European Mobility Week 2024 showcases car-free solutions
A primary school car park transformed into a green space full of plants is just one of the highlights to kick off an annual European showcase of creative urban mobility.
Sensory installations give children and parents the chance to socialise, while youngsters who cycle to school are encouraged to ‘count the kilometres’ to help policymakers in the Slovenian town of Škofljica.
This perfectly shows off the diversity of EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK 2024, the EU’s annual awareness-raising campaign on sustainable urban mobility. Some 2,500 cities in 42 countries are actively taking part.
Designed to promote ‘behavioral change’ in favour of active mobility, public transport and other clean, intelligent modes of transport, the campaign is again rich with examples of how children and young people in cities across the EU are benefiting from some cities’ creative thinking.
This week, from 16 to 22 September, towns and cities are hosting activities and events, encouraging people to re-think how they move from A to B. The aim is to encourage more people to opt for public transport, walking or cycling, while raising awareness of the benefits of active or greener transport options. It culminates on Sunday 22 September with what has become a very popular Car-Free Day, with towns and cities hosting activities for pedestrians, cyclists and non-motorised vehicles.
One of the initiatives for EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK has seen children in the Spanish city of Oviedo given the opportunity to choose names for the city’s new e-buses. The youngsters’ winning names will be displayed on the front of the buses.
Meanwhile, the Polish town of Chocianów is to host a mobility photography and art competition for schoolchildren on the concept of ‘shared public space’. The winners will be announced this week during a cycling event combined with a picnic, a raffle and other family entertainment.
Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate Action, and who is responsible for transport, said: “Europe’s urban population is rising, and with it our need to move around in a safe and sustainable way. The European Mobility Week is an opportunity to engage with people and businesses, city planners and politicians to help improve the way we all benefit from the public spaces in our cities.
“Events across Europe will promote safer school streets, better and more welcoming public places, adequate parking for alternative modes of transports and much more. Let’s continue to lead by example and – for all of us who can – chose those transport modes that can not only improve urban air quality, but also contribute to making our cities more enjoyable to live in.”
Click here for the full set of resources on EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK 2024.
