La aparición del 'problema de la circulación' y los orígenes de la gestión del tráfico urbano en España, 1900-1936

Abstract

Throughout the first third of the twentieth century, Madrid, Barcelona, and others Spanish cities experienced an increase in traffic problems, including traffic congestion and traffic accidents. The growth of number of vehicles –particularly motorcars–, the increase of pedestrian traffic, and the narrow urban layouts at the central areas of most of the cities, resulted in the so-called at the time 'problema de la circulación'. Municipal leaders dealt with the problem implementing different measures which inaugurated the history of traffic management in Spain, an issue largely neglected by scholars in Spanish urban studies. Adopting a comparative perspective, this essay examines those measures, including first attempts to unify traffic rules within the country. The paper addresses public discourses and debates over urban mobility, safety and modernization. The research is based on a wide range of sources, including local government reports, newspapers, magazines and photographs.