Nouvelle politique publique de la vie nocturne — New nightlife Public Policy

Good Practice

Efficiency, Sustainability

Nouvelle politique publique de la vie nocturne — New nightlife Public Policy

Holistic approach to nighttime issues with working areas including mobility, ecological transition, territorial equity, security, social action, cultural and leisure practices, economy, and tourism development.

Strasbourg City Council

France

Local policy

POLICY OBJECTIVE

Place at the centre of public policy a cross-cutting and co-constructed vision of the night involving professionals; institutional, associative and cultural partners, and representatives of residents and users.
Foster universal safety and inclusion, including among low earners, women, people vulnerable to discrimination, and people experiencing homelessness.
Adjust public transport (3 night lines already operate on weekends) to the needs of various groups of riders (e.g. shift workers, students and partygoers), including by expanding on-demand stops for women and facilitating non-motorized transport at night.
Distribute festive, cultural, and leisure venues across the territory to increase geographical equity and reduce nuisances, including noise and hygiene and safety issues, associated with downtown areas with a high concentration of venues.
Design meeting places and walking areas to promote social interaction with no obligation to consume.
Continue prevention actions around risky behaviours, support for alcohol vendors, and mediation with the nighttime public.
Consider issues related to the environment and climate change in urban planning and address the impact of a warming local climate on how public space is used (i.e. encouraging people to use outdoor spaces later in the day, demineralizing through greenery, and making urban nights more tolerable by increasing cool zones).
Make spaces more attractive by fomenting sustainable tourism.
Protect biodiversity with a “black grid.”
Regulate the city to prevent gender-based and sexual violence.
Strike a balance between the various facets of the night.

CONTEXT

Before 2020, a narrowly focused nightlife policy primarily addressed tensions between drinking establishments and their patrons on one side, and residents seeking peace and quiet on the other. Mainly in the city centre and based on anti-smoking laws, Strasbourg regulated nightlife to ease tensions between residents and alcohol vendors. In 2010 the city and roughly 90 late-night establishments signed a nightlife charter promoting best practices. The initiative was complemented by prevention actions, staff training, mediation, and security measures.

In the early 2020s, the city embarked on a broader reflection around nighttime activities, studying the Strasbourg area to identify major issues and needs and prioritize actions from spring 2023 to early 2024. Focal points included mobility, ecological transition, territorial equity, security, social action, cultural and leisure practices, economy, and tourism development. In 2023, Strasbourg implemented a lighting reduction plan to save energy and preserve biodiversity, turning off half the lights between 1.00am and 5.00am.

Currently, a diagnosis is underway to pinpoint issues and establish an action plan. This diagnosis involves interviews, thematic workshops, nighttime walks with residents, and workshops, with a final presentation scheduled for spring 2024. The goal is to implement the action plan using an approach to governance that cuts across both the political and administrative spheres.

POLICY DESCRIPTION

The new nightlife policy will be deployed and reinforced when the diagnosis is complete. The active involvement of the Office for Time and Time Policies will enable comprehensive and systemic reflection.

KEY ASPECTS

Agreed by consensus and promoted within the local administration.
Involvement of all public and private museums in the city.
Financial resources to comprehensively disseminate message and initiative through an effectively deployed yearly communication campaign.

RESULTS

Key considerations:

Incorporating new nighttime practices.
Addressing climate and environmental challenges.
Establishing a space for dialogue and collaboration among various stakeholders.
Paying special attention to vulnerable populations and women.
Designing city infrastructure to facilitate peaceful nightlife.

Good Practice