European Mobility Week 2007 takes place under the motto Streets for People. The campaign has been organised to address the increasing concern among Europeans about air pollution and urban mobility. Many people living in towns complain of their bad quality of life, which is influenced by air and noise pollution, overcrowding and long traffic jams. However, the number of cars is constantly increasing, mostly in the new EU member countries. The consequence of all these is the worsening of peoples health and the impact on childrens development.
In addition, the cost of driving a car is much higher than using a bicycle, as planning motor vehicle infrastructure is more costly than constructing a bicycle lanes network.
For its first observance in Bulgaria, European Mobility Week (September 16 to 22) was officially opened with a ceremony in front of Ivan Vazov National Theatre in the centre of Sofia. TNT organised the September 16 initiative, which was held under the auspices of the Netherlands ambassador to Bulgaria Willem van Ee. European Mobility Week traditionally ends on September 22, when International Car Free Day (www.mobilityweek.eu) is observed.
Mayor Boiko Borissov, European Integration Minister Gergana Grancharova, Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum executive director Stamen Tassev and mountain climber Doychin Vassilev were among the guests at the event. They, together with Bulgarian Olympic Committee chairperson Stefka Kostadinova and Van Ee, received and signed certificates of engagement. The certificates are In support of the Arrive on time ride a bicycle initiative for use of bicycle as an alternative to motor vehicle and public transport, with the aim of reducing traffic in Sofia and CO2 emissions, for a cleaner capital and planet.
During the news conference, the attendees presented the main ideas of the campaign. Riding a bicycle as an alternative form of transportation would contribute to reducing city traffic. In addition, it is a clean means of getting from one place to another and would contribute to cutting down the harmful gas emissions released into the atmosphere by motor vehicles.
If more Bulgarians start riding bicycles, this will affect the traffic in Sofia positively. In the Netherlands, cycling is the most frequent way to move at any time of the day no matter if you are going to your job, to an appointment or to the park, Van Ee said. After the news conference, he, Grancharova, Tassev, Vassilev and TNT employees kicked off European Mobility Week with a symbolical bick ride in Sofia City Garden.
Delivery company TNT is giving company bicycles to all their employees in Sofia. The only condition for the employees is to prove that they are interested in exchanging their mode of transport with cycling by coming to work five days a week on their own bicycle. Then they sign the certificate for engagement and receive the new orange bike. About 50 per cent of the Sofia employees, or 50 people, have already received a bicycle.
Bulgaria will celebrate European Mobility Week 2007 at several locations with bicycle parades, childrens competitions and other initiatives. On September 18 in the town of Isperih, the first of a series of local bicycle parades took place. The local Dimitrovets tourism association organised it.
In Sofia, European Mobility Week will end with a celebration of Car Free Day, September 22. At 10am in front of St Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the fifth consecutive year of the bicycle parade will start, in which all can participate. The route is planned to pass through Moskovska Street, the boulevards Yanko Sakuzov, Evlogi Georgiev, Tsar Osvoboditel and Dondukov, Sveta Nedelya Square and Vitosha Boulevard, finishing at Yuzhen (Park (South Park) entrance. At 11.30am in Yuzhen Park, the childrens bicycle competition will start for six age groups, for kids from three to 14 years old. The events in Sofia are organised by Rila Tourism Club, Velomania and the association BikeEvolution (bikeevolution-bg.org).
In Plovdiv on September 22 at 10am, a bike parade at the newly opened bicycle lane in the Yuzhen borough will start and will pass through Skopje, Pere Toshev and Nikola Vaptsarov streets to Stefan Stambolov Boulevard. The sport competitions for the children will start at 11am. Local organisers are Parallel Universe, Tandembike, the Regional Inspectorate on Environment and Waters and the Traffic Police (KAT).
Varna will celebrate Car Free Day with a bicycle parade on their newly opened bicycle lane, starting at 10am. The local municipality and Kemi bicycle shop have organised the event in the Black Sea city.
The northern city of Pleven will have a bicycle competition for the children in Kailuka Park, organised by Plevens city hall and Plevens bicycle centre.
Mountain biking on Cherni Vruh above Sofia will start on September 23 at 8am from the main entrance of Yuzhen Park.
