Community voices to understand and promote liveability in the Green Corridor urban transformation project in Bogotá, Colombia.

backgroundLatin American cities are transforming in response to climate change, yet residents' liveability experiences before these transformations begin are rarely documented. In Bogotá, the 2022-2035 Land Use Master Plan's Green Corridors aim to promote sustainable mobility and integrate green infrastructure in urban design, with the first corridor planned along 7th Street. This study provides a baseline evaluation of liveability conditions along 7th Street before construction, aiming to (i) identify perceptions of social and built environment factors that facilitate or hinder liveability and (ii) document potential solutions to identified barriers.

methodsWe employed a multi-method approach. A cross-sectional household survey described residents' sociodemographic profile and perceptions of the Green Corridor's expected effects on liveability. The Our Voice citizen science method engaged residents and commuters in identifying perceived facilitators and barriers, proposing potential solutions, and exchanging knowledge with policymakers.

resultsResidents' most expected improvements included increased vegetation, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and public space upgrades, while the most anticipated deteriorations included difficulty in car use and worsening public transport operations. Through the Our Voice method, 66 citizen scientists captured 1123 photo-narratives, documenting access to essential services, green areas, and urban trees as the most mentioned facilitators, while poor pedestrian infrastructure and safety concerns as the most mentioned barriers. Proposed solutions included infrastructure improvements, educational campaigns, and evidence-based policymaking. The process increased environmental awareness among citizen scientists and supported knowledge exchange with policymakers.

conclusionThis study underscores the importance of grounding climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in baseline assessments of urban residents' liveability experiences. Built environment factors were widely valued as facilitators, while social environment factors emerged as persistent barriers, a pattern that the Our Voice method deepened by revealing the conditions that underpin these perceptions. The participatory process generated practical solutions, deepened citizen scientists' awareness of their surroundings, and enabled meaningful engagement with policymakers. As cities pursue climate goals, these findings offer a foundation for understanding and evaluating the effects of a Green Corridor on residents' everyday liveability as the intervention unfolds.