European Mobility Week 2014 aims to re-evaluate the way we think about urban space and to explore the relationship between land use and quality of life. This year’s slogan, “Our streets, our choice”, encourages people to create the city that they want to live in. European Mobility Week is organised on September 16-22 each year. Serbia marks it with a youth drawing contest “Green Ideas for Our City”, whose winners will be awarded during the mobility week.
“This year’s Mobility Week shows us how our mobility makes a difference to our quality of life. The European Commission has made a commitment to work hand-in-hand with cities to improve urban transport across the EU, for example through the recent Urban Mobility Initiative, aiming to make city journeys easier and greener,” said Vice-President Siim Kallas, Commissioner for Transport.
“European Mobility Week and the Do the Right Mix campaign remind each one of us that we can influence our cities by making the right transport choice for every trip,” Kallas said.
Globally, there is a growing movement to “reclaim” urban areas. Examples include car-parking spaces transformed into mini parks, streets used for community activities, and thoroughfares making way for café seats and al fresco dining. In short, this year
is all about reallocating and redesigning streets and public spaces in favour of people.
As well as recreational activities, facilitating low impact and sustainable methods of transport – such as walking and cycling – can make public spaces more enjoyable and our air cleaner.
The EMW 2014 be introduced in Belgrade on Tuesday, September 16 in Tasmajdan park, while awards will be handed in on Saturday, 20 September at the Republic Square, where an exibition of the best works will be open.
The exibition will be moved to EU Info Centre in Dom Omladine Beograd, where public could visit it for seven days.
About European Mobility Week
European Mobility Week is an annual campaign on sustainable urban mobility, organised with the political and financial support of the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission.
The aim of the campaign, which runs from 16 – 22 September every year, is to
encourage European local authorities to introduce and promote sustainable transport
measures and to invite the general public to try out alternatives to car use.
The week culminates in the “In Town Without My Car!” event, where participating towns and cities set aside one or several areas solely for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport for a whole day.
Since its introduction in 2002, the impact of European Mobility Week has been steadily growing, both across Europe and around the world. In 2013 1,931 cities from 47 countries officially registered for the campaign.
A total of 8,623 permanent measures have been implemented, mainly focusing on
infrastructure for cycling and walking, enhancing public transport services, improving
transport accessibility and raising awareness about sustainable travel behaviour.
