EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK recognises cities for child-friendly work

Organisers of the prestigious European Union-backed annual mobility awards have recognised the efforts by three cities to improve their mobility infrastructure – and in doing so making streets safer for children.

Braga’s production of street art and safe cycling for children, Sofia’s reduction of air pollution through traffic calming measures, and Zagreb’s work to reduce noise and cut pollution mean they are all on the shortlist for the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK Award 2022.

Every September, this event gives towns and cities across Europe the opportunity to trial innovative traffic and transport planning, promote new use of infrastructure and raise awareness on sustainable mobility within their communities. 

A second category, MOBILITYACTION, enables a diverse range of organisations to share successful examples of mobility management throughout the year. It also encourages people to choose active and sustainable mobility such as public transport, walking and cycling.

Organisers say that sustainable mobility can help save fuel, lower carbon emissions, improve air quality, and make Europe’s urban areas more pleasant places to live and work in.

The Portugese city of Braga used last September’s event to open up its streets for pedestrian use and build mini-parks, which included the production of street art, speed reduction programmes in and around local schools and safe cycling routes for children.

In the Bulgarian capital Sofia, there was a ‘car-free day’, where many streets were closed off to traffic and opened up solely for pedestrians and cyclists. City mobility experts also held dedicated events aimed at educating youngsters about road safety through a mixture of traditional and interactive methods.

And in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, cycling was one of the big themes focused on by city leaders, including a mass bike ride through the centre, safety workshops, free bike rental and quizzes for children.

Each nominated city was selected by a panel that includes the International Association of Public Transport, the European Cyclists’ Federation and various independent mobility experts. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Ghent, Belgium, on 23 March.