Page - 130 - in Mobile Culture Studies - The Journal, Volume 3/2017

130 Mobile Culture Studies. The Journal 3 2o17 Patrick Naef | Using mobility and urban planning to implement atmosphere summer. In the context of this traffic regulation, the development of an encounter zone, small details a priori disconnected from mobility – fountains, steps, pebbles, etc. – help create a spe- cific atmosphere leading to pedestrian installation and conviviality. Fribourg: tensions and pedestrian appropriation in an encounter zone In Fribourg, an encounter zone was developed in 2014 on the Joseph-Piller street in the ‘Alt’ neighbourhood, a lively area already well frequented by pedestrians, including many school- children from local schools and students using the university library. As in the case of Versoix, this new development was related to another, larger project. The objective was to anticipate and adequately manage the transfer of traffic produced by the construction of the Poya bridge in October 2014. This encounter zone is characterized by two specific types of urban layout: a large, straight boulevard (fig. 2) and a plaza connected to side streets. On the plaza, a new brown floor-covering and the installation of street furniture such as benches, tables and bike racks are intended to encourage motor vehicles to slow down. On the boulevard, the sidewalk has been made level with the roadway – in order to limit the segregation between the street users – and some street furniture has also been added. The president of the ‘Association Quartier Alt insists that if a development like this one is to succeed the appropriation of the area by pedestrians is a key factor: ‘It is important that we talk about an “encounter” zone and not just a “20 km/h” zone. This gives the impression that pedestrians are “at home”’. (personal communication, 10 May 2017) Of course other street users, especially motorists, need to understand this process and this can lead to tensions. When I first started my fieldwork in the area, I exercised my right as a pedestrian to stand in the middle of the bou- levard included in the encounter zone to take a picture. I was quickly honked at by a motorist Fig. 1: Photo by Frank Lavanchy