Date of Award
12-2025
Degree Type
Thesis-Restricted
Degree Name
M.U.R.P.
Degree Program
Urban & Regional Planning
Department
School of Urban and Regional Planning
Major Professor
Marla Nelson
Second Advisor
Tara Tolford
Third Advisor
Bethany Stich
Abstract
This thesis investigates the impacts of São Paulo’s street cafe programs—beginning with the Ocupa Rua pilot during the pandemic and later institutionalized as Ruas SP—on walkability, safety, and the use of public space within the city’s car-oriented urban environment. The study bridges the policy, spatial, and perceptual dimensions of these street cafes by examining how residents perceived their effects on walkability and safety during the Ruas SP legislative process, and by quantitatively assessing how these cafes affect walkability at intersections in the original Ocupa Rua pilot area. Focusing specifically on central São Paulo, the research integrates three methods: qualitative analysis of public input on the Ruas SP program, a spatial audit of cafe intersections using Google Street View data, and non-participant observations of people walking. The thesis offers insights for other cities considering the institutionalization of similar tactical urbanism strategies to improve walkability and safety for people walking.
Recommended Citation
Urbine, Patrick A., "From On-Street Parking to On-Street Dining: Exploring Covid-19 Era Tactical Urbanism and Walkability in the Center of São Paulo, Brazil" (2025). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 3318.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/3318
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.