The random encounter of anonymous citizens is the key to urban life. Attractive public spaces are the guarantee of interaction between generations, social classes, communities and the construction of a "public life".

All over Europe, environment and energy concerns, associated with new demands of quality of life, have been promoting noticeable changes in the ideological paradigms that characterize the speech and practice of urban management.

The present conference aims to reflect, in comparative terms and at European level, on that functional category of urban mobility, so ubiquitous and stigmatized: the "pedestrian". For this purpose, we invited European specialists of recognized merit from such diverse areas as transport engineering, urban planning and the social sciences.

In the context of this international conference, we also promote a Round Table joining researchers and Portuguese NGO's, where an evaluation of the pedestrian situation in Portugal will be sought.

The book "Pedonalidade no Largo do Rato: Micro-poderes", by Aymeric Bôle-Richard (an ACA-M edition), will be released at the conference closing.