Under the slogan "moving sustainably, staying safe", EUROCLIMA+ partner cities participated in Mobility Week.
Latin America, 23 September 2021.- Under the slogan "Safety and health with sustainable mobility", EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK took place from 16 to 22 September, with the participation of partner cities and beneficiaries of the EUROCLIMA+ programme representing Latin America.
Since 2002, this European Commission campaign brings together cities around the world to generate initiatives that promote sustainable transport measures and encourage people to use alternatives to the private car. Over the years, participation in EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK has increased worldwide. This 2021, 3,055 cities from 53 countries registered. Of these, 17 cities from 6 Latin American countries participated.
The 2021 edition pays tribute to the difficulties Europe and the world experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also reflects on the opportunities for change arising from this unprecedented health crisis.
Cities and urban administrations have established creative and resilient responses to the pandemic. That is why this year's EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK celebrates the resilience of cities and their achievements, while seeking to maintain this momentum. Trends that started last year, such as the rise of active mobility and the use of low- or zero-emission mobility, require further promotion.
The beneficiary cities that carried out activities in 2021 were the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara (Mexico), Arequipa (Peru), Curridabat and Montes de Oca (Costa Rica) and Ibagué (Colombia).
Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara (México)
On 18 September, the Institute for Planning and Development Management of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (IMEPLAN) held the "Metropolitan Ride for Sustainable Mobility", in which around 70 people participated on a 9-kilometre route on emerging and under-construction cycle paths in the metropolis.
Held as part of Mobility Week and World Car Free Day, the ride was a fun opportunity to gather input from cyclists on active mobility and its challenges, which will be integrated into the construction of the Integrated Plan for Sustainable Urban Mobility (PIMUS) being carried out by the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (AGM) with the support of the EUROCLIMA+ programme.
After the ride, round table discussions were held with the participants on the following topics:
- Station 1 What are we looking for the PIMUS to solve? The problems identified by citizens regarding mobility in the metropolis were collected.
- Station 2 - What impacts do we want the PIMUS to have? The measures proposed by the PIMUS were defined, prioritised, and accepted.
- Station 3 - What cycling infrastructure does the metropolis need? Areas with a cycling infrastructure connection deficit were analysed.
- Station 4 - How do we imagine mobility in our city in the future? The vision and objectives of the PIMUS were discussed.
Arequipa (Peru)
Arequipa joined the global Mobility Week campaign and, as part of the development of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP), organised a series of activities from 17 to 26 September.
During this period, the Municipal Planning Institute (IMPLA) promoted and encouraged politicians and citizens to use more sustainable, healthier, and safer means of transport, such as public transport, cycling and walking.
On 17 September, the municipality launched the virtual survey on the perception of urban mobility in Arequipa, information that will be used for the Arequipa SUMP, which is being carried out with support from the EUROCLIMA+ programme.
On 21 September, the "Situation of urban mobility in Arequipa" photo contest was launched, which will serve to encourage citizen participation and show, through cameras, images that portray the current conditions of the city's streets and transport.
On 22 September, World Car Free Day, the municipality held a road awareness campaign and a coexistence forum to promote environmental awareness about the excessive use of private cars, the pollution problems they generate and the negative impact on health. This included information promoting more sustainable modes of transport such as cycling, pedestrian mobility and public transport.
To conclude Mobility Week, the Peruvian city held a closure of its historic city centre for motorised vehicles and a cycle ride.
Curridabat y Montes de Oca (Costa Rica)
From 9 to 25 September, the cantons of Curridabat and Montes de Oca held virtual workshops on urban cycling. Through a space for teaching and consultation with experts, citizens were able to access the basic concepts and tools for the use of bicycles as a means of transport.
This activity is part of the educational actions of the “Promotion and development of urban cycling”, developed under the framework of EUROCLIMA+ in Costa Rican cities.
The series of workshops included explanatory videos on types and parts of bicycles, basic accessories in urban cycling, the logistics of cycle rides, road regulations, street regulations that are not covered by the law, as well as scenarios for safe cycling.
The videos were followed by a question-and-answer session between the inhabitants of Curridabat and Montes de Oca and the urban cycling experts.
On World Car Free Day, the signing of the Intermunicipal Agreement on Active Mobility took place, which integrated the cantons of Belén, Curridabat, Desamparados, Escazú, La Unión, Montes de Oca, Mora and San José into advancing and working on improving walking and cycling conditions for all people.
Since 2018 the Intercantonal Network for Active Mobility (RIMA) was formed as a space for the promotion of walkability and cycling based on the exchange of knowledge and experiences, which today is formalised with the support and accompaniment of institutions such as the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Road Safety Council (COSEVI), German Development Cooperation - GIZ, and others.
Ibagué (Colombia)
With support from the Entandem Foundation, the city of Ibagué organised a series of activities during Mobility Week to remind its inhabitants of the importance of having a pedestrian culture and using alternative means of transport, with a focus on children and young people.
From 16 to 20 September, a Cycling Festival was held with students from 8 to 10 years old, a BMX Festival, a Training Bike Festival for children from 3 to 6 years old, Loans of public bikes and finally a Night Cycle Ride.
In the framework of the EUROCLIMA+ programme, the city of Ibagué is in the process of implementing a public bicycle system for shared use and assisted pedalling, which will promote an increase in bicycle use among the population.
About EUROCLIMA+
EUROCLIMA+ is a programme funded by the European Union and co-financed by the German Federal Government through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as well as by the governments of France and Spain. Its objective is to reduce the impact of climate change and its effects in 18 Latin American and Caribbean countries by promoting climate change mitigation and adaptation, resilience and investment. The Programme is implemented under the synergistic work of seven agencies: the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the French Development Agency (AFD), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Expertise France (EF), the International and Ibero-America Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the UN Environment Programme.
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