Access to information, consultation and public participation in urban policy: case studies of Tallinn and Moscow

This article considers open access cases of Tallinn and Moscow urban policy associated with large-scale application of information technologies. The idea of open access is analyzed from the side of how is the public structures are opened to information, consultation and public participation in urban policy. Estonia is famous as a user of the newest technology for personal identification, such as electronic passports and mobile ID, electronic voting systems, paperless government and widespread free access to the Internet. For the last few years Moscow also joined the club of modern and well technologically developed cities. All these sources are considered as a mechanism for creating a favorable environment for public participation. Analyses of the Moscow experience of creation of special technological infrastructure for interaction with citizens and practices of electronic referendums at the «Active citizen» project put the Moscow city to competitive stage of urban development and public consultations experience. The necessity of a participatory technology reveals the trend towards the use of technical devices for a more targeted and cost-effective public consultation and services. Citizens became more informed about the urban problems as users of urban facilities and as potential initiators and founders of a comfortable urban environment for their prosperity.