Feature

Spatial justice in practice

part of Same same but different: mobility and spatial justice in Tallinn and Bangkok

Feature

Spatial justice in practice

Transport infrastructures silently encodes values. Spatial (in)justice is not accidental – it is designed into the environment.

Shimin Huang, Chloe Pottinger-Glass / Published on 16 March 2026

The Same same but different series explores mobility and spatial justice in Tallinn and Bangkok and is part of SEI’s research program on sustainable transport. This chapter captures both equitable and inequitable examples of how mobility space is planned, regulated and experienced in both cities.

Sidewalk widths, crossings, curb heights and path connectivity signal who is expected to move comfortably – and who must endure detours, risk and inconvenience. Spatial justice is not abstract. It becomes visible in who occupies the centre of movement and who is pushed to the edge.

We asked:

How much space is allocated to different users?
What conditions are offered – and to whom?
Whose routes are safe, barrier-free and well lit?

Tallinn: too much space for cars

Too much is allocated to vehicles, leaving limited room for pedestrians. People spill over safety islands, cross from blind spots and sometimes wait between traffic lanes or descend into dark underpasses.

A woman stands on a refugee island with one hand in her pocket and the other resting on a wheeled shopping bag. The pedestrian traffic light is red. Cars are rushing past in both directions. — In an urban space designed for cars, motor vehicles move smoothly, while people are often squeezed onto narrow refugee islands.

Photo: Anette Parksepp / SEI

A view to the entrance of an underground pedestrian tunnel. A person is going down the stairs. The tunnel entrance is surrounded by a plastic shelter, which is covered with graffiti. — Pedestrians have to pass dark underground tunnels.

Photo: Anette Parksepp / SEI

Cyclists face similar risks. Bike paths may disappear, merge into traffic or become obstructed. Riders are pushed onto sidewalks, passing uncomfortably close to pedestrians and bus queues.

A cyclist dressed in green and brown tones is riding on the sidewalk and passing a narrow bus stop, in front of which a woman is standing and looking at her phone. The cyclist and the woman almost touch because the sidewalk is so narrow. In the background is a flower shop and a street with cars driving on it. — Insufficient infrastructure for different types of mobility can create conflicts in the urban space.

Photo: Anette Parksepp / SEI

Informal “elephant paths” across grass reveal where official routes fail. When accessibility is missing, people improvise – squeezing through sharp fences or navigating muddy detours around construction.

A long iron fence stretches across a green field with buildings around it. A person with a dog is pushing a corner of the iron fence open and sliding through the whole. — A way from a local store to residential buildings has been cut off by a fence, so local residents walk through the hole in the fence every day.

Photo: Anette Parksepp / SEI

Sidewalks often sit directly beside fast traffic and are overloaded with infrastructure. Many flood in heavy rain or remain uncleared in winter, turning every step into risk assessment. Tactile paving for visually impaired people is discontinuous, and high curbs create barriers for wheelchair users and strollers.

A large puddle on a sidewalk. On the background is a poster for local elections and pedestrians walking on a sidewalk.

A unique urban building, with many stairs leading up on the building from different sides. The front of the stairs is blocked by snow and steps haven't been cleared either. A road for cars leads into the building, which seems to have been cleaned.

A tactile path follows along a sidewalk but ends before a crosswalk.

Tallinn: signs of a shift

More equitable design is emerging. A European Green Capital intervention project transformed the Old Town square from a transit space into a public living room. The Pollinator Highway stitched fragmented green patches into a linear recreational park with separated pedestrian and cycling paths.

Large wooden seats stand in the middle of Tallinn Old Town Square, surrounded by colorful old buildings. Plants grow around the seats. People are sitting and lying on the benches. A stage stands in the middle of the square. — A temporary park turned Tallinn Old Town from transit space to public living room.

Photo: Shimin Huang / SEI

A green corridor with two lanes for bicycle on the left. On the right, people walk along a paved road. In the middle, people are using swings. — Pollinator Highway integrates sustainable movement, recreation and biodiversity into one public space.

Photo: Shimin Huang / SEI

Elevated crosswalks now double as speed bumps for cars, physically prioritizing pedestrians. Well-lit underpasses improve safety. Designated e-scooter parking zones near bus stops support multimodal travel. Street seating is increasing, and pets are allowed on public transport.

A well-lit underpass with a clearly marked path for pedestrians on the left and for cyclists on the right.

A food courier is riding a bicycle along a red bike path, which runs next to car lanes. He is carrying a large food delivery backpack. On the right is a sidewalk with people walking and rental scooters parked on it. In the background is a tram.

On the foreground is an elevated crosswalk. Across it walks an elderly person with a rollator.

Spatial injustice persists, but a shift towards more human-centred design is visible.

Bangkok: comfort is elevated

In Bangkok, low-income residents, informal workers and migrant communities face the greatest mobility barriers. Many suburban residents depend on motorbikes, facing high commuting costs and safety risks, or endure long public transport journeys

Evening view at a crosswalk. A bus has stopped in the middle of the crosswalk and a scooter has driven almost on the crosswalk. — Many depend on motorbikes and long public transport journeys.

Photo: Johanna Lehtmets / SEI

Cars signal wealth and comfort, shielding occupants from heat and rain. Streets have been widened to accommodate growing motorized traffic while sidewalks shrink or disappear, forcing pedestrians to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with fast-moving traffic.

A street full of cars. The cars are stuck in traffic, and in the foreground several cars are parked along the side of the street. On the sidewalk, which is narrower than the parking spaces, a cyclist is trying to ride through between two men who are standing there. In the background are tall buildings and greenery growing on them. — In an urban space designed for cars, pedestrians and cyclists sometimes have to fit together onto a lane that is narrower than the space allocated for a single car.

Photo: Johanna Lehtmets/ SEI

Meanwhile, elevated skywalks connect luxury malls above the noise and pollution. The city’s flagship skytrain integrates seamlessly with these walkways – yet fares remain out of reach for many.

People walk along a pavement of an overpass, surrounded by green plants. The path leads to a Dior store. — Paths above the noise and pollution are reserved for the well-off.

Photo: Johanna Lehtmets / SEI

In Bangkok, affluence is closely tied to ease and comfort of travel.

Bangkok: spaces of connection and coexistence

Despite these challenges, Bangkok also offers examples of more inclusive and multifunctional mobility spaces. Elevated walkways, green corridors and shared public areas can provide safer, more accessible routes for pedestrians, while also creating spaces for rest, interaction and everyday life.

A platform with a view to Bangkok. Four people are on the platform - two stand facing the city and one is sitting next to them in a wheelchair. The fourth person leans against a railing, back turned to the city. — Accessible viewing platform in Bangkok.

Photo: Johanna Lehtmets / SEI

In some areas, mobility infrastructure is integrated with greenery and public space, softening the experience of movement and offering alternatives to street-level congestion. These environments show how mobility spaces can support not only movement, but also accessibility, comfort and social connection.