Week 10 – Urban Conditions, Mobility Strategies, and Practical Feasibility
This week’s focus is on re-evaluating the feasibility of the exhibition in a real urban environment, including the urban spatial structure, transportation system, and public space management mechanism.
From the perspective of urban structure, Edinburgh exhibits a distinct spatial hierarchy. Tourist activities are highly concentrated in the central areas, such as Prince Street and the Old Town, which are characterized by high foot traffic, high consumption, and high visibility. While areas like Leith Walk, Ocean Terminal, and Holyrood mainly serve the daily lives of local residents. Tourism has brought significant economic benefits, but it has also led to problems such as spatial congestion, commercialization, and the marginalization of certain groups. Therefore, public spaces are not uniform but are composed of different usage logics and power relations.
Based on this observation, I believe that adjustments to the exhibition mobility strategy are necessary. In the three exhibition sites in high-density areas (Prince Street, Royal Mile, and Waverly Bridge), a purely pedestrian viewing approach is adopted, without integrating into the public transportation system to avoid adding additional pressure in an already crowded environment. In the three exhibition sites in relatively low-density areas (Holyrood, Leith Walk, and Ocean Terminal), the previous strategy of using bus routes (Route 35) as the connection method is continued during off-peak hours. Regarding accessibility, the pedestrian routes in the high-density walking areas do not involve steps and are wheelchair-accessible. Similarly, choosing Route 35 for the connection will not impose a burden on the viewing experience.
The public transportation system in Edinburgh enjoys a high level of usage. Lothian Buses carry over 100 million passengers every year. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid interfering with the public transportation system during peak hours. However, since the exhibition also regards “mobility” as one of the exhibition conditions, the bus mobility mode will continue to be maintained during non-peak hours (10am – 4pm). The switching of transportation modes by the audience also becomes part of understanding the differences in urban spaces.
Meanwhile, there have been precedents for the integration of public transportation and cultural projects in Edinburgh. “Travelling Treasures” embeds cultural content into the transportation experience, making the travel route itself a narrative carrier. Additionally, “Fringe Days Out” provides bus support to enable more community groups to participate in cultural activities. These cases demonstrate the feasibility of the project and serve as reference materials for in-depth research.
In terms of permission, I carefully studied the public space management principles of the Edinburgh City Council and decided to adopt a “graded intervention intensity” strategy, matching the activities with the specific spaces. Low-intensity interventions (such as walking and non-congregated experiences) can be regarded as regular space usage; medium-intensity (such as small-scale guidance) requires further assessment; while high-intensity activities (such as performances or gatherings) require formal application for permission. This exhibition, except for the slow-moving performance at the Royal Mile, all have low-intensity interventions. The definition of slow-moving performances is also different from those reaching the scale of high-intensity activities. If a review is necessary, the application materials should be submitted to the City Council six months before the event.
Reference：
City of Edinburgh Council. “Public Space Guidance for Event Organisers.” 2023.
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/35762/public-space-guidance-for-event-organisers
Lothian Buses. “Public Transport Use in the Capital Continues to Grow.” 2026.
Lothian Buses. “Route 35 Timetable.” 2026.
https://www.lothianbuses.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/35_26h02k22.pdf
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. “Fringe Days Out Programme.” 2024.
https://www.edfringe.com/experience/school-and-community-engagement/school-and-community-projects/fringe-days-out
Speed, Chris. “Travelling Treasures.”
