“The European Mobility Week 2023 in Serbia is not only a celebration of our achievements in mobility, but also a reflection of our commitment to a sustainable future” is the message sent by the Ambassador of the European Union to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, in Novi Sad on the occasion of a bicycle ride as part of the Car Free Day.
“The fight against climate change determines how we will live in the future, how we will move and we have to familiarize ourselves with alternative ways of moving such as public transport, buses, trains, bicycles. Climate change is a great challenge for humanity. Every citizen has the responsibility to contribute to the reduction emission. In this way, we contribute to the fight against climate change, but also to improving the quality of the air we breathe,” said Ambassador Giafuret.
On the occasion of the European Mobility Week, which promotes alternative ways of moving for the sake of preserving the environment, Ambassador Giaufret pointed out that through various projects financed by the European Union, there were opportunities to implement the most modern technology and best practices in environmental management.
“These projects touched all aspects of our green agenda, from improving water quality to improving waste management and preserving biodiversity. The financial and technical assistance of the European Union was key to speeding up our journey towards a greener Serbia,” said Giaufret.
The Deputy Mayor of Novi Sad, Igor Crnobarac, pointed to the fact that the City has been successfully working for years to make Novi Sad recognisable and functional as a cycling city.
“We are continuously investing funds in the expansion of the network of bicycle traffic, which in Novi Sad extends for over 100 kilometers, and we are developing a network of bicycle paths that connect populated areas on the territory of the city, thereby contributing to the development of bicycle tourism,” said Deputy Mayor Crnobarac.
He also reminded that the City of Novi Sad, in order to promote and encourage the use of bicycles, was the first in Serbia to launch a campaign to support citizens in buying bicycles, thanks to which the purchase of about 3.5 thousand bicycles was supported in the previous two years.
The president of the Novi Sad Cycling Initiative, Marko Mazalica, said that Critical Mass is an event where they want to invite citizens to ride a bicycle and show that it is an excellent means of transportation.
“This year, we are organising a drive on the occasion of “Car Free Day” in order to draw attention to the fact that the bicycle is an excellent means of transportation, especially when we are talking about Novi Sad, which can boast of about 140 kilometers of bicycle paths and more and more citizens for whom the bicycle is a daily means of transportation.” Mazalica concluded.
Let us remind you that the Ambassador of the European Union to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, members of the Delegation of the European Union and officials of certain member states joined the men and women of Novi Sad in cycling at the Critical Mass, which was held on Friday, September 22, to mark the “Day without cars”.
The critical mass was also attended by the Ambassador of Belgium, Cathy Bugenhout, the Deputy Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, Monika Podsklanová Šuhajdova, and the technical adviser at the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Matheiu Voisin.
As part of the European Mobility Week, the EU info point in Novi Sad, together with the organisation Novi Sad Bicycle Initiative, marked “Car-Free Day”, which is traditionally marked on September 22 by riding bicycles.
About 400 people on bicycles, rollerblades and scooters set out on the already known path of Critical Mass of eight kilometeres.
At this tribune, citizens talked with city representatives about the new Law on traffic safety, bicycle traffic and infrastructure, the safety of cyclists, and all the challenges that concern new residents. The forum was organized by the Center for Improving Traffic Safety together with the Novi Sad Cycling Initiative, and was supported by the City Administration for Traffic and Roads.
This year, the focus of the European Mobility Week is energy saving, and the bicycle proves that as a means of transportation it is an ideal way to save energy, whether it is electric or obtained from fossil fuels.
The World Car Free Day is celebrated as part of the European Mobility Week, which lasts from September 16 to 22, every year on September 22.
Cities around the world, and especially in Europe, implement various measures and activities to mark this day and show their success in adapting the infrastructure to pedestrians and cyclists, as well as reducing pollution in their environments. Some of the cities close certain streets to motor traffic on this day, showing the importance of expanding pedestrian zones in the cities, others encourage citizens to ride bikes, walk and use public transport more on that day.
The event was organized by the Novi Sad Cycling Initiative, EU Info Point Novi Sad and the Youth Union of the OPENS association.
Every year, from September 16 to 22, European Mobility Week takes place, the European Commission’s flagship campaign to raise awareness of sustainable urban mobility.
During the week, nearly 3,000 cities and municipalities encourage behavioral changes in favor of active mobility, public transport and other clean, intelligent transport solutions by organizing awareness-raising activities and events with local stakeholders. In Serbia, 25 cities and municipalities joined the campaign.
