The EU's fading car-free dream

Different approaches

Utrecht
This year closed its entire city centre to traffic on Sunday 13 September (so technically outside European Mobility Week). The date was chosen to coincide with a large cultural festival in the city which regularly attracts around 80,000 people. The city arranged for actors to mingle in the crowds giving presents to people on bikes, and polishing the shoes of people using public transport. It is the third consecutive year that the city has held a car-free day.

Prague
Will hold its car-free day on 20 September. The city plans to close roads running along the banks of the Vltava (Moldau) river to cars, so people can enjoy them on bikes. Other activities during European Mobility Week include children's theatre and the opening of new cycle paths.

Ljubljana
Will close its commercial centre to traffic on 22 September and organise a roller marathon through the city, a rock concert and bike tours for children. There will also be a major information campaign on sustainable transport.

The French experience

France bags the credit for holding the first official “En ville sans ma voiture” day in 1998. Fast-forward a decade and this pedestrian fightback has morphed into a week of activities involving more than 2,100 cities, towns and local authorities.  This year's European Mobility Week, which began yesterday (16-22 September), again promises to raise the profile of greener city transport and culminates in worldwide car-free day.

But one car-free day is not enough. Cities can take part in mobility week only if they promise to introduce at least one permanent change to their transport system – to guarantee that the week leaves a “proven legacy”, says Peter Staelens at Eurocities, a pan-European group that helps to organise mobility week (although 23% of participating towns and cities did not introduce any permanent measures in 2008). Creating cycle-lanes and pedestrian zones, improving access to transport for disabled and older people and educating people about ‘smart' travel are the most popular ‘legacy' measures.

Creating a buzz is also important. Last year 25,000 cyclists flooded the streets of Budapest in a ‘bike-to-work' competition. The Portuguese city of Almada treated non-car commuters to coffee, as well as organising debates and local shopping days. Residents of Murcia could take advantage of free public transport, balloon flights, horse-drawn carriages and a pedestrian day. The hope is that this one week will build momentum for greener transport for years to come.