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Case Study Background and Objectives |
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Walking does not gain proper support in Budapest, capital of Hungary, actually in most cases it is not considered as a real mode of transport. Hungarian transport management is still too car-oriented, which is reflected in the functions of public squares. Needs of public transport and biking are more or less taken into account but, without a doubt, car traffic has priority – which is obvious when watching the rhythm of traffic lights.
„Radical Walker” demonstration was organised by a very mixed group of NGO activists. One of the organisers has asked about the definition of a „Radical Walker”, he answered: „Radical Walker is a human being who tries to be a simple walker but he can not be.”
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Measures Implemented |
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The demonstration for the interests of walkers had to be organised in a junction who is well-known, which is not considered to be safe and attractive. Thus Andrássy Avenue – Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Avenue junction has been chosen. Nobody asked why the organisers were unsatisfied with this facility, as locals call these kinds of zebra crossings „Darwin” crosses: ones who are not fast enough can be easily endangered. It was also obvious that because of the huge traffic, police will not permit any demonstration here. That is why flash-mob action has been organised.
The flash-mob form of demonstration was pretty new in 2006 in Hungary; it means that simple walkers suddenly form a demonstrating crowd and after a very short time they suddenly disappear. The advantage of this form is said to be that as police do not have any tools against it, it needs no permit.
Reality is a bit different: in most cases police know about flash-mob actions and have tools against them, which can be used, when wanted. The real question is if the police want to take action.
About four hundred demonstrators took part on 17th of May, AM 17:00. The voluntaries distributed 110 gasmask and flowers for participants to sign that all the action is peaceful but determined.
One of the organisers cried into the loud speaker: „I kindly ask all participants to WALK and feel as a very kind WALKER.”
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Conclusions and Monitoring |
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The organiser environmental activists were surprised by the hot reaction of the society (high number of participants and hot reaction of media), and planned to establish an organisation for representing the interests of walkers. Until now it is not established.
The young guy with the loud speaker was the only person who had been arrested by the police. Breaching procedure has been launched and the 50 000 HUF penalty has finally been paid by all the organisers together – partly from a separate donation action and partly from the income of the sailed „Radical Walker” T-shirts.
Needs of walkers are more and more taken into account, especially during reconstructions and city-regenerations. In the last year, new zebra crossings with traffic lights were established, where it used to be considered impossible beforehand. For example new zebra crossing with traffic lights has been established at the Lehel Market on Váci road, or on Blaha Lujza Square at the tram stop.
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Main Contact
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Organisation: |
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Studio Metropolitana
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Country: |
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Hungary 
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Contact Name: |
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Mr Miklós Marton, project manager
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Telephone:
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+36 1 411-0976
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Email:
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marton@studiometropolitana.hu
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Case Study Details |
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Date: |
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17th of May, 2006
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Duration (days): |
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Cost: |
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Only work of volunteers
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Funding Source(s):
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Mode:
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Cycling
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PIMMS Domain:
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Not Applicable
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Barriers:
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Poor Public Perception and Lack of Awareness
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Sector |
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Public
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Critical Success Factors |
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Media reacted very well to the action, one of the participants said that „there was one journalist and one photo maker to every participant”. Maybe this is because many of the journalists have experience on crossing a zebra when cars are still coming from the sides. The Radical Walker demonstration was reported on all major TV channels and newspapers – in very different ways.
Some journalists emphasized that urban traffic is too car-oriented, and many times walker’s crossings are not safe enough. In some cases this has been admitted by the interviewed experts; one dispatcher of the traffic control office pointed out that traffic lights are harmonized for giving enough time for crossing the streets but admitted that „patience of the drivers is also needed”.
Other journalists emphasized the flash-mob character. Some started serious studies if the demonstrators were „dreamers, Ghandian world-rangers, 68-er rebellious, or just simply anarchists”. The ideological sentence of the action has been summarized by one of the organisers: „Considered it’s social effects, walking is the most noble one. Does not need any tool, expert, worker. No exploitation. God implants it into all of us. Benefits to soul and body. Decreases Social Insurance costs, the attentive role of the state. Especially suggested for anarchists.”
Police not only knew about the action and tolerated it, but the traffic lights were switched off, the traffic was managed by a policeman, and at the very first appearance of the demonstrators the car-traffic was stopped.
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Other Comments |
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