The European Mobility Week is an annual campaign on
sustainable urban mobility, organised with the political and financial support
of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Mobility and Transport.
The aim of the campaign, which runs from 16 to 22 September every year, is to
encourage European local authorities to introduce and promote sustainable
transport measures and to invite people to try out alternatives to car use. The
week culminates in the Car Free Day 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. Over 900 participating towns
and cities organised a Car Free Day, and 5657 permanent measures were
implemented in 799 cities in 2015. The most popular measures were in categories
such as awareness raising campaign about sustainable travel behaviour,
increasing access to transport, and new or improved facilities and
infrastructure for cycling.
Theme
Each European Mobility Week focuses on a particular topic
related to sustainable mobility, the so-called focal theme. Local authorities
are required to organise activities for their citizens based on this theme.
They are also encouraged to launch and promote permanent measures that support
the theme.
2016 Theme
Smart Mobility. Strong Economy. Strengthening local
economies is a universally popular goal, but one that many feel lies outside of
our control as individuals or communities. Research shows, however, that by
making smarter mobility choices we can notably boost public finances. Studies indicate that cities that promote sustainable
transport are at a significant economic advantage over those that favour
traditionally fuelled cars. People who travel by active transport modes, such
as walking and cycling, are not only more productive at work, they also take
fewer sick days and spend less time on average in the doctor’s office. And the benefits go far beyond better health. Property
values in cities with good cycling facilities and efficient public transport
tend to be higher, while children who walk or cycle to school perform better in
class.
Prioritising sustainable transport also benefits the private
sector. Reports reveal an increase in trading of up to 40 percent in areas
where walking and cycling become the norm. In Copenhagen (Denmark), customers
who travel to cities by bicycle spend €2 billion per year - more than those who
travel by private vehicle.
From a governmental standpoint, investing in infrastructure
for active travel, encouraging public transport use to reduce traffic
congestion, and supporting bike-to-work schemes can save public money and boost
local commerce. From every angle, the economic benefits of smart mobility
are plain to see - from the public to the private sector, from society at large
to the individual. This year, European Mobility Week is encouraging both local
politicians and the public to look at smart and sustainable mobility as an
investment for Europe.
EMW Award
The European Mobility Week Award is presented to the local
authority that is judged to have done the most to raise awareness of
sustainable mobility during European Mobility Week (16-22 September). To apply,
local authorities must have implemented the three criteria below and signed the
Charter.
Organising a week of activities, taking into
account the theme of each year
Implementing at least one new permanent measure
which contributes to modal transfer from the private car to an environmentally
sound means of transport
Organising a Car-Free Day, setting aside one or
several areas that are reserved solely for pedestrians, cyclists and public
transport for at least one whole day. The Car Free Day should preferably be
held on the 22nd of September.
Winners of the award, chosen by an independent panel of
transport experts, receive a three-minute video in both English and their
native language highlighting their achievements. In addition, the winning city
and finalists are promoted via the campaign's channels.
SUMP Award
The Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (SUMP) Award
recognises local authorities that have developed a Mobility Plan that satisfies
the diverse transport needs of people and businesses, whilst improving quality
of life. Each year, the award highlights a different aspect of
mobility planning. The 2013 award recognised successful territorial and policy
integration, while the 2014 edition looked at monitoring implementation with an
eye to making improvements. The 2015 edition focused on providing for
multimodality and intermodality in sustainable urban mobility planning.
Mobility Actions
If you’re doing something to promote the idea of sustainable
urban mobility, you can register your Mobility Action on the
EMW website and become part
of the European Mobility Week campaign. A mobility action can be limited to a
specific day or last for several weeks/months. The registration form can be
submitted in English and the action must promote a behavioural shift towards a
more sustainable urban mobility culture. Once registered, your steps to promote
sustainable urban mobility will be displayed online. A complete explanation of
the participation rules can be found
online.
European Mobility Week in Malta
2014 and 2015 were success editions of the European Mobility
Week in Malta. Similarly to what is expected from all other EU Member States,
Transport Malta, together with other ministries, entities and departments,
organises a number of activities under the European Mobility Week brand name.
Below are links to activities held in the past 2 years and the programme of activities in Malta for 2016.
Malta National Bicycle Ride 2014