Record-breaking EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK participation in 2018!

From 16 - 22 September, 2018 activities took place all across Europe and other regions to mark EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK. 

Nearly 2 800 towns and cities from 54 different countries registered for EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK this year, making 2018 its third record-breaking year in a row! 

The full list of participating countries and the cities that have taken part is available from http://www.mobilityweek.eu/2018-participants.

In addition, 1 145 towns and cities closed one or more street(s) to traffic to hold a car-free day in 2018 and 1 276 towns and cities declared that they had implemented at least one permanent measure. Overall, an amazing 8 839 permanent measures were implemented by participating cities in 2018.

“Permanent measures” are steps that contribute to people making sustainable transport choices. Examples include creating cycle lanes, adding electric vehicle charging points, and implementing speed reduction programmes in zones near schools. These measures show the commitment of the town or city to sustainable urban mobility.

Car-free day often leads to a marked increase in air quality in the area in which it is implemented and is the perfect opportunity for local authorities to measure the impact of motorized vehicles on the air we breathe. A recent study on Brussels’ car-free day found that black carbon decreased by 80 percent during the period in which cars were off the roads.

EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc declared 2018 the ‘Year of Multimodality’, which defined the theme of this year’s EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK:  “Mix and Move!” The theme encouraged people to see how their daily travel needs can be met more efficiently, more cost-effectively, and more enjoyably by mixing transport modes.

Media coverage of EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK was extensive, with over 8 000 news items produced about the campaign, reaching over 200 million people.

Local authorities that made significant efforts to promote sustainable urban mobility during the campaign can apply for the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK Awards until 23 October 2018.

More information about the campaign and the activities undertaken in 2018 and throughout the years since the campaign started in 2002 is available on www.mobilityweek.eu.