Human-Centered Design in Urban Planning : Enhancing Community Engagement for Active Mobility in Eskilstuna

Urban reconstruction projects present both challenges and opportunities for reimagining mobility patterns in cities. This thesis investigates how Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles can enhance municipal strategies for promoting alternative travel routes during urban reconstruction, using the Sturegatan redevelopment project in Eskilstuna, Sweden, as a case study. Human-centred design study, focusing on the case study approach that incorporates expert interviews (n = 6), parent interviews (n = 2), observations, and document analysis, this thesis reveals disconnects between technical planning processes and user experiences. The findings highlight considerable diversity in mobility patterns and needs among school community members, with safety emerging as the primary concern across all stakeholder groups. Organizational fragmentation and communication gaps were identified as key barriers limiting effective community engagement during reconstruction periods. The thesis contributes concrete recommendations for addressing organizational structures, engagement methodologies, and design considerations for alternative routes. Key findings demonstrate that effective engagement requires strategic communication through established, trusted channels, age-differentiated approaches that recognize diverse stakeholder needs, and integration of mobility planning into educational activities. The study identifies multiple barriers to active mobility, including physical infrastructure challenges, practical constraints related to family coordination, and social-psychological factors influencing route choices. It is a thesis that concludes that municipalities can develop more inclusive, effective, and sustainable approaches to managing mobility during urban change by applying Human-Centered Design principles, emphasizing empathy, co-creation, and iteration. These approaches not only mitigate immediate challenges of disruption but potentially contribute to longer-term shifts toward more sustainable and equitable urban mobility systems. Reconstruction periods present unique opportunities for positive behavioral change when combined with human-centered engagement strategies. The single case study approach limits generalizability, though the methodological framework and human-centered principles may transfer to similar municipal contexts with appropriate adaptation to local conditions and institutional arrangements.