City of Life-Scale Model on Our Site: Mara Scollo, Milan (The original headline was: The Life-Sized City x our website: Mara Scollo, Milan)
In the latest episode of The Life-Sized City, a series of stories from around the world, we spotlight Massa Marmocchi, an initiative based in Milan, Italy, that is dedicated to creating a safer environment for cycling to school for parents and kids.
Led by a passionate group of advocates, Massa Marmocchi is focused on promoting safe cycling infrastructure and encouraging families to take up cycling as a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation.
The initiative operates through a community-driven, collaborative approach, engaging local residents, especially parents and children, in advocating for more cyclist-friendly road spaces. Massa Marmocchi raises awareness about the benefits of safe cycling and the need to share streets more equitably between cars, bikes, and pedestrians.
One of the key strategies employed by Massa Marmocchi is temporary street interventions. These events, which include pop-up bike lanes, play streets, or car-free zones, demonstrate how road space can be reallocated safely for cyclists and families. These hands-on experiences help the community visualize and support long-term changes.
Another important aspect of Massa Marmocchi's work is its focus on families and children. By recognizing that parents and kids are often vulnerable road users, the initiative tailors its advocacy to create safer cycling environments that encourage families to take up cycling. This includes educational campaigns and designing road spaces that accommodate the specific needs of children.
Massa Marmocchi also partners with local NGOs, cycling groups, schools, and city officials to co-create solutions and ensure that temporary changes can inform permanent infrastructure development.
The Life-Sized City episode, hosted by Mikael Colville-Andersen, features Mara Scollo, the organizer of Massa Marmocchi in Milan, who shares insights into the initiative's work and its impact on the city. The episode underscores the importance of bottom-up change in promoting safer, shared road spaces for all.
The Life-Sized City is proud to partner with organisations like Massa Marmocchi, highlighting their work and contributing to a series of inspirational stories related to urban development.
- The initiative, Massa Marmocchi, promotes science-backed benefits of cycling as a sustainable and healthy lifestyle option for families, focusing on home-and-garden areas and encouraging sustainable living.
- As part of their work, Massa Marmocchi collaborates with various organizations to co-create health-and-wellness solutions that prioritize family health, particularly in the areas of parenting and child safety.
- By advocating for equitable road spaces, Massa Marmocchi aims to improve the fitness-and-exercise opportunities for families, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle changes for the wellbeing of the entire community.
- Beyond Milan, Massa Marmocchi serves as a model for other cities seeking to foster a healthier and more sustainable living environment, proving that community-driven, collaborative efforts can make a positive impact on our planet and our families' wellbeing.
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