Urban Space and Car Sharing: A Systems Thinking Perspective

This year, Secret Santa worked its magic and my sister-in-law, Maja, gifted me the Dutch translation of Thinking in Systems: A Primer by Donella Meadows. Originally published in 2008, and based on her groundbreaking work in the ’70s and ’80s, this book provides a clear and structured way to approach complex systems. While it doesn’t introduce entirely new ideas, it brilliantly organizes concepts that can transform how we view challenges and find leverage for impactful solutions.

As I read through it, I couldn’t help but think about one of the most pressing challenges in our cities: the efficient use of urban space. Space is a finite stock—it can’t grow—but the way we use it can change dramatically. With car sharing and multimodal mobility, we can unlock its potential.

Space as Stock: A Finite Yet Transformative Resource

In systems thinking, a stock is anything that accumulates or depletes over time. Urban space is one of the most valuable yet constrained stocks we have. It cannot expand, but its allocation changes constantly.

• Inflow (space gain): Space is freed up when cars disappear, such as through car sharing or converting streets into pedestrian zones.
• Outflow (space loss): Space is consumed as the number of cars grows, taking up roads, parking spaces, and intersections.

What struck me most is that this flow operates in reverse: the more cars there are, the less effective space remains. It’s as if the city is shrinking under the weight of vehicles.

Feedback Loops: The Dynamics of Space and Cars ??

One of Meadows’ core concepts is feedback loops, which describe how systems grow or stabilize. For urban space and cars, these loops are evident:

• Reinforcing feedback: More cars demand more roads and parking, which makes driving more attractive. This, in turn, leads to even more cars and reduced available space.
• Balancing feedback: When space becomes constrained, congestion worsens, and parking scarcity pushes people toward alternative modes like biking, walking, or public transit.

The brilliance of systems thinking lies in identifying these dynamics and finding ways to nudge the system toward balance. And that’s where car sharing comes in.

Car Sharing: Reclaiming Space Without Expanding It ??

Car sharing offers a compelling strategy to reduce the pressure on urban space. On average, one shared car can replace 8 to 10 privately owned vehicles. This frees up space that would otherwise be consumed by parked or unused cars.

But car sharing only truly thrives when integrated into a broader multimodal mobility system. This is where mobility hubs shine—locations where shared cars, bikes, and public transport seamlessly connect, making it easy for people to switch modes.

• Space efficiency: Shared vehicles require fewer parking spaces, reducing the need for sprawling infrastructure.
• Behavioral change: Car sharing encourages people to think critically about their trips, shifting away from default car use.
• Multimodality: Mobility hubs strengthen the link between transport options, creating a cohesive network where each mode supports the other.

Leverage Points: Small Actions, Big Results ??

In Thinking in Systems, Meadows describes leverage points—places where small interventions can create outsized impacts. For urban mobility, space offers several powerful leverage points:

1. Reduce space loss: Discourage car dependency by shrinking parking supply, introducing congestion charges, reallocating road space, or reducing subsidies for company cars or electric vehicles that still occupy significant urban space.
2. Increase space gain: Promote car sharing and multimodal solutions through mobility hubs, which optimize space use and accessibility.
3. Change the rules: Rethink urban space priorities. Initiatives like Barcelona’s superblocks show how giving space back to people creates healthier, more vibrant communities.

A City with Space for Happiness ??

Reflecting on my Christmas gift from Maja, I realize how Meadows’ insights remain incredibly relevant. Her work doesn’t just help us understand urban mobility better—it gives us the tools to ask the right questions:

• How do we allocate our space?
• How do our decisions today shape the city of tomorrow?
• How can small, strategic interventions create meaningful change?

Urban space isn’t just a stock—it’s the foundation for building resilient, inclusive, and joyful cities. And it all begins with thinking differently about how we share and manage it.

Under that Christmas tree was more than a book. It was a new lens for viewing the city we live in—and the space we share together. ??