Interweaving participation formats to strengthen representation and deliberation in urban mobility transformations. Lessons from designing Kiezblocks in Berlin

Abstract

How can cities engage diverse residents in urban mobility transformations? Drawing on a multi-format participation process for two Berlin Kiezblocks, this paper shows that combining participation formats with different recruitment methods, interaction types, and levels of public influence on planning decisions can strengthen representation and constructive deliberation.Engaging residents in urban mobility transformations can support implementation by mitigating polarization and strengthening governance, yet designing inclusive participation processes remains challenging. We present a multi-format participation process for two Kiezblocks in Berlin-Mitte, developed with municipal planners, to engage diverse residents in constructive deliberation (external inclusion), make their perspectives heard (internal inclusion), and enable different levels of public influence on planning decisions. Drawing on field notes and structured reflections within the transdisciplinary consortium, we describe the participation formats including their recruitment methods, interaction types, and main strengths and weaknesses. Although suitable format combinations depend on goals, target groups, and local contexts, experiences suggest that interweaving stakeholder meetings, targeted outreach formats, and formats based on random selection can strengthen inclusion while providing different levels of public influence on planning decisions. Targeted outreach formats were particularly valuable for engaging groups underrepresented in participation processes, including children and residents with migration background, while formats with random selection helped counter misleading perceptions of polarization. In contrast, formats based on self-selection, including online participation and town hall meetings, appeared more susceptible to domination by louder voices and less conducive to constructive deliberation, with implications for designing participation processes for sustainability transformations.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, 2026 · DOI ↗