Real solutions

Eurocities, the organisation representing city authorities, has been heavily involved in the European Commission’s annual Mobility Week ever since it began in 2002.

In preparation for the 2007 edition, Eurocities has produced a report on clean transport initiatives, which have been inspired by or launched at Mobility Week.

The list is not exhaustive and does not include measures - such as the London congestion charge - developed away from the European Commission’s initiative. But Eurocities hopes that some of the projects to reduce traffic emissions and congestion will convince bystanders that Mobility Week has proved to be more than a short-term publicity stunt. Equally, it hopes that by highlighting some initiatives it can encourage other cities to follow suit.

Changing cities

• Budapest, Hungary

Mobility Week has, according to the city’s mayor, encouraged Budapest to improve its bus services. An increase in the number of bus-lines serving the Hungarian capital has included a new express bus and a new suburban bus

• Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain

The Spanish Basque country city is developing a new cycling network, which it promotes at Mobility Week every year

• Bologna, Italy

Mobility Week 2006 saw the Italian university town launch energy efficient buses and new cycling facilities

• Évora, Portugal

Also in 2006 the Portuguese city of Évora launched a ‘hand-in-hand’ project, to reduce the amount of traffic taking children to the city’s schools. Volunteers accompany the children in what is styled as a "walking bus"

• Nantes, France

The western French town of Nantes has been one of the most active French cities at every Mobility Week. Initiatives inspired by the Commission project include an increased use of boats on the Loire, the river that flows through the town

• Vöcklabruck and Hradec Králové

These cities in Austria and the Czech Republic both chose to focus on bicycles as the best way to reduce traffic emissions and congestion

• Helsinki, Finland

The Finnish capital allows shoppers and commuters to buy public transport tickets with their mobile phones. It launched a simplified version of the process during Mobility Week last year

• Ljubljana, Slovenia

Began to phase in biodiesel-powered buses in 2006 and will complete the process this year

• Geneva, Switzerland

Encourages rollerblading with its weekly ‘Monday Night Skate’

Eurocities, the organisation representing city authorities, has been heavily involved in the European Commission’s annual Mobility Week ever since it began in 2002.