Date: Mon, 9 May 2005 15:01:01 +0100

   From: "Richard Evans" <richard.m.evans@...>

 

EMW Press ReleaseGlasgow has won the best in UK European Mobility Week

award.  The following is extracted from a Eurocities press release which

will shortly be published in full at www.22september.org

 

An independent panel of experts assessed all applications received and this

activity resulted with the selection of 11 cities, which performed

outstandingly during the Mobility Week 2004. The award winners will be

presented at a European Conference, to be held in London in September 2005

and organised by the UK presidency of the EU in close collaboration with DG

Environment.

 

Best per country  awards  went to the following towns and cities: Bulgaria:

VARNA, Croatia: KOPRIVNICA, Czech Republic: KROMERIZ, France: NANTES,

Germany: KIEL, Hungary: BUDAPEST, Poland: KRAKOW, Portugal: LEIRIA, Spain:

DONOSTIA SAN SEBASTIAN, Switzerland: GENEVA, UK: GLASGOW

 

Glasgow – Rated Best UK participant

 

The panel of experts was impressed by the performance of Glasgow City

Council. Outstanding permanent measures were elaborated, as the ‘Great

School Travel Tally’ used to obtain baseline information on how children

travel to school. 71% of schools in Glasgow participated in this survey that

will be carried out once a year. The results provided valuable citywide

information about travel habits to school and helped taking

transport-related decisions. Another exceptional project elaborated by

Glasgow is the ‘Twenty Limits Around Schools’ that introduces part-time

mandatory 20 miles per hour speed limits in the vicinity of schools. This

scheme not only improves the safety around schools but also raises awareness

of the road dangers.

 

 

 

Glasgow also organised an Eco-Day Science Fair held on 17 and 18 September

aiming at informing parents and schoolchildren on the necessity of adopting

a coherent School Travel Plan. The team produced an eye-catching display

including display boards, sustainable travel word games and puzzles. Several

schools expressed an interest and follow-up meetings have been arranged.

Glasgow also promoted the Scotland’s largest charity bike ride with 1200

riders. The experts welcomed the elaboration of a new “Safety on the Web’

website that is targeted at primary teachers and pupils. The site provides

information to help keep children safe from dangers in the home, at school

and on their way to and from school.

 

 

 

On 22 September, Glasgow successfully closed a street during a normal

working weekday. The event was widely promoted within the Council and to all

major employers. The different permanent measures and activities promoted

received a wide support of the City Council.

 

 

 

The Award winner and nominees will be presented at the end of the year

during a European Conference in London. Further information on this event

will be communicated at a later stage.

 

The third edition of the EMW was organised from 16 to 22 September 2004.

‘Safe Streets for Children’ was the central theme for this campaign, linking

different aspects of urban policy together, targeting not only children but

also parents and everyone that encounters young people in traffic. The

overriding aim of the 2004 Mobility Week was to create safe and pleasant

cities, and to reduce road safety risks for children. Participating local

authorities were encouraged to elaborate initiatives to raise awareness of

children’s needs for safe and independent mobility and to break down the

barriers they are facing in urban areas. EMW 2004 enjoyed a high

participation with 849 cities and towns involved.

 

Richard Evans

In Town Without My Car! & European Mobility Week UK Co-ordinator

richard.m.evans@...

http://www.itwmc.gov.uk

http://www.22september.org