European Mobility Week launched to boost clean mobility

People experience wheelchairs during the European Mobility Week in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Sept. 16, 2024. Many Slovenian cities and towns hosted events promoting sustainable transport options to mark the European Mobility Week on Monday. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)
LJUBLJANA, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) — Many Slovenian cities and towns hosted events promoting sustainable transport options to mark the European Mobility Week on Monday.
The European Mobility Week, a European Union’s annual awareness campaign aimed at encouraging active mobility, public transport and clean and intelligent transport solutions in order to reduce transport emissions, started across Europe from Monday.
“Local authorities are encouraged to use the … week to try out innovative planning measures, promote new infrastructure and technologies, measure air quality, and get feedback from the public,” the European Commission said on its website.
The activities that will take place in cities across Europe and in some other countries, will culminate on the Car-Free Sunday on Sept. 22 when citizens are encouraged to move around without using a car.
In Slovenia, the number of cars increased by 15 percent in the past decade, while road transport produced 42 percent of all annual carbon dioxide emissions in 2022, according to the national news agency STA.
A total of 114 Slovenian municipalities will participate in the European Mobility Week by organising various public awareness events. The participating municipalities represent over 80 percent of the country’s population.
In the capital Ljubljana, over 80 free-of-charge events will take place to promote sustainable mobility. The events include guided groups of children who will walk to school instead of being driven there, a painting competition, addition security actions by the police, free bus rides and public measurements of air quality.
The European Mobility Week, which is a part of the EU’s strive to ensure clean and sustainable future, has been taking place since 2002. ■

People demonstrate entering a city bus with a wheelchair during the European Mobility Week in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Sept. 16, 2024. Many Slovenian cities and towns hosted events promoting sustainable transport options to mark the European Mobility Week on Monday. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

An event demonstrator teaches children the language of the deaf during the European Mobility Week in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Sept. 16, 2024. Many Slovenian cities and towns hosted events promoting sustainable transport options to mark the European Mobility Week on Monday. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

A girl tries to walk with the help of a walking stick for blind people during the European Mobility Week in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Sept. 16, 2024. Many Slovenian cities and towns hosted events promoting sustainable transport options to mark the European Mobility Week on Monday. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)