ABSTRACT
The chapters in this Part of the book are concerned what are amongst the most critical challenges facing contemporary cities and urban planning – how to support, understand and manage the cultural practices of urban populations. At stake is the creation of environments where different social groups can live, work, mingle, and express their cultures and values. Also important is the equitable distribution of urban resources. When contemplating such issues, attention frequently turns to public space because this is where the texture, complexity and diversity of urban life is most readily revealed. And so it is with the chapters here, which in differing ways acknowledge that the quality, use and presence of urban public space are central to the way in which people experience and relate to the city as resident or visitor, and whether encountering it in the context of work, education or leisure (to name but three). Public space is also linked to the development and maintenance of civic culture. Parks, footpaths, beaches, the verges of rivers and waterways are all important in this respect, as are roads and thoroughfares – the sites of intersection, movement and transportation.
