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European Mobility Week

Background
 European Mobilty Week 2010
Useful Links
Further Information

 

Background


European Mobility Week (EMW) is a voluntary European wide initiative which takes place every year between 16 and 22 September to promote a complete shift towards sustainable urban transport and in particular to focus our minds on the need to cut our reliance on the use of the car.

Ireland has been a consistent supporter and participant in this initiative since the year 2000.  From 2002, the original European Car Free Day concept has grown and developed into European Mobility Week (EMW) The programme invites local authorities across Europe to arrange a week of activities and events to promote sustainable transport and concludes with In Town, Without My Car! day (formerly known as Car Free day) which takes place on 22 September each year.

The event has been based around a specific theme each year, from Public Transport, Cycling and Living Streets/Greenways in 2002, to Accessibility and Safe Streets for Children in 2003 and 2004, Clever Commuting in 2005 and Climate Change in 2006, Streets for People in 2007 and Clean Air for All in 2008. “Improving City Climates” was the central theme for EMW 2009, Details of the participating local authorities and activities  which were organised for EMW 2009 are available to download at:  http://www.mobilityweek.eu/cities/participants_en.php?year=2009&country=IE


European Mobility Week 2010


EMW is an opportunity for everyone to show how sustainable transport concerns them. For local authorities as well as organisations and associations, it is a platform to promote their existing policies, initiatives and best practices related to sustainable urban mobility.
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Mr. John Gormley T.D. urges the general public, local authorities, and businesses to become involved in activities and events for mobility week.

For 2010, Travel Smarter, Live Better has been selected as the common EMW theme and is extremely opportune, given the launch in 2009 by the Minister for Transport of SmarterTravel- A Sustainable Transport Future which sets out how the vision of a sustainable travel and transport system can be achieved in Ireland.

The 2010 EMW theme Travel Smarter, Live Better acknowledges the negative effects that current transport trends have on human health, both for citizens and for the towns and cities in which they live. EMW 2010 therefore aims to get more European citizens living in urban areas to travel ‘smarter’ on foot, by bike and by public transport to help positively influence their health and wellbeing, and also enhance the environment and quality of life in cities to help them live better !

A dedicated website http://www.mobilityweek.eu  provides information for local authorities on all aspects of mobility week, including requirements for participation.  The adapted communication tools - logo, templates, charter and leaflet - will be available for download on www.mobilityweek.eu from March and April 2010 onwards. To participate in EMW, local authorities should register their involvement on the EMW website listing their programme of events and sign the EMW charter. The 2010 website and charter is currently being finalised, but it is anticipated that local authorities will be required to commit to at least one of the following requirements:

  • Organise a week of activities taking account of the focal theme Travel Smarter Live Better
  • Organise events around the ‘In town Without my Car’ (This event should preferably be held on 22 September, 2010)

 

Useful Links

Further Information


If you cannot find what you are looking for on this website or at http://www.mobilityweek.eu/you are welcome to contact the national Co-ordinator: Sinéad Harrington at sinead_harrington@environ.ie

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