora García, Departamento de Planificación y Ordenamiento Territorial, Universidad Tecnológica, Metropolitana (UTEM). Santiago, Chile.
- Macarena Ibáñez, Escuela de Arquitectura, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Artes, Universidad Mayor, Chile.Santiago, Chile.
- Sebastián Mella, Departamento de Planificación y Ordenamiento Territorial, Universidad Tecnológica, Metropolitana (UTEM). Santiago, Chile.
- Amanda Toro, Departamento de Planificación y Ordenamiento Territorial, Universidad Tecnológica, Metropolitana (UTEM). Santiago, Chile.
Abstract
Due to the importance of walking, many studies exploring its role in public policies have significantly increased in recent decades. Such interest has been accompanied by the recognition of the challenges of vulnerable groups when walking. Adolescents, however, have largely remained absent of this discussion, with their experiences and needs often being explored alongside those of children. This proposal aims to contribute to this issue seeks and investigate adolescent’s walking experiences and the extent to which public policies consider their needs in the construction of urban spaces. It also aims to identify mechanisms to integrate adolescents’ walking experiences and perspectives into public policies. To do so, the research studies Chilean cities, which have almost eradicated extreme forms of precarity but are still characterised by inequalities and segregation. The research employs an exploratory design and qualitative methods through which it seeks to:
- explore the urban walks undertaken by adolescents and how the socio-constructed environment of Chilean cities influences them (mobile interviews, workshops),
- (ii) investigate the extent to which urban walking, particularly those undertaken by adolescents, is considered in Chilean public policies (semi-structured interviews, workshops), and
- (iii) identify mechanisms through which adolescents’ voices and needs could be integrated into public policies influencing walking practices (workshops). By achieving those objectives, the research also seeks to contribute to creating spaces for adolescent participation in Chile and other parts of Latin America. Lastly, the research also aims to promote the inclusion of women in science and, on the other hand, support the training of new professionals and researchers.