The Italian government will offer a 70% subsidy, capped at 500 euros, for people who buy a new bicycle or electric scooter or sign up to bike and scooter sharing services.

Source: dpa, Berlin (TNS)

The Italian government will offer a 70% subsidy, capped at 500 euros, for people who buy a new bicycle or electric scooter or sign up to bike and scooter sharing services.

The measure is part of a €55 billion support package for the Italian economy and aims to keep people from using their cars and public transport as the country recovers from the crisis surrounding the new coronavirus (Covid-19).

Fewer people will be able to take public transport because of social distancing regulations, De Micheli pointed out at a press conference with Foreign Press Association journalists.

The government is also looking into changing traffic laws to enable local authorities to create cycling paths more easily, De Micheli added. City representatives of the country’s capital, Rome, announced that it would create 150 kilometres of new cycling paths by September.

3 100 cities and towns participated in the EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK 2019, the European Commission has now announced the winner of four sustainable mobility awards.

Back in February 2020 the European Commission announced the city/town nominees for the sustainable mobility awards. And now, the are finally announcing the winners.

Krusevac, Serbia – winner of the EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK Award 2019 for larger municipalities

The Serbian city of Kruševac reportedly impressed the jury with its range of activities, underpinned by strong citizen participation and political support from the local government. During EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK 2019, cars were restricted in the city streets, in the centre and in the suburbs. The face of the city was also said to be transformed, with the installation of new cycle paths, walkways, public squares, urban parks, benches and swings.

The other finalists were Rethymno (Greece) and Wrocław (Poland).

Smove.City wants to congratulate the winner and all the cities and towns that participated.

Karditsa, Greece – winner of the EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK Award 2019 for smaller municipalities

Karditsa impressed the jury with its use of promotional materials and partnerships to support sustainable mobility. During the EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK 2019, the city partnered with dozens of organisations including schools, music academies, government departments, police, fire brigade, civil society organisations and businesses, all of which were invited to participate in a week of mobility celebrations.

The other finalists were Alfândega da Fé (Portugal) and Paide (Estonia).

Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium – winner of the eighth Award for Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (SUMP)

The Brussels-Capital Region  sustainable mobility goals include having zero road traffic deaths by 2030, restricting car usage, reducing the speed limit to 30 kilometres per hour by 2021, and increasing the number of pedestrianised zones.

The jury was impressed by its approach to reaching these goals, which sees the city as an ‘ecosystem’. The city’s achievements are said to be underpinned by strong stakeholder outreach, impressive citizen participation, and the implementation of “superblocks”, an urban planning concept.

The other finalists were Kaunas (Lithuania) and Wrocław (Poland).