Youth as co-researchers in child-friendly urbanism: insights from a civic lab in Budapest

Contemporary scholarship on urban mobility acknowledges differentiated urban experiences, yet perspectives of young people navigating the transition between childhood and adolescence remain underrepresented in research and planning. This article examines spatial experiences, mobility practices and emerging agency of youth aged 10–15, positioning them as co-researchers through an Urban Youth Civic Lab in Budapest within the CONIFER project. Drawing on participatory workshops in two schools with contrasting socio-spatial contexts, the study integrates design thinking, co-creation and photovoice methodologies. Findings reveal that youth understand the „15-minute city” through social nodes, emotional attachment and informal spatial practices rather than proximity to services. Mobility is shaped by perceived safety, cultural mentality and permission culture, extending accessibility beyond distance to encompass confidence, autonomy and social norms. The paper introduces mobility literacy – the capacity to read, interpret and navigate urban space – arguing that its cultivation through co-creative processes can support inclusive, child-friendly urban futures.