Electoral Consequences of Urban Interventions: The Case of Superblocks, School Streets, and Bike Lanes in Barcelona

Over the last decade, cities worldwide have sought to curb transport-related externalities through policy and urban interventions, with Barcelona at the forefront, redefining its cityscape to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists over motor vehicles. These ambitious urban transformations have included the implementation of urban interventions such as Superblocks, extensive development of bicycle lanes, and enhanced protective measures around school streets. Even though these urban interventions have been popular internationally and are often cited as good practices, the local reality is that the success of these interventions remains largely dependent on public support, which may face hurdles due to organized opposition. This study examines whether implementing different urban interventions in Barcelona relates to public acceptability. To do so, we use municipal election data as a proxy of public acceptability. The study uses data from local elections held in 2015, 2019, and 2023, specifically analyzing the variation in the vote for the party that promoted these policies: Barcelona en Comú (BEC). Using multivariate regression models, we explore the associations between implementing different types of interventions and the shifts in voting patterns while controlling for various covariates at the census area level. Findings reveal increased electoral support for BEC in areas where Superblocks have been implemented as well as no evidence of electoral backlash in areas with school streets and bike lane expansions. • We study the associations between changes in electoral results and built environment interventions. • Superblocks withstand the decline in votes to Barcelona en Comú. • Superblocks are negatively associated with voting for the opposing parties. • School streets and bicycle lanes do not alter the electoral results.