Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The concept of sustainable development has been widely spread and practiced within traffic planning.
However, the subject area has long been technically oriented, but now social sustainability aspects are
getting more attention and importance within the field of transport planning. Even though children use
all public environments, children's perspectives are mainly incorporated in planning relating to schools,
parks and playgrounds.
The purpose of this study is to examine how children's participation has been taken into account
regarding the planning process and the design of tramway stations in Lund. To accomplish this a case
study has been conducted of the tramway station Lund C that is located at Clemenstorget. Further
methods that have been used to collect data are nine semi structured interviews with experts in the
subject and involved planners, a qualitative document analysis and semi-structured observations during
site visits. What can be concluded is that children's perspectives have been included in a specific task
but their influence in the project as a whole has been questioned. Children's perspectives are seen as an
interest that is often downgraded when it conflicts with other interests. Children are also seen by adults
as particularly worthy of protection and should preferably be separated from traffic. Another conclusion
is that the children's perspective is seen as an aspect to be ticked off in order to fulfill the Convention
on the Rights of the Child and the Swedish transport policy goals, rather than working with the
perspective to create equal and functioning traffic environments for everyone.