Are you part of an initiative to make walking or cycling safer? Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your work during this key annual campaign.
Did you know that almost 40% of EU workers carry out their work while sitting down? This number includes, for example, office workers using computers, staff in call-centres and vehicle drivers. Many of us struggle to find time to exercise during busy work weeks. Potentially there could however be many possibilities to combine our daily commute with being active.
This year’s European Mobility Week, organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, is encouraging towns and cities to think about how active mobility, like walking and cycling, could be promoted and integrated into citizens’ daily lives. The “Walk with us!” campaign, which takes place from 16 to 22 September, showcases mobility initiatives that are committed to make cities safer and healthier by promoting sustainable transport modes. It’s a perfect opportunity for North Sea Region initiatives to present the benefits of cleaner transport choices.
Using data to make cycling easier
A good example of a joint effort is the BITS project, which implements multiple cycling pilots in North Sea Region cities. The project aims to use Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) to increase bicycle use. These systems could, for example, create links between public transport and cycling by providing data on bike parking places and bike sharing locations. At the end of September the partners will hold a ‘cycling academy’ in Beverly, UK focused on the topic of “Getting started with Cycling”. The event aims to bring together anyone interested in Smart Cycling and the use of ITS in order to increase the uptake and safety of cycling.
Autonomous driving benefits vulnerable road users
This is just one of the ways in which towns and cities in the region invest in promoting active transport modes. Other North Sea Region projects, for example, ART-Forum and SUV, which focus on autonomous transport, target active mobility in a more indirect way: Stimulating the use of autonomous vehicles could make cities safer for pedestrians and cyclists. In sum, North Sea Region Programme initiatives will not only make cities healthier, but also safer, cleaner, more attractive and less congested.
Join the campaign
All towns and cities that promote a behavioural shift towards a more sustainable urban mobility culture are welcome to register and become part of the large campaign under the Mobility Week heading. Please note that only the official local authority of the participating town or city may register. After registration, cities also have a chance to win the Mobility Week award if they have made a strong commitment to promoting sustainable mobility during Mobility Week.
Organisations of all sizes and types can also actively participate in the campaign by registering their MobilityAction, which is an action that promotes a behavioural shift towards a more sustainable urban mobility culture and is of a promotional rather than a technical nature. Examples include a company’s initiative to encourage walking to work, a cycling challenge, or a discount on public transport tickets.
For more information, please visit the website www.mobilityweek.eu. Will you walk with us towards a more active North Sea Region?
