Roads are not merely routes for vehicles; they can also serve as safe and comfortable public spaces for communities. Through a tactical urbanism approach, streets can be redesigned to accommodate the needs of a wider range of users, particularly children.

This was one of the topics discussed at “Publik Menata Ruang Publik” (The Public Shapes Public Spaces), held at Segara Ayu Beach, Sanur, on 13 October 2026. The discussion was part of Bali Climate Week, which took place from 13–17 October 2026. Speakers included Deliani Siregar, Deputy Director of ITDP Indonesia; Dini Amatullah, Transport and Urban Design Specialist at WRI Indonesia; Antonio Ismael Risianto, Architect and Urban Planner at EcoSanur Movement Together; and Ngurah Termana, Community Development Specialist at WRI Indonesia.

“One-third of Denpasar’s built-up area consists of roads, yet our streets are far from safe. The number of road accidents in Denpasar increased 2.5-fold between 2022 and 2024. Many children have lost access to streets as safe spaces, and we need to pay attention to how we design spaces for them,” said Dini Amatullah, Transport and Urban Design Specialist at WRI Indonesia.

In response, Deliani highlighted the importance of street interventions in improving safety and creating more child-friendly spaces.

“Street interventions have a significant impact on safety. A shared-street design can provide more space, particularly for children,” Deliani said.

The tactical urbanism approach enables temporary interventions to test street designs and uses before they are implemented permanently. However, these interventions need to be supported by clear monitoring and evaluation indicators. Deliani emphasized the importance of regular evaluations, for example, three months after implementation, to assess the effectiveness of an intervention and identify areas for improvement.

Evaluation also helps clarify the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved, including the communities who use these spaces. This way, interventions go beyond physical changes and can serve as a starting point for creating safer public spaces that better meet community needs.

In Sanur, this approach was put into practice by transforming areas previously used for vehicle parking in front of Pura Dalem Segara in Intaran Traditional Village and Warung Men Weti. The areas were converted into public spaces featuring community-painted street surfaces, a mobile library, and a children’s play area.

Community participation is essential to ensuring that public spaces can be used and enjoyed by people from diverse backgrounds. Through measurable trials and evaluations, tactical urbanism can help create urban spaces that are more inclusive, safer, and responsive to people’s needs.